I’ve collected the most popular articles from each of the ten editions of Catholic School Matters this fall. This fall’s “Best Of” edition is earlier than usual because I’ve come to the conclusion (based on clicks) that people don’t have time to read during December. Christmas programs, holiday parties, and movie sequels will be taking up too much of our time!
Here’s the top 10:
- From the September 8th newsletter: In the Teaching & Learning section, the first article about how learning is supposed to feel uncomfortable is timely and insightful. Like our students, we often believe we should be able to to pick up and master new skills without any problems.
- From the September 15th newsletter: In the American Catholic News section, there’s a great 7-minute video about a dual language school in Texas. The principal, Bill Daily, casually mentions that the school’s enrollment had dipped to 98 students and now it was around 450. Why are we not paying more attention to this?!? He talks about the risk of adopting a dual language model, the “messiness” of the church at times, and the need for innovation.
- From the September 22nd newsletter: From the New York Times, the first article in the Leadership section discusses our tendency toward perfectionism and the need to accept good enough when we can.
- From the September 29th newsletter: In the American Catholic News section, “When Professional Catholics Burn Out” is a great piece exploring how lay Catholics struggle with their vocations in the church as well as their faith.
- From the October 6th newsletter: In the Teaching & Learning section, “Class Size Matters” explores the current research and misconceptions about class size. It seems this comes up every year as schools struggle to find the right balance between classrooms of vitality and individual attention.
- From the October 13th newsletter: In the Leadership section, the first article from Daniel Pink in Education Week focuses on how schools use time. How we organize the school day usually has more to do with institutional traditions or factors other than what are the most optimal conditions for children to learn. It’s interesting to hear Pink’s take on the school day.
- From the October 20th newsletter: In the Teaching & Learning section, Mind/Shift offer suggestions to teachers for creating community in your classroom and Edutopia offers strategies for turning classrooms into communities.
- From the October 27th newsletter: Ashley Berner, a former podcast guest, has a great argument for pluralism in American schools that should be read by everyone. Here’s a short argument in the Hill, and here’s a longer read with much more detail.
- From the November 3rd newsletter: Following the theme of financial best practices in the blog, I present three articles in the American Catholic News section which touch on the same subject: “Twelve Lessons about the Future of Catholic Schools” in the Homiletic & Pastoral Review, “Ten Essentials for Sustaining Catholic Education” from the Healey Education Foundation, and “The Era of the Parochial School is Over” from America magazine. These articles provide further context for the discussion about the need for better financial practices in our Catholic schools.
- In the November 17th newsletter: I recommend “Synodality Isn’t Just an Option” as a way to understand the current reality.
I’ll be back in January after a six week hiatus! Have a great Thanksgiving and a blessed Advent!
Top 5
Here is the link to this week’s newsletter. Since I’m selecting a Top 5 of a Top 10, this feels like March Madness! Here are my favorites from the Top 10 celebrating a great fall season of Catholic School Matters.
- From the September 15th newsletter: In the American Catholic News section, there’s a great 7-minute video about a dual language school in Texas. The principal, Bill Daily, casually mentions that the school’s enrollment had dipped to 98 students and now it was around 450. Why are we not paying more attention to this?!? He talks about the risk of adopting a dual language model, the “messiness” of the church at times, and the need for innovation.
- From the September 22nd newsletter: From the New York Times, the first article in the Leadership section discusses our tendency toward perfectionism and the need to accept good enough when we can.
- From the September 29th newsletter: In the American Catholic News section, “When Professional Catholics Burn Out” is a great piece exploring how lay Catholics struggle with their vocations in the church as well as their faith.
- From the November 3rd newsletter: Following the theme of financial best practices in the blog, I present three articles in the American Catholic News section which touch on the same subject: “Twelve Lessons about the Future of Catholic Schools” in the Homiletic & Pastoral Review, “Ten Essentials for Sustaining Catholic Education” from the Healey Education Foundation, and “The Era of the Parochial School is Over” from America magazine. These articles provide further context for the discussion about the need for better financial practices in our Catholic schools.
- In the November 17th newsletter: I recommend “Synodality Isn’t Just an Option” as a way to understand the current reality.
I’ll be back in January after a six week hiatus! Have a great Thanksgiving and a blessed Advent!
Podcast
This week on the Catholic School Matters podcast, I welcome three guests to the podcast whom I saw at the this fall’s Mustard Seed Project. First, Dr. Michelle Lia from Loyola-Chicago and the Greeley Center, joins me to discuss her work with Catholic school teachers specifically in the area of literacy. Then, Helen Dahlman from the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence in Minnesota, returns to the podcast to discuss the great work of CSCOE supporting Catholic education. Finally, Dr. Gail Donahue from Notre Dame of Maryland joins me to discuss her work supporting teachers through coaching and the other aspects of her work supporting Catholic education. It’s a great episode with three great thought leaders in Catholic education.
