1. Have children use the Bible regularly! Many children do not know how to use the Bible. They may have heard Bible stories, and maybe they were even given a Bible for their First Communion. But they do not know how the Bible is structured or how to discover specific passages or stories within it. By focusing on the competencies of the Access goal, we can help our children become more familiar and comfortable with the Bible. The most critical practice for achieving the Access goal—a practice so basic that many people overlook it—is simply having the children use the Bible. Too often children read Scripture passages as quotations in their textbooks. There may be only one Bible in the classroom, so the catechist or teacher looks up the passage and then hands the opened Bible to a young person to read. These practices do not encourage children to learn how to find Bible passages or to understand how the Bible is organized. So, the first practical tip is to have child- friendly, complete Bibles available in every classroom and have the children use them—regularly! We’ve learned that even young children can look up passages and discover stories with the guidance of skilled and patient catechists and teachers. What we model has a much greater impact than what we simply say! (Give Them access) 1. Have children use the Bible regularly! Many children do not know how to use the Bible. They may have heard Bible stories, and maybe they were even given a Bible for their First Communion. But they do not know how the Bible is structured or how to discover specific passages or stories within it. By focusing on the competencies of the Access goal, we can help our children become more familiar and comfortable with the Bible. The most critical practice for achieving the Access goal—a practice so basic that many simply having the Too often children read Scripture passages as quotations in their textbooks. There may be only one Bible in the classroom, so the catechist or teacher looks up the passage and then hands the opened Bible to a young person to read. These practices do not encourage children to learn how to find Bible passages or to understand how the Bible is organized. So, the first practical tip is to have child- friendly, complete Bibles available in every classroom and have the children use them—regularly! We’ve learned that even young children can look up passages and discover stories with the guidance of skilled and patient catechists and teachers. What we model has a much greater impact than what we simply say! (Give Them access) the Bible regularly! (Give Them access) the Bible regularly! 26 26 Inspire! Volume 1 / / Spring 2019