The T.I.T.U.S. Project: Implications of a Catholic spiritual and faith formation programme on the teaching of classroom Religious Education in Australia

ABSTRACT

This paper presents findings emanating from a larger investigation. In essence, this qualitative project sought to uncover the ways in which early childhood Religious Education (RE) teachers’ experience of a formation-based program, known as The T.I.T.U.S Project (Testament In Teachers Using Scripture), transformed their own religious literacy and subsequently, their teaching of RE; it is these findings that form the focus of this paper. Religious literacy is explained as consisting of more than content, to include the complex relationship of content with both context and learner. It is in this nexus between content, context and learner that The T.I.T.U.S Project resided. With existing literature clearly identifying teachers’ lack of confidence in teaching scripture within RE, that is, in engaging with context and context as Cullen explains it, this research is significant. The findings from the qualitative survey, interview data and reflective journals suggest that teachers’ own personal formational experiences and growth in religious literacy transformed their teaching of classroom Religious Education, including their confidence in teaching scripture.

KEYWORDS:

• Spirituality
• faith formation
• religious literacy
• catholic schools
• early childhood

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christine Robinson

Christine Robinson is the coordinator of the early childhood programs including the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood & Care: 0–8 years), the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood and the Master of Education (Early Childhood). Christine taught within the Catholic Education system where she has held the positions of classroom teacher in the early childhood and primary years as well as Assistant Principal Religious Education. Christine holds a PhD in young children’s spirituality, a Master’s of Education in early childhood from the University of Western Australia and a Masters of Education in Religious Education from the University of Notre Dame. She specialises in teaching within early childhood and religious education across the undergraduate and post graduate degrees.

Jessica Fic

Jessica Fic is the Coordinator of Professional Learning and Formation at the Catholic Institute of Western Australia. Jessica is engaged in providing opportunities for Catholic school staff to experience and further develop their own faith as well as the faith of their students. Prior to joining the Catholic Institute, Jessica has taught across the early childhood and primary years within Catholic schools in Western Australia.