b'Welcome QuestioningAlthough young adolescents areThis can create a desire to explore faith influenced by the thoughts and beliefsthrough questioning, challenging, and of peers, family, and community,expressing doubts or disagreements. It is and they still have a strongessential that we create an environment need to belong, they are alsowhere questions are welcomed developing critical thinking andand encouraged. Helping communication skills, andmiddle schoolers explore are likely beginning totheir questions and express move away from religioustheir thoughts is one of the imagery, beliefs, andgreatest gifts we can offer as practices of childhood.this process can, ultimately, lead to owned faith. Be PresentOne of the spiritualput, they are watching everything we do characteristics of middle schoolersand say, often evaluating faith in terms of is that they commonly seekthe impact they see it having on our lives. adult role models whoMany people can name a specific person live faith authentically.as one of the key reasons they chose to Young adolescents arepractice their faith. The importance of looking for examples of whatthis cannot be underestimated. In fact, it really means to live faithour role as a model of faith might be one and how that affects a personsthe most important elements in helping decisions and actions. Simplyfaith come to life for middle schoolers. Our attention to and care for the individuals who make up our learning environments is a core part of our role as Catholic educators. By truly understanding those who are in front of us, providing engaging lessons with meaningful content, allowing and encouraging the exploration of honest questions, and being the best role model we can be of faith in action, we will nurture faith and help it to come to life for middle schoolers.Click 24/7 at smp.org 232020_Elementary_catalog_FN.indd 23 1/6/20 2:20 PM'