On May 15, 1950, Saint John Baptist de La Salle was declared the Patron Saint of All Teachers of Youth by the Catholic Church. There is something in his story, in his writings, and in his living spirit that plants itself in the hearts of teachers everywhere. Here is someone worth knowing, especially if you are involved in the ministry of education. Here is a remarkable individual who continues to shape the educational world of today in ways he could not have imagined, inspiring educators from all backgrounds and cultures, shaping how they see students, teachers, and the activity of teaching. His insights, example, and faith-filled perspective naturally resonate with that of educators everywhere, reminding them why they became involved in teaching in the first place. He is indeed a true saint for all teachers. And this little book tells his story.

After meditating on the Apostles and then on the Fathers of the early Church, as seen in his earlier works Jesus, the Apostles and the Early Church and Church Fathers, Pope Benedict XVI devoted his attention to the most influential Christian men from the fifth through the twelfth centuries. In his first book, Church Fathers, Benedict began with Clement of Rome and ended with Saint Augustine. In this volume, the Holy Father reflects on some of the greatest theologians of the Middle Ages: Benedict, Anselm, Bernard, and Gregory the Great, to name just a few. By exploring both the lives and the ideas of the great popes, abbots, scholars and missionaries who lived during the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christendom, Pope Benedict XVI highlights the key elements of Catholic dogma and practice that remain the foundation stones not only of the Roman Catholic Church but of Christian society itself. This book is a wonderful way to get to know these later Church Fathers and Teachers and the tremendous spiritually rich patrimony they have bequeathed to us. "Without this vital sap, man is exposed to the danger of succumbing to the ancient temptation of seeking to redeem himself by himself." -- Pope Benedict XVI

"To renew the Church in every age, God raises up saints who themselves have been renewed by God and are in constant contact with God." -- Pope Benedict XVI Discover the greatest teachers of the Faith as Pope Benedict XVI highlights their essential role during a time of scandal and strife in the Church. Focusing specifically on the thirteenth-century founding of the Franciscans by St. Francis of Assisi and the Dominicans by St. Dominic Guzman, the pope said personal holiness led the two saints to preach -- and to help actualize -- a return to Gospel poverty, a deeper unity with the Church, and a new movement of evangelization, including within the European universities that were blossoming at the time. Their example continues to be relevant today as we struggle with a culture that "focuses more on having than on being," and look to emulate those holy people who chose to live very simply.

This reference is an understandable and down-to-earth guide to all things Catholic. The resource is appropriate for brushing up on specific Catholic terms and concepts or learning them for the first time. (Catholic)

Discipline problems, self-doubt, tense meetings, classroom stress . . . Couldn’t every teacher use some saintly help? Every teacher can think of at least one mentor who has served as an inspiration over the years. However, many teachers—even those with a Catholic faith—might not have considered that saints can serve as mentors. Author and teacher Susan H. Swetnam believes that saints aren’t only good teachers—they’re the best teachers. In My Best Teachers Were Saints, Swetnam focuses on fifty-two saints—many of them teachers—who faced challenges similar to those that nearly all educators face today, from indifferent students and recalcitrant colleagues to their own limitations and feelings of isolation. With the examples of saints such as Augustine, Ignatius of Loyola, and Scholastica, Swetnam eagerly shares how their words and deeds helped immensely in her own career as a teacher and how they can aid and inspire other educators as well. Anyone involved in education—whether teaching religion or mathematics, kindergartners or graduate students—will discover within these pages a treasure trove of saintly help that is sure to prove that the best teachers are in fact saints!

A bold, brain-based teaching approach to culturally responsive instruction To close the achievement gap, diverse classrooms need a proven framework for optimizing student engagement. Culturally responsive instruction has shown promise, but many teachers have struggled with its implementation—until now. In this book, Zaretta Hammond draws on cutting-edge neuroscience research to offer an innovative approach for designing and implementing brain-compatible culturally responsive instruction. The book includes: Information on how one’s culture programs the brain to process data and affects learning relationships Ten “key moves” to build students’ learner operating systems and prepare them to become independent learners Prompts for action and valuable self-reflection

A book looking at Catholic education and what is possible

"Live Jesus in Our Hearts" is a prayer said daily by Lasallians all over the world. Our new high school religion curriculum reflects this prayer, and our mission--that every young person would invite Jesus' presence into their hearts. We sought to begin answering the needs of today's youth, in a generation where the spiritual and religious landscape has shifted dramatically. Revelation and the Old Testament is the first semester course in the new high school series Live Jesus in Our Hearts. This series takes a fresh approach to the Framework outline, bringing in new themes such as in-depth use of scripture, extensive online resources, and an invitational, evangelizing approach. Revelation and the Old Testament is an Old Testament overview (with a sneak peak of the New Testament) that includes all the required Framework content related to Revelation. Used with Jesus Christ and the New Testament, you can now teach an overview of the Bible in freshman year using a Framework approved curriculum! Plus, help students connect using: Short stories about young people that relate a teaching or belief to a young person's lived experience. Focus questions introduce each unit in the voice of a teen, guiding students in focusing on what they might learn; units end with an image of a real student and his or her reflections on the unit focus question, inviting the students to check their own understanding. A Unit Highlights section that uses graphic organizers to visually represent the key concepts from each chapter "Hmmm" questions at the end of each article that encourage students to think critically about Christian beliefs. A full page visual feature at the end of each chapter that engages students to reflect on the chapter content in a unique way.

Share and pass on the faith from A to Z with this guidebook of all things totally Catholic! In this comprehensive resource, children ages 9 to 12 and the grown-ups in their lives are provided with child-appropriate and theologically-correct language based upon the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Containing extensive information on what Catholics believe and how they live as members within the community of believers, this manual also offers readers ways to engage in the faith.

An anthology of more than 60 articles documenting the history and the how-tos of social justice unionism. Together, they describe the growing movement to forge multiracial alliances with communities to defend and transform public education.