31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator

Creator of the popular website The Religion Teacher, Jared Dees shares practical, easy-to-use teaching strategies and exercises for spiritual growth in this book. These components are designed to improve the effectiveness of any busy religious educator.

Volunteer catechists and professional religion teachers are responsible for two unique and challenging tasks: sharing (and assessing) information and the spiritual formation of their students. This succinct, practical resource helps busy catechists and religion teachers with both tasks and is designed for use either over consecutive days in one month, or by specific themes that encourage personal improvement in areas of discipleship, service, leadership, and overall teaching. Each of the thirty-one days includes a clear title that gives the lesson theme, a quotation from Scripture, an introduction to the exercise, step-by-step actions to take for the day, and spiritual enrichment ideas for the educator.

Praise for 31 Days:

“Jared Dees is one of the most gifted young catechetical leaders of our time. 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator—full of inspiration and practical insight—is a wonderful gift to the Church.”

Rev. Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C.
Founder
Alliance for Catholic Education
University of Notre Dame

“Dees offers practical ideas and simple exercises for deepening your faith and improving your performance as a teacher/catechist. It’s boot camp basics for a new teacher and offers new and improved techniques for veteran catechists. You won’t be disappointed.Two pages a day for a month and if you only make one change, I guarantee you will be happier and so will your students. Read it, start exercising the idea, and it will become part of your DNA of teaching. It’s simple but essential on the road to being a great catechist who connects head, heart, and hands—both yours and theirs. Dees has taken our basic desire to improve, combined it with the essentials of good teaching, mingled in the core elements of a good spiritual life and added a dose of servant leadership to create a self-help book for both initial teachers and long-time catechists. It’s an easy read with practical exercises to maximize your potential for success.”

Leland Nagel
Executive Director
National Conference for Catechetical Leadership

“The chapters of this book have very practical concepts and ideas for catechists but more importantly, the ‘going deeper’ section brings in an applicable spiritual dimension.”

Sr. Margaret Kuntz, A.S.C.J.
Director of the Office of Catechesis
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee

“The strength of any Catholic school lies in the ability of its teachers to deliver and communicate our faith with enthusiasm and personal witness. 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator offers encouragement and practical advice to religious educators in order to better serve their students and enhance their own abilities as a Catholic school teacher.”

Diane Starkovich
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of Atlanta

“A handy and practical tool from an emerging voice in religious education for enriching and enlivening faith development.”

Gerard F. Baumbach
Senior Catechetical Advisor
Institute for Church Life
University of Notre Dame

“Jared Dees has created an exciting and superbly practical field guide for those who love the Catholic faith and have a passion for effective teaching.”

Lisa Mladinich
Author of Be an Amazing Catechist

“You can always spot someone who is a natural teacher and Jared Dees fits the description. Dees understands the ins and outs of the religious education classroom and offers tried-and-true strategies for helping religious educators more effectively share information with and spiritually form their students.”

Joe Paprocki
Author of The Catechist’s Toolbox

“Jared Dees is one of the most innovative catechists writing today. He brings his considerable knowledge and experience to bear in 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator. Even the most veteran catechists are sure to find valuable insights, tips, and advice to help them in their ministry.”

Jonathan Sullivan
Director of Catechetical Services
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois