1. Faculty of Education
The University of Western Ontario
B.Ed./Dip.Ed. Course Outline
Teaching in Roman Catholic Elementary Schools #5445
Wednesday: 4:30-6:30
Thursday: 10:30-12:30, 12:30-2:30, 4:30-6:30
Room 1162
Instructor: Helen M. Reid Office: Room 1081
E-mail: hreid5@uwo.ca Office Hours:
Wed. 3:30-4:30
Telephone: 519-485-5480
Course Coordinator: TBD
Course Description:
This course engages the teacher education candidate in an introductory study of the Ontario
Catholic School System. Teacher education candidates will have the opportunity to develop a
teaching perspective contextualized by the historical, ecclesiastical, constitutional, and catechetical
context of the Ontario Catholic School System, in particular the elementary Catholic School.
Emphasis will be placed on teacher candidates developing a curricular perspective informed by
pedagogical knowledge, skills and practices relevant to teaching the Religious Education and Family
Life curriculum and to integrating the Catholic worldview across the Ontario curriculum. The
vocation of teacher as scholar-practitioner and reflective practitioner shapes course content and
assessment.
Course Goals:
 to become aware of and conversant with the historical, ecclesiastical and constitutional
context of the Ontario Catholic Education system.
 to develop an understanding of and engage in self-reflection on the Catholic Church’s
documents regarding the vocation of a teacher in a Catholic school.
 to develop a curricular perspective appreciative of how the Catholic worldview can be
integrated across the Ontario curriculum and be evident in all aspects of the teaching and
learning culture of the Catholic elementary school.
 to design a unit and/or lesson using Catholic curriculum resources.
 be familiar with the contemporary context of Catholic education and how
this context impacts on the delivery of Catholic curriculum.
Teaching in Roman Catholic Elementary Schools 5445

2. Expectations:
The design of this course has integrated the Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession.
By the end of this pre-service course, teacher candidates are expected to have acquired an
understanding and appreciation of these standards of practice in the Catholic school context.
1. Commitment to Students and Student Learning
With reference to Gospel values, Church tradition and teachings, teacher candidates are able
to identify and appreciate ways to create an inclusive learning environment that respects
cultural, gender, and learning differences. In addition, teacher candidates are expected to be
able to identify and appreciate the learning environment as one in which academic, social,
spiritual and religious development are integrated in a holistic manner. In doing so, teacher
candidates will develop a professional foundation from which their commitment to students
and student learning grows and develops.
2. Professional Knowledge
Teacher candidates are expected to become conversant with the historical, constitutional,
ecclesiastical and social context of the Ontario Catholic education system. This course assists
teacher candidates in learning about the role of and resources of professional associations in
the support of teachers teaching in the Ontario Catholic School System. In particular,
teacher candidates will develop a curricular perspective that will enable them to integrate the
Catholic worldview across the Ontario curriculum and into all dimensions of the learning
and teaching environment.
3. Professional Practice
Teaching in Ontario Catholic Elementary Schools assists the teacher candidate in developing
pedagogical perspective, skills, strategies and resources to deliver the religious education and
family life curriculum and to integrate the Catholic worldview across the Ontario curriculum.
Teacher candidates will engage in reflection on practice and in doing so will develop an
appreciation for differentiated instruction, multiple-intelligences, age-appropriate teaching
and learning strategies, and the logic of backward design.
4. Leadership and Community
Teacher candidates will be provided a model, in the delivery of this elective, for professional
collaborative learning. Teacher candidates will work together on the different learning
modules. In doing so, teacher candidates will have the opportunity to see the practice of
teaching in the Catholic elementary school as a practice of partnerships, especially the
partnership with parish and family. Teacher candidates are encouraged to create and sustain
learning communities within their own classrooms and convey concern for the common
good in both their instructional practices and in their relationship with the wider community.
5. Ongoing Professional Learning
Through this elective, teacher candidates learn that teachers are scholar-practitioners. The
teacher candidate will learn that professional growth as a teacher practitioner requires the
professional teacher to engage in reflective practice, to embrace the principle of life-long
learning, and thus seek new knowledge and methodologies that will contribute to their being
effective teacher practitioners the Ontario Catholic elementary school context. Teacher
candidates will reflect on their practice of teaching with reference to the contemporary
context impacting on the learning and teaching context of the Catholic elementary school.
Teaching in Roman Catholic Elementary Schools 5445

3. Instructional Modules
I. The Context of the Ontario Catholic Education System
This module considers the historical, ecclesiastical, political and constitutional context of the Ontario Catholic
education system. Specific focus is given to the vocational self- understanding of the Ontario Catholic teacher.
II. The Catholic Curricular Vision
This module looks at the Catholic Graduate Expectations, spirituality and children, classroom design and core
Catholic curriculum map resources and design.
III. Ontario Catholic Religious Education and Family Life Curriculum
This module looks at the Religious Education and Family Life Curriculum program. Attention will be given to
pedagogical strategies, skills, and resources.
IV. Contemporary Context of Ontario Catholic Education
This module is issue based. Teacher candidates will have the opportunity to explore the challenges to faith-based
education in contemporary Canadian society.
Course Materials:
 In keeping with both sound and responsible principles governing the distribution and use of
‘consumable resources,’ most of the materials for this elective will be accessed from
websites. Teacher candidates will be able to choose whether to make printed copies of these
course materials.
 A bibliography of web resources is available on the course website.
 Teacher manuals for the Canadian Catechism, Born of the Spirit and We are Strong Together series
are available in the Education Library. Titles are listed below:
Early Years: In God’s Image (kit) Gr. May We Be One (1990)
Gr. 1 We Belong to God (1994) Gr. 6 You Shall be My Witnesses (1999)
Gr. 2 We Belong to the Lord Jesus (1995) Gr. 7 Believe in Me (1995)
Gr. 3 In the Spirit We Belong (1996) Gr. 8 Stand By Me (1996)
Gr. 4 Come and See (1997) Gr. 9 Be With Me (1997)
 Teacher’s manuals for the Family Life Education Program, Fully Alive, grades 1-8, sponsored by
the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops are available in the Education Library.
 A Bible (Recommended: New Revised Standard, New American editions.)
 The Catechism of the Catholic Church – available online
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4.  Encyclopaedia of Catholicism – reference
Online lecture notes will be provided for the following texts. Texts are available in the Education
Library.
 The Spirit of the Child, revised edition, David Hay with Rebecca Nye, Jessica Kingsley, 2006.
 History’s Golden Thread – The History of Salvation, Sofia Cavaletti, Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy
Training Publications, 1999.
 The Religious Potential of the Child, Sofia Cavaletti, Liturgy Training Publications1992.
 Living Liturgy, Elementary Reflections, Sofia Cavaletti, Liturgy Training Publications, 1998.
Assignments and Other Course Requirements:
Assignment Due Date Assessment
Value
Journal of Operative Beliefs – Part One 2nd Week of Term 1 10 %
Journal of Operative Beliefs – Part Two 1st Week of Term 2 10 %
Reflection Paper on Children and Spirituality 7th Week of Term 1 20 %
Prayer Centre Kit 9th Week of Term 1 15 %
5th Week of Term 2 15 %
Integration of a Catholic Theme into a Unit of 7th Week of Term 2 30 %
Study
Assignment Description
Journal of Operative Beliefs – 20%
Reflection Paper on Children and Spirituality – 20%
Prayer Centre Kit – 30%
Integration of a Catholic theme into Unit of Study- 30%
Policy Statements:
Accessibility:
Teaching in Roman Catholic Elementary Schools 5445

5. The University of Western Ontario is committed to recognizing the dignity and independence of all
students and seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities have genuine, open and unhindered access
to academic services. Please contact me if you require course materials in an alternative format or if
any other arrangements can make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact
Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 661-2111 x 82147 for information about requesting
academic accommodation, or go to the following website:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2009/pg118.html
Attendance:
The B.Ed. and Dip.Ed. programs are intense and demanding programs of professional preparation
in which teacher candidates are expected to demonstrate high levels of both academic and
professional integrity. Such integrity is demonstrated in part by commitment to and attendance at all
classes, workshops, tutorials, and practicum activities. Read more about the Faculty’s attendance
policy at http://www.edu.uwo.ca/preservice/downloads/Attendance.pdf
Excused Absences: If you are ill, require compassionate leave, or must miss classes for religious
observance, your absence is excused; you will not be penalized but you are responsible for work
missed.
Unexcused Absences: If you wish to be absent for a reason other than illness, compassionate
leave, or religious observance, or feel you must be absent for another reason, your absence is
unexcused. You are responsible for the work you missed, and for any make-up work deemed
necessary. You may also pay a penalty for non-participation. Ongoing irregular attendance and
multiple unexcused absences will result in referral to the Associate Dean and a change in
registration status to conditional. Chronic absenteeism for any reason may provides grounds for
withdrawal from the program.
Language Proficiency:
In accordance with regulations established by the Senate of the University, all teacher candidates
must demonstrate the ability to write clearly and correctly. Work which shows a lack of proficiency
in the language of instruction is unacceptable for academic credit, and will either be failed or, at the
discretion of the instructor, returned to the teacher candidate for revision to a literate level.
Late Penalties:
Normally, the only acceptable reasons for late or missed assignments are illness (for which a doctor’s
statement may be required) or extreme compassionate circumstances. Unexcused late assignments
will be penalized at a rate of 5% per day, and will not be accepted more than 10 days after the due
date unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.
Statement on Academic Offences: Scholastic offences are taken particularly seriously in this
professional faculty. Teacher candidates should read about what constitutes a Scholastic Offence at
the following Web site: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf
Plagiarism: Plagiarism means presenting someone else’s words or ideas as one’s own. The concept
applies to all assignments, including lesson and unit plans, laboratory reports, diagrams, and
computer projects. For further information, teacher candidates may consult their instructors, the
Associate Dean’s Office, and current style manuals. Advice about plagiarism and how to avoid it
can also be found on the Preservice website:
http://www.edu.uwo.ca/preservice/downloads/Plagiarism%20Policy.pdf
Teaching in Roman Catholic Elementary Schools 5445

6. Plagiarism-Checking:
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial
plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All
papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database
for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the
service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario
and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com)
Additional Information:
Electronic Devices:
As a courtesy to members of the class, please put your cell phone on ‘vibrate’ or turn it off during
class. Laptops and other electronic devices may be used in a professional manner to facilitate your
activities in the course, but out of courtesy to colleagues and the instructor, please engage in
personal networking and non-course communication only outside class time—before or after class,
or at the break.
References: Articles and Resources are available at the following web sites.
Catholic Organizations Religious Organizations, Official Documents, Curriculum Materials
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (Statements, publications, links)
http://www.cccb.ca/Home.htm?NL=1
Catechism of the Catholic Church
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
Catholic Information Center Online
http://www.catholic.net/
Catholic Association of Religious and Family Life Educators of Ontario CARFLEO
http://www.carfleo.org/
Institute for Catholic Education (ICE) Toronto
http://www.iceont.ca/
Source for Curriculum and Curriculum Writing Documents
Curriculum Matters
http://www.iceont.ca/
Writing Curriculum for Catholic Schools
http://www.iceont.ca/
Religious Education Course Profiles
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7. http://www.carfleo.org/courseprofiles.htm
Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops:
http://www.occb.on.ca/englishweb/publications.htm
This Moment of Promise,1985
http://www.occb.on.ca/englishweb/publications/promise.htm
Theology
Theology Library
http://www.shc.edu/theolibrary/
Social Justice Websites
The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
http://www.devp.org/
Catholic Social Teaching documents (Theology Library site)
http://www.shc.edu/theolibrary/cst.htm
The Centre for Social Justice in Toronto
http://www.socialjustice.org/
Citizens for Public Justice, Canadian initiatives
http://www.cpj.ca/
Columbian Missionaries web magazine
http://www.columban.com/
Ecology and Religion
A variety of informative articles about the environment, water crisis, agribusiness, seed patenting,
etc, from a faith perspective
http://www.columban.com/maecotheo.htm
Social Justice and Peace.
Various Church documents
http://www.silk.net/RelEd/justice.htm
Scripture Resources
Catholic Update Articles on the Bible
http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU.asp
Interpretation of the Bible in the Church by the Pontifical Biblical Commission, 1993
http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/PBC_Interp.htm
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8. Lectionary of Readings for Sunday and Solemnities (Canadian edition, 1992)
http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/
Sacred Space
http://www.jesuit.ie/prayer
World Religions
Catholic Church in Canada
http://www.catholicanada.com/
Nostra Aetate. Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Vatican II),
1965) http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-
ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html
Religion, Religions, Religious Studies (information about various faith traditions)
http://web.archive.org/web/20070627101627/www.religiousworlds.com/index.html
Virtual Religions Index
http://virtualreligion.net/vri/
Teaching in Roman Catholic Elementary Schools 5445