I'm looking for some input and ideas from parents of middle school aged kids.  I'm proposing a "curriculum enhancement" at our parochial school.  It basically has the kids read each week the readings of the Mass for the following Sunday.  Then, they answer a set of questions (that lead them to uncover the meaning and the connection between the readings).  The questions are leading.  That is, they are designed to uncover for the kids some important truths.  The answers are less important than the thought process behind reading and thinking about them.

The bottom line is that it is too much "on top of" what they already are required to do.  It's too much for the teachers to take on over and above what the need to be doing to begin with.  However, the school is open to sending these questions home and encouraging the parents to go through them with their kids.  Approximating 10 minutes to read the passages (hopefully the school will provide each child with a Bible) and another 10 minutes or so to read and answer the questions.  20 minutes total each week.

But since this is purely voluntary (read:  cannot tie it into their religion grade because the teacher is not teaching it in the classroom), it would be good to find some sort of incentive to encourage participation outside the classroom in the project.

And that's why I'm asking you.  :-)  What would motivate your school kids in the middle school to do something above and beyond the required school work?

So far, we've come up with 1) an increase in the "effort" grade for Religion class, 2) a certificate of accomplishment at the end of the year.  Also (and my favorite so far) is some sort of quarterly in-school recognition...even tied into some sort of service.  Like time away from class to help in the parish or the school or even outside the school.  But something that would be fun or motivating to kids this age.

Thoughts?

Ideas?

The spiritual benefits include:  Being prepared for the following Mass's Liturgy of the Word; Getting to know the Bible better; Working with and learning side-by-side with their parents (so, continued education for parents as well).

Thanks!

Ipioch-I think your idea is great and hope and pray for it to be successful. I teach 7th grade CCD and like your school, the Mass readings are not a "formal" part of each week's lesson. We have so much to cover in the year and even with the newly increased weekly 90 minute classes, it is difficult to cover it all. However, I do bring the reading's into class each week in one form or another. This work's best when the readings and a particular week's lesson are similar. In other cases, We'll use it as an opening reflection and I try to "lead" the kids in a discussion.

The incentive's and motivations you have listed are ok, but having had middle-school aged children of my own with a few more on their way, you may also need to add in some purely "self-interest" motivations. Perhaps some sort of field trip or if leaving the school is not an option, bring in a movie (Champions of Faith or other moral/religious based DVD) just for those who completed the assignments. This was , they get the recognition, but they also get a change in their routine. Plus kids love to get pulled out of "regular" classess for something like this. I think this would also motivate those kids that initially did not partcipate.

Well good luck. Your parish is lucky to have someone like yourself seeking to plant the seeds into the next generation.

Our third and fourth eldest (of eight) are currently in middle school.

Remember the primary purpose of the lector's work is to bear fruit with the faithful listening at Mass, not the lector himself (or herself).

We've probably all experienced lectors who were very poor readers, could not be heard, had obviously had not prepared, did not present the sacred scriptures with the appropriate emphasis, or emphasis which confused the linkage between the OT, psalm, NT and Gospel readings.

How about a recurring homework assignment for each Monday morning which asks what it was about each of the readings from Sunday that make it appropriate for them to be together? Then they can present their view, and hopefully cite the homily.  The teacher could present a homily that ties it together (there are many available on the net).

As you go through the year, you can re-visit the senses of scripture and how the Church traditionally has taught us to read scripture.

I think most middle schoolers would find it interesting to "get it."

In my niece’s parish the CCD program offers the children the opportunity to serve as greeters, ushers, choir, cantors and lectors once a month during the school year at Saturday evening Sunday Vigil Mass.  The children are dressed up and so often their faces reflect pride and satisfaction.  The priest makes a special effort to teach the readings to children and parents.

In regard to lpioch’s question, What would motivate your school kids in the middle school to do something above and beyond the required school work?  Sometimes the best answer comes from the parents and the children since they will be working together on this.

This is an example of the set of questions sent home for the readings of the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sept. 16th):

(Please forgive formatting issues)

Leading Questions for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus:

Does God seem rather mean in this account, threatening to destroy his own chosen people?

I thought God was perfect and all-powerful. Is it possible for God to “change His mind”?

Whose people are the Israelites? God's or Moses'?

The LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people.”

But Moses {said}, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people?”

Is it possible that this was actually a test for Moses to see how faithful Moses would be to the promise God gave to his fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel)?

Do you see how important it is for us to pray to God for others? Not because we “change God's mind” but because His grace helps us become part of the solution.

Responsorial Psalm:

God was unhappy about the Israelites worshiping the golden calf in Exodus. Each one of us sins, turning our eyes from God to some other idol (be it ourselves, our pride, money, power, whatever). Who is the only one that can wipe out my offense, that can wash away my guilt, that can cleanse me of my sin, that can create a clean heart in me?

In the actual Response at Mass, we all say, “I will rise and go to my father.” between the Psalm 51 verses. How often do I think about God, who cleanses me and makes me new, as Father?

1 Tm:

In his letter to Timothy, St. Paul recognizes that he sinned against God (a blasphemer, a persecutor, arrogant), yet Jesus considers him trustworthy. How is this possible?

Did Christ come into the world to save sinners or to destroy them?

By being merciful to Paul, Christ shows how patient God can be with each of us. Which is more likely to be most patient when we do what is wrong? A master (of slaves)? An employer (of servants)? Or a father?

(Remember, however, that our own fathers are not always as patient as God. They're human, too.)

Luke (Gospel)

Who do the Good Shepherd and the woman with the 10 coins represent?

According to the parables of the Good Shepherd who “lost” a sheep and the woman who “lost” a coin, which brings more joy to heaven: those that are righteous? Or those that repent?

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger son sinned – but came to recognize he did wrong and repented:

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;

I no longer deserve to be called your son.

The older son was the “righteous” one:

Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders;

yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.

Would you describe the older son as having worked with love for his father? Or had his heart grown cold and jealous – even though he technically never did anything wrong?

When the Prodigal Son returned, what did his father do to greet him that is very human and very fatherly?

The father in the parable represents God. How often do I think of God as Father?

Which of our 7 sacraments brings us back to the Father after we sin and repent?

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Sample Commentary on the readings of the 24th Sunday in OT:

(remember, the idea is that the commentary is simple enough that an 8th grader could learn to write one on his own)

In the readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, God wants us to know him as a father. He wants us to be true to ourselves and recognize that we sin and turn away from him. But he does not want to punish us for that. Instead, he wants us to turn back to him with repentance and love. When we are repentant of our sins, God makes us clean again, and he trusts us to help those that are around us.

lpioch,

Very good! I recommend also reading the homilies linked below.  They are short, but touch on some very good points that I think many middle schoolers would understand, but not have thought of.  

(24th Sunday, Year C): 

A Veneer of Forgiveness 

He Welcomes Sinners - And Dines With Them 

Why God Became Man