Academics

Making Sense of Parents as ‘Primary Educators’

Parents are the first and foremost educators of their children. Catholic educators can sometimes ignore this fact, especially when students appear to lack solid formation and even basic care in the home. Trained to be experts in pedagogy and curriculum, teachers and especially college professors may not think much about […]

The Call to Teach: Facilitator’s Guide

  PowerPoint of The Call to Teach   The Call to Teach: Facilitator’s GuideQuestions for Reflection Denise L. Donohue, Ed.D., and Daniel P. Guernsey, Ed.D.   Directions for Use This facilitator’s guide for The Call to Teach assists in leading discussions about the ministry of teaching in Catholic education. It […]

The Core of a Catholic Curriculum

As the lead evaluator of institutions applying for Newman Guide recognition, I often get asked what makes a “Newman Guide” academic program. I want to highlight here some of the most important aspects, drawing from our resources on the K-12 school with principles relevant to all levels of education. Traditionally, […]

The Call to Teach: Church Guidance for Catholic Teachers

  The Call to TeachChurch Guidance for Catholic Teachers Denise L. Donohue, Ed.D., and Daniel P. Guernsey, Ed.D.   About The Call to Teach The original version of The Call to Teach was written in 2015 by Dr. Jamie F. Arthur. This significantly revised version was written by Dr. Daniel […]

Guide for the Catholic Reader: Selected Reading List, Rubric, and Rationale for Catholic Education

      Guide for the Catholic Reader Selected Reading List, Rubric, and Rationale for Catholic Education Denise L. Donohue, Ed.D., and Daniel P. Guernsey, Ed.D.    Preface This guide is designed especially for Catholic education broadly—including parents, diocesan and school leaders, teachers, librarians, homeschool curriculum publishers, and textbook publishers—and […]

Catholic Habits of the Mind

  By Denise Donohue, Ed.D., and Patrick Reilly   Catholic education integrally forms students in mind, body, and soul so they might know and love God and serve their fellow man. Because of this mission, Catholic education has a long tradition of excellence in harmoniously forming students’ intellects and characters […]

Eucharistic Literacy: Forming Teachers as Effective Catechists

At Mass, you often see mothers whispering into the ears of their squirming toddlers. Occasionally you can catch the words, “Look, it’s Jesus!” Shortly after the consecration, the congregation echoes loudly this whispered declaration of faith, “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the word, have mercy on […]

Eucharistic Liturgy: A Q & A with Archbishop Cordileone

It was a special honor for The Cardinal Newman Society: in June, President Patrick Reilly had the opportunity to interview Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone in a public conversation about the renewal of sacred liturgy and Catholic education.  Archbishop Cordileone is a hero of ours. He has been a champion of faithful […]

How to Promote Eucharistic Devotion at Your School

Teaching young people about the Eucharist is important, but as Pope St. John Paul II warned in Catechesi Tradendae, the academic life can become too “intellectualized” without sacramental and Eucharistic devotion. Our students need to know of Christ’s Real Presence in the Mass, but then they need to love and […]

Eucharistic Living in College

Among young adult Catholics, nearly three-quarters do not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. It’s a staggering statistic, but it’s not all that surprising given the state of our culture and many college campuses today. Most colleges, even many wayward Catholic colleges, give little regard […]

What Makes Catholic School Libraries Different?

Adapted from Literature, Library, and Media Guide for Catholic Educators By Denise Donohue Ed.D. and Dan Guernsey Ed.D.   As Catholic education’s mission is different, a Catholic school library is also different since all elements within an institution—including its library—should adhere to its mission. Catholic school libraries don’t have to […]

Classic Literature Rises Above Agendas, Ideology

  If education is the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another as G.K. Chesterton once said, then literature is the substance nourishing or corrupting that soul. With this sublime view, it’s no wonder literature now sits in the crosshairs of today’s culture wars as […]

Three Guiding Principles in Choosing Literature

  It is clear, the cancel culture is bent on canceling the good, the true, and the beautiful. The latest area they seek to override is literature. Classic literature, which has been used in education for generations, is now deemed racist or sexist and needing to be replaced by more […]

Suggested Standards of Christian Anthropology to Address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in Catholic Education

Teachers working in Catholic education can use these Standards for Christian Anthropology along with The Cardinal Newman Society’s Catholic Curriculum Standards to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusivity from a Catholic worldview. These standards help students see themselves and each other through God’s eyes and will allow them to […]

Suggested Catholic Curriculum Standards to Address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in Catholic Education

Teachers working in Catholic education can use these standards taken from The Cardinal Newman Society’s Catholic Curriculum Standards to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusivity from a Catholic worldview. These Standards help educators go deeper into a discussion of how God works throughout all time and space and how […]