WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT OUR CONFIRMATION CURRICULUM?
Confirmation is a critical time of learning for our church’s youth. We have designed our program based on the stages of learning set out by a classical education model following the stages of learning – grammar, logic, rhetoric. In this way, as teachers, we are able to reach and teach all of our students no matter what grade they are starting confirmation or where their learning of the catechism is.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CLASSICAL EDUCATION?
Learning occurs in three distinct stages. The grammar stage where the learner memorizes and acquires knowledge by rote, the logic stage where the learner begins to think more deeply on their new knowledge and learns to question and question well, and the rhetoric stage where the learner applies what he or she has learned in the first two stages and is able to think critically and speak eloquently about the topic. These are natural stages of learning which occur at all ages for new learners digesting new material. Learners can also move between these stages as they are learning. We believe that teachers should be able to reach learners at any stage of their learning processes. We provide differentiated lessons and questions to reach children regardless of their stage of learning and development. Our goal is to teach Christ crucified to our youth, and to reach them wherever they may be in their acquisition process.
WHAT IS IN EACH LESSON?
- Opening and closing hymns by unit to encourage learning of church music
- Detailed lessons to enable teaching by pastors and/or laity
- Associated Bible readings
- Supplementary materials: videos, activities, quizzes, and discussion
- Pre-teaching videos by pastors to give parents and students background knowledge before the lesson
- Parent track resources to engage and involve parents in student learning outcomes
- Student guided notes
- Teacher track with teacher preparation and questions
- Classical education model based; grammar, logic, and rhetoric style questions to cover a variety of ages and learning abilities
HOW LONG IS THE CURRICULUM?
Our confirmation curriculum is set up as a 3-year rotation, with the 2nd year being optional. The classical approach is integrated throughout the 3-year rotation as well as within each year.
Year 1 focuses on the grammar stage of learning – memorization and learning the facts. In this way, Year 1 stays ultimately in the catechism. Year 2 moves onto the logic stage and looks at Bible stories in the old and new testaments through the lens of the catechism. Year 3 gets into real-life applications or the rhetoric stage of learning. During this year we look at apologetics, or how we defend our faith – again, through the lens of the catechism. Within each year, questions are broken into these three stages so you are able to reach the beginners in the class as well as those who already have a bit of background knowledge.
As the teacher, pay attention to where each student is and what stages of questions they are able to answer and comprehend. This careful analysis of students will ensure their ability to move forward in their learning of the catechism. Each confirmation year will be released in units according to each of the 6 chief parts of the catechism.
