CCD? For the RC moms and dads

I am so worried about my son attending ccd next year in first grade. I feel like he is going to inundated with work for first grade then add to that ccd.


Is it fun? Boring? How do your children feel about going to ccd class?

THanks for any info.

Anyone have experience with any churches/ccd in merrick bellmore area?

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

My son recently asked if church was over. As in he fulfilled his duties and is now done. For life. So I think he was pretty bored. He just finished 2nd grade and rec'd his Communion so it was a little different this year but in 1st grade he went 2x a month to the church class. I don't recall him ever finding it fun but there was no extra work to worry about except some chapter reading between classes. Maybe other parishs have more fun programs. I am not in that area so I can't even recommend one but definitely ask around.

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

Each parish runs things their own way we are at St Francis in Wantagh. In 1st Grade DS had CCD once a week. They had 4 groups meeting in the gym they were all together for 1/2 the class doing a bible reading & songs then they would break out into thier groups for a discussion on the bible reading or a craft. They took home a bible story each week. We had a few (2 or 3) parent meetings and a few special masses.

I think it was a good start. DS was generally ok about going. It really didnt add much more work for him. He saw it more like another activity. The scheduling with sports and Cub Scouts was more the issue for us.

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

Thanks for your replies.

I knew it would not be fun like sports fun, but I am hoping that they are not teaching religion in such a boring way that he would rather watch the paint dry.


I do not want him to hate it. Maybe because his dad is Jewish and would probably jump at the chance to remove him. I just want him to learn religion and become closer to God. I do think there are more fun ways to teach the bible. St Francis sounds ok. I wonder if I should can shop around? I know I could go to either church in Bellmore/Merrick.

Thanks again.
Anyone else?

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

For my kids, it's just something that they do, like they go to school or they go to practice, they also go to religion.

Ours is 1 hr, 15 minutes two or three times per month from Sept - May. There's no homework at all.

They might not *love* it but they don't hate it either.

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

crasher

I was a 1st grade CCD teacher in Queens. I'll tell you how I ran the class so you can get an idea of how it will be.

The class was 1 hour 15 minutes, once per week.

We had a workbook and did one chapter per week. Each chapter was 4 pages long - broken up into sections, with activities in between.

The dioceses required that 1st graders knew the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Sign of the Cross by the end of the year and passed the Unit tests (5 units)

We started class off with prayers. The same prayers every week. I then talked about the subject of the chapter and asked questions. Then we read a section, did an activity, moved on .... Once the chapter was complete we did an arts and crafts that went along with the chapter.

I personally handed out an overview sheet at the beginning of the unit and a review sheet after each unit so the parents were able to follow along and help their 6 year old study. I also reviewed the material in class and made sure each student really knew the unit inside out . I would do oral quizes while they did arts and crafts and give out hersey kisses or small treats (erasures, stickers, tatoos, etc..).

For me, I knew it was a requirement (and not always a fun one) and I wanted to make it as fun as possible for them. So I always made sure to cater to their interests.

I gave homework every week - easy homework. Connect the dots, find the hidden picture, fill in the blanks. Nothing that would take more than 10 minutes and something that reinforced my lesson from the previous week.

The good thing about 1st grade CCD is that it's simple ---- it's learning about church and the community. It's about belonging to something bigger and how we can help and become better people. It's about God loving you, always loving you. It's about understanding accidents versus sin and how when we say sorry, God forgives us. The bible stories that are in the workbook are simple and are about love, kindness and forgiveness. Things they can relate to.

To me, kids should feel a connection to something bigger than the little worlds they live in. For many, it's the first time they learn about God and his love. At that age, they strive to be good students and really get how 'helping out' and being a 'good child' makes a difference in the world.



I hope that helps.

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

My dd is done as she only had to go to 6th grade but now my ds has to go to 8th (he is going into 2nd grade).
He goes to someone's house once a week for an hour. He doesn't love it but he has no choice according to me and my dh..
He will make his communion this year.

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

Thanks again for responses. I guess it will depend on the teacher. I just called St barnabus church. We will have to see how it goes.

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

I'm in the same boat - 2nd grader going to CCD classes for the first time (last year was home study in our church).

They adjust. It's another class after school. No homework...

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

when should I be expecting this to start? 1st grade?

I wasn't sure if they started for kindergarteners.

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads

Re: CCD? For the RC moms and dads