Each of us brings gifts to share with the group. WELCOME! Gathering Activity: Gift Boxes Each of us brings gifts to share with the group. Decorate one of the “gift boxes” Write on it one gift you bring to the group. Keep the box with you. renaissance program

Welcome to the Teacher Development Renaissance Module Session 1: Teaching and Learning – What Shapes Us? renaissance program

Please share renaissance program * Name * Congregation or setting * Role or position in congregation * Number of years in Unitarian Universalism * Number of years in the field of religious education/ministry * Number of Renaissance Modules taken * RE Credentialing status (level completed or in progress) renaissance program

Orientation to Teacher Development Renaissance Module Online Evaluation http://www.uua.org/careers/re/renaissance/277437.shtml renaissance program

Renaissance Program renaissance program Administration Adult Faith Development Curriculum Planning Ministry with Youth Multicultural Religious Education Philosophy of Religious Education Teacher Development UU Identity UU History (online) Worship UU Theology (online - in development) renaissance program

What was it about you that allowed that to happen? Think of a teacher who made a difference in your life. What was it about you that allowed that to happen? renaissance program

Thomas Groome Shared Praxis renaissance program

What? So what? Now what? renaissance program

Focusing activity; naming our own knowing What? Focusing activity; naming our own knowing Critical Reflection renaissance program

Make available the vision/story of the faith community So what? Make available the vision/story of the faith community 4. Dialectic -- reflecting on our new information renaissance program

(invitation to action) Now what? 5.Decision/response (invitation to action) renaissance program

1. Focusing Activity – the hook: What do YOU know about this? not, what have you been told to think about it? renaissance program

An activity to help evaluate or learn more about what we already know 2. Critical reflection: An activity to help evaluate or learn more about what we already know renaissance program

An image that helps make meaning of life; disclosure, not closure. 3. The story/vision of the faith community: An image that helps make meaning of life; disclosure, not closure. renaissance program

4. Appropriation: Make this your own! What do you affirm, question, add? (the safety valve that keeps us from controlling) renaissance program

To return to ones own lived experience again. 5. Invitation to response, action, decision: To return to ones own lived experience again. renaissance program

The Courage to Teach On your card……a moment of joy you have had in teaching and on the other side of the card, a moment of despair. renaissance program

SLT Hymn 118 This Little Light of Mine This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine (3x) Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Ev’ry where I go, I’m gonna let it shine (3x) Building up a world, I’m gonna let it shine (3x) renaissance program

Session 2: Teachers as Learners and Seekers Please share an “aha moment” – something that occurred to you during the first session or since that was a new learning, changed your point of view about something, raised a new question, etc. renaissance program

SLT Hymn 389 Gathered Here Gathered here in the mystery of the hour Gathered here in one strong body Gathered here in the struggle and the power Spirit, draw near. renaissance program

-Parker Palmer, The Courage to Teach “Reduce teaching to the intellect, and it becomes a cold abstraction; reduce it to emotions and it becomes narcissistic; reduce it to the spiritual, and it loses its anchor in the world. Intellect, emotion, and spirit…are interwoven in the human self and education at its best.” -Parker Palmer, The Courage to Teach renaissance program

Safe Congregation Practices Specific aspects of safe congregations that affect volunteer teachers are: Providing personal information requested when recruited Abiding by the two-adults-in-the-classroom policies (For the protection of the teacher as well as the students) Reporting any incidents that arouse concerns about safe congregation practices renaissance program

Session 3: Supporting Learners and Seekers SLT #123 Spirit of Life -words by Carolyn McDade Spirit of Life, come unto me. Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion. Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice. Roots hold me close; wings set me free; Spirit of Life, come to me, Come to me. renaissance program

Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia! Sing and rejoice. Alleluia! SLT Hymn 367 Allelu, Allelu Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia! Sing and Rejoice. Sing and rejoice. Alleluia! Sing and rejoice. renaissance program

Reflect about the role of space in teaching and learning in faith….. What’s important in an environment beyond safety? What makes a teaching and learning environment in a faith development setting welcoming? renaissance program

The Paradoxes of Space renaissance program Parker Palmer Space should be bounded and open Space should be hospitable and “charged” Space should invite the voice of the individual and the voice of the group Space should honor the “little” stories of the students and the “big” stories of the disciplines and traditions Space should support solitude and surround it with the resources of the community Space should welcome both silence and speech renaissance program

Meditation on Breathing Session 4: Toolkits for Teachers – Empowerment for Learning and Seeking Meditation on Breathing Singing the Journey #1009 When I breathe in, I'll breathe in peace. When I breathe out, I'll breathe out love. Breathe in, breathe out. renaissance program

Planning a Teacher Development Event Include: Mission and goals for the workshop or event Number of teachers to be involved Format and length Scheduling (with leadership) Content (including activities) Tools that teachers need for ongoing support and daily use (continued) renaissance program

Presentation should include: An overview of the teacher development workshop/event With statement of the mission and goals of the workshop A list of the tools that teachers need for ongoing support and for daily use as they facilitate in lifespan faith development classrooms A demonstration of at least one activity you would do with your teachers renaissance program

Meditation on Breathing STJ Hymn 1009 Meditation on Breathing When I breathe in, I'll breathe in peace. When I breathe out, I'll breathe out love. Breathe in, breathe out. renaissance program

Session 5: Group Presentations and Closing Worship Hymn 1000 Morning Has Come music and words by Jason Shelton 1. Morning has come, arise and greet the day! Dance with joy and sing a song of gladness! The light of hope here shines upon each face. May it bring faith to guide our journey home. cont’d renaissance program

renaissance program 2. A new day dawns, once more the gift is giv’n Wonder fills this moment shared together. The light of peace here shines upon each face. May it bring faith to guide our journey home. 3. Open our eyes to see that life abounds; Open hearts to welcome it among us. The light of love here shines upon each face. renaissance program

Collective Reflection What are the tools teachers need? How can we frame teaching as spiritual development? What were some of the best elements across presentations? renaissance program

Closing renaissance program Blessing Ritual (Name), may your teaching project the condition of your soul onto your students and bring a blessing to your ways of being together on your spiritual and religious life journey. renaissance program