Teaching About Religion: Structuring the Educational Encounter. Religion in Elementary Social Studies: Teacher Self-Instructional Kit 2 [And] Evaluation Report

Abstract

The second kit of the Religion in Elementary Social Studies (RESS) project is to be used only after examining and understanding the first kit described in SO 008 696. The second kit is concerned with the organization of instruction concerning religion and teacher performance. Insights from learning theorists are offered which can contribute to effective instruction in using the materials. The kit includes the general objectives of the RESS materials, the scope and sequence of content, a sample organization of a complete unit, and a sample lesson showing what religion might look like in classrooms for young children. The general objectives of the kit help teachers to (1) identify personal conceptions of effective and ineffective teacher behavior; (2) identify varieties of teaching methods and media available for teaching religion; (3) describe the structure and content of the RESS materials; and (4) reflect on the assumptions made in instructional decisions, including the decision to use or not to use the RESS materials, and how these materials are used with students. Each portion of the kit contains sets of questions for teacher self-evaluation. The second part of the document is an evaluation report of the materials. (Author/JR)