{"id":1766,"date":"2011-05-12T00:10:47","date_gmt":"2011-05-12T06:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/?p=1766"},"modified":"2011-08-21T21:08:35","modified_gmt":"2011-08-22T03:08:35","slug":"why-students-dont-care-about-youre-teaching-and-what-to-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/blog\/2011\/05\/12\/why-students-dont-care-about-youre-teaching-and-what-to-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Students Don’t Care About Your Teaching (And What to do About It)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Catechesis is a unique kind of teaching.<\/p>\n

You often have\u00a0people in class who aren’t converted. They don’t agree with what you’re teaching or perhaps don’t\u00a0care. When this happens, it’s your job to convince them to care.<\/p>\n

Here’s four steps to help you engage your students and get them to care about what you’re teaching.
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1. What’s your motivation?<\/h2>\n

Before you speak a single word, you need to get your own motivation straight. <\/strong>Why are you speaking to them? What do you want to happen?<\/p>\n

It can’t just be that you want them to learn some facts about God. That’s not enough. For them to care you have to move them emotionally.<\/p>\n

Don’t go in thinking you’re just going to teach\u00a0the textbook lesson. Or, that they probably won’t care. Or, that you’re not doing any good.<\/p>\n

Have in your head that they will benefit from this.<\/strong> Go in with the attitude that this is important. That it will change them for the better and help them in life.<\/p>\n

If you let yourself feel that emotion and intention, your students will feel it as well. That’s how you will move them.<\/p>\n

If you move their hearts, you’ll have their attention.<\/p>\n

2. Know your audience<\/h2>\n

The second thing, know your audience.\u00a0Don’t try to be interesting, be interested…in them!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Find out what moves them, what motivates them. What are they interested in?\u00a0What are their problems and concerns? Use their interests as a vehicle to get your message through.<\/p>\n

3. Communicate your goal<\/h2>\n

Every lesson has to have an objective and an action you want them to take. The key–don’t hide it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you hide it, they’re only thinking\u00a0about what you’re hiding. Then all their attention is\u00a0going towards figuring out what you want from them and what you’re not saying.<\/p>\n

Make the goal something they will want.\u00a0There has to be something in it for them. If \u00a0you can figure that out, they will follow you to the moon.<\/p>\n

4. Be interactive<\/h2>\n

Engage your students on as many levels as you can.<\/p>\n

You only get around\u00a015-20% retention from the spoken word. However, the more you can engage your students, the more that goes up.<\/p>\n

Leave room for them to participate and own the lesson themselves.<\/strong> Engage them in conversation and dialogue. The more they participate the more they’ll remember. And, more importantly, the more the lesson becomes a part of them.<\/p>\n

If you can get them to own it and integrate it into their thought processes, you’ll have them engaged and interested.<\/p>\n

Catechetical Takeaway<\/h2>\n

As a catechist, you’re in the faith transformation business before you can be in\u00a0the information dissemination business. You have to move their hearts before they’ll be attentive to your teaching.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Believe in your message, know what your students need, communicate where you’re taking them in the lesson and engage them in it. Do this and you’ll find your students caring\u00a0about\u00a0everything you teach.<\/p>\n

Now it’s your turn: <\/strong><\/p>\n