Curriculum

What are your thoughts and practice about Religion Curriculum and textbook choices?

In reviewing our school religion curricula two touchstones are:

·                     USCCB Framework 

·                     Diocese of La Crosse HS Curriculum 

·         The national Framework does not presume a certain sequence or organization of doctrinal content into semester courses, but many publishers produce textbooks that match the topics in the USCCB Framework.  (See tab Vision/Publishers.)

·         The Diocese of La Crosse curriculum suggests a traditional semester course organization, but does not entirely match the USCCB Framework:

o    topics III & IV (Mission), and E (Ecumenism) are not overt in the Diocesan curriculum;

o    Diocesan topics of Prayer and Apologetics are not overt in the USCCB Framework.

o    Topics of Old Testament and New Testament are not as distinct in the Framework.

o    Topic of Creed does not precisely match Framework topic II

·         Newman religion curriculum, judging by choice of textbooks, mostly conforms with the Diocesan curriculum, except for

o    adding a senior course in Vocations [D], and

o    no semester course for Prayer nor Apologetics [neither overt in the Framework].

USCCB Framework Core HS Curriculum

I             The revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture

II           Who Is Jesus Christ? 

III          The Mission of Jesus Christ (The Paschal Mystery)

IV          Jesus Christ’s Mission Continues in the Church

V            Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ

VI          Life in Jesus Christ

            ELECTIVES 

A            Sacred Scripture 

B            History of the Catholic Church 

C            Living as a Disciple of Jesus Christ in Society

D            Responding to the Call of Jesus Christ 

E            Ecumenical and Interreligious Issues 

Diocese of La Crosse

High School Rationale / Overview             USCCB Framework          Newman textbooks

·                     The Creed                                            [“II”]                                     {Newman 9^th}

·                     The Old Testament                          [A]                                          {Newman 9^th}

·                     The New Testament                        [I, A]                                      {Newman 10^th}

·                     Prayer in the Christian Life           [?]                                          {no semester course}

·                     The Sacraments                                [V]                                          {Newman 10^th}

·                     Christian Morality                            [VI]                                        {Newman 11^th}

·                     Church History                                  [B]                                          {Newman 11^th}

·                     Catholic Social Teaching                [C]                                          {Newman 12^th}

·                     Apologetics                                         [?]                                           {no semester course}

• Newman has Vocations [D]                                             {Newman 12^th}

Recommended Prayers                                  [?]

Recommended Reading – Saint’s Lives   [B]

Recommended Reading – Other Topics   [?]

Recommended Teacher and Parent Resources

Analysis: Strengths and Limitations of the USCCB Framework

You can easily find commentary on the Framework since it was issued in 2007. Go to tab Vision/USCCB for  five examples to assist your critical appropriation of the Framework.

The Christocentric character of the Framework is consonant with the Bishops’ vision for Youth Ministry with an emphasis on a personal relationship with Christ as the sine qua non for Christian discipleship.

Implementation of the Framework diverges by those who

• assume each of the topics should constitute a semester course, and those who
• apply the Framework for doctrinal parameters to a more wholistic curriculum that outlines skills, attitudes and behavior of a disciple to be developed in a four-year process of formation for which family, parish, and school have essential roles.

A shortcoming of the semester organization, however convenient for textbook publishers, is that students continue to develop their appreciation and appropriation of all the USCCB Framework topics over the four years of high school. They do not "finish" Old Testament, for example, by a one semester course, although such a course might equip them with skills they will need for the remainder of their high school years and beyond.

Reducing curriculum to content topics or to choice of textbooks skirts the issue of preparing a pedagogical plan to actually form a disciple in family, parish and school contexts during the high school years.

Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe. ASCD 2005, 2nd ed. offers a valuable UbD 

curriculum framework to help realize the full potential of the USCCB doctrinal Framework.

Current Primary textbooks for religion courses at Newman CHS

Sixth Grade

Seventh Grade

Eighth Grade

Freshmen

Creed/Church                   Ave Maria: Jesus and the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic. 2015. (Framework IV)

Old Testament                  Ave Maria: The Old Testament: our call to faith and justice. 2013. Daniel Smith-Christopher (A)

Sophomore

Jesus/New Testament   SMP: The New Testament: The Good News of Jesus Christ. 2012. Margaret Nutting Ralph (I, II, ?)           

Sacraments                        SMP: The Sacraments: Encounters with Christ. 2012. Joanna Dailey (V)

Junior

Church History                  SMP: Church History: apostolic times to today. 2013. Gloria Shahin w. Joanna Dailey (B)

Christian Morality            SMP: Christian Morality: our response to God’s love. 2012. Brian Singer-Thomas (VI)

Senior

Christian Vocation           SMP: Answering God’s Call. 2013. Jenna M. Cooper w. Fr. Luke Sweeney, Joanna Dailey (D)

Social Justice                      SMP: Catholic Social Teaching: Christian life in society. 2012. Brian Singer-Thomas (C)