Imaginative Prayer- benefiting both the teachers and the students!

All teachers want to provide their students with a quality education. We want our students to be enthusiastic, engaged and academically strong. But in religious education it seems even more is expected of us than in other subjects. Curriculum documents outline the need to develop knowledge of Church and Tradition, Catholic Social Teaching, the Sacraments, and Scripture (not to mention commonly spoken prayers that we're meant to teach). Its a lot, and for many of us it can be overwhelming. And, with little support available in resourcing, its hard to know how to improve our practice.

But its not only the WHAT we teach, it's also the HOW! How do we engage students in religious education when they themselves may have no exposure to the Catholic faith outside of school? What if I, as the classroom teacher, don't really understand the Scripture passage myself.... how can I teach my students about it? What if I say or do the wrong thing and I accidentally offend someone?

There is no doubt that there is a heightened level of fear when teaching RE compared to other subject areas. The catechetical nature of the subject can be concerning for some, particularly in a secular society. But it is exactly for this reason that approaches to teaching Scripture, such as Imaginative Prayer, are so vital to the modern day classroom!

Rather than providing a set interpretation on a passage, the teacher simply provides the space so that the Holy Spirit can guide the students' thoughts, allowing them to come to their own understanding of the text. Background to the passage is provided to strengthen both the teacher's and the student's understanding of the historical and literary context of the passage. Students are given a chance to "see" the story come to life in their own minds, supporting their long-term memory of the passage. Time spent in discussion works to deepen scriptural understanding and strengthen peer relationships.

So why not give it a go? Learn how you can not only strengthen your own pedagogical practice, but also deepen the student learning experience, by incorporating Imaginative Prayer into your RE lessons.