Daily Prayer in the Classroom: Interactive Daily Prayer

Faithfulness to prayer leads to a recognition of the need and an acceptance of the responsibility to pray for one another. By providing short prayers for each day of the school year, Daily Prayer in the Classroom assists teachers, parents, and others in the experience of praying with children each day. Daily Prayer in the Classroom introduces elementary school children to various kinds of prayer; gives teachers confidence in what and how they pray with their students; builds confidence in the adult's ability to lead prayer in the classroom or home; and offers children the opportunity to foster a prayer life. By continuing to pray daily, participants begin to see the connection between prayer and action. As they allow themselves to be open to the Holy Spirit they develop a personal relationship with God and with each other. Daily Prayer in the Classroom consists of short prayers for each day from August through June. Each day begins with an introduction or background followed by questions for discussion and a short prayer. Part One includes prayers for each day of the calendar year including the feasts of saints, prayers for those in need, and prayers for deepening spirituality. Part Two includes prayers for the movable feasts, the incarnation and paschal cycles. A special section of prayers includes blessings of people, places, and things; traditional prayers; virtue; personal, local, national, and international needs, and times of illness or death.

Kathleen Foley, CSJ, has experience in elementary schools as a teacher and in administration. She was the coordinator of religion in elementary schools for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and taught in the theology department at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. She is the co- editor of Focus on Theology, a video and book series for adults, published by The Liturgical Press.