Teaching Religious Education In Catholic Schools

In an era characterised by diversity, uncertainty, and numerous education reforms, Catholic school educators are faced with many challenges and also new opportunities. Teaching Religious Education in Catholic Schools has been written to address many of these challenges, as well as offering a fresh perspective and helpful guide which is informed by scholarly research and practical insights. This book models solutions for religious education teachers -- and pre-service teachers -- and will assist in planning and implementing a contemporary religious education program for students.

This book shares global perspectives on Catholic religious education in schools, chiefly focusing on educational and curriculum issues that take into account the theology and the pedagogy which support learning in connection with Catholic religious education. Further, it offers insights into the distinctive contribution that Catholic religious education makes to religious education and education in general across diverse schooling contexts. Bringing together insights from leading scholars and experts on Catholic religious education around the globe, the book offers an essential reference guide for all those involved in researching, planning and designing curricula for Catholic religious education, as well as developing related theories in the field.

This book explains how, in a modern world where Catholicism reworks and reconstructs its methodology in the interests of pastoral care, evangelism, and Christian Education, religious education is moving forward successfully to meet the needs of Australian families

FIRST STEPS IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION is an interactive handbook designed to assist those preparing to teach religious education in early years' classrooms. It also provides a sound general introduction to religious education in the Catholic primary school context, with a focus on early years' settings. Both authors have been highly experienced and successful teachers of religious education in Catholic schools, and are effective teacher educators in the discipline. This book is infused with their experience and knowledge. Through a balance of theory and practice, the reader-participants are led to consider the nature and purpose of religious education, and to begin to develop a personal vision of themselves as teachers of religious education.

Faith-based Identity and Curriculum in Catholic Schools examines the relationship between faith-based education and whole curriculum at a time when neoliberal ideologies and market values are having a disproportionate influence on national education policies. Topics addressed include: current challenges and dilemmas faced by Catholic Education leadership; Catholic social teaching and its implications for whole curriculum; the opinions of teachers in Queensland Catholic schools regarding faith-based school identity with particular reference to whole curriculum; an associated comparison of these opinions teachers with those of their USA peers; school identity and Catholic social teaching in Ontario Catholic schools; an action research approach to the integration of Catholic social teaching in Queensland Catholic schools; longitudinal study of the views of pre-service teachers at a Catholic university regarding the purposes and characteristics of Catholic schools. Bringing together professionals and academics from across the world, Faith-based Identity and Curriculum in Catholic Schools will inspire Catholic and other faith-based educators to appreciate the importance and potential of the integration of faith-based perspectives such as countercultural Catholic social teaching across the school curriculum in an educationally appropriate manner.

This book reflects on the most appropriate methods of teacher preparation for contemporary Catholic schools and on possible contributions to wider teacher preparation from cogitating the history of the Catholic tradition. The authors offer exciting and innovative opportunities to inform contemporary practice from international examples.