I've helped out a lot this summer for my church's Sunday School program. The "School Year" teachers get to take the summer off, and volunteers were scarce.
An issue that cropped up for me is one that you might find familiar. As the kids signed in each week, they were to mark their grade level; we used last year's grade, or as I started calling it later in the summer, "the grade you've graduated from." (That has a nice positive ring to it, don't you think?)
Then in mid-August the kids went back to school, so the DCE (my wife) changed the sign-in sheets to request "the grade you are now attending." That's great!
It strikes me, though, that a case could be made for promoting students at the beginning of the summer, just after they have completed their year of school. If your students meet in standard graded classrooms through the summer, they might meet their new teacher and use the next grades material. It might be a bit more work in the spring, but less work to start in the fall. The students might have a slight, positive boost in attitude. And you could still have a Rally Day or Christian Education Festival in the fall even though the students have already been promoted.
What do you think?
When do you promote your Sunday School students to the next grade? Why?
What are the pros and cons of promoting the first week of June? The first week of September?
Thanks for all you do to teach God's children His Word!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Yes, You Can, and Should, Adapt Your Lessons
Last week's post bears a little follow up. I can simply not emphasize it enough: teachers can, should, and will adapt each week's lesson to best teach God's Word to the children He sends them.
You Can
Just in case your were waiting for permission, now you have it. You can change the lesson plan printed in your teacher guide to accommodate the resources you have available, the room in which you teach, the abilities of the students you will have in class, and your own teaching preferences.
You Should
Not only can you do this, but it is a good thing. The editor does not you or your situation and cannot accommodate for those things. I offer our customers a great starting place, but I rely on the teacher to make the final adjustments based on local preferences and needs.
You Will
And though I take time to emphasize these things, the reality is that you certainly already adapt your lessons on the fly, probably every week. If time grows short, you cut to the end. If you appear to be finishing early, you extend things a bit. If the language in the guide seems awkward, you reword. If you think an activity is dumb, you skip it. If you could find the object suggested, you wing it. That's what teaching is all about!
Please Don't . . .
So, you can, should, and will adapt your lessons as you prepare and teach them. But, please! Don't revise the theology! One of the strengths of Growing in Christ Sunday School materials, is that they have been carefully written, edited, and reviewed by folks chosen for their ability to teach God's Word in accordance with Lutheran theology, that is to say, what the Bible really teaches. If you believe something has been misstated, your pastor is a ready resource for verifying what is true and should be taught. Though we strive at CPH be be consistently faithful and error-free, our systems occasionally skip a beat. Don't hesitate to let us know, if you think that has happened.
We earnestly desire that God's Word be taught to His children correctly.
What do you find yourself revising most frequently in the lessons you teach?
Which do you think is easier: revising a bogus activity or revising the theological basis for a lesson?
You Can
Just in case your were waiting for permission, now you have it. You can change the lesson plan printed in your teacher guide to accommodate the resources you have available, the room in which you teach, the abilities of the students you will have in class, and your own teaching preferences.
You Should
Not only can you do this, but it is a good thing. The editor does not you or your situation and cannot accommodate for those things. I offer our customers a great starting place, but I rely on the teacher to make the final adjustments based on local preferences and needs.
You Will
And though I take time to emphasize these things, the reality is that you certainly already adapt your lessons on the fly, probably every week. If time grows short, you cut to the end. If you appear to be finishing early, you extend things a bit. If the language in the guide seems awkward, you reword. If you think an activity is dumb, you skip it. If you could find the object suggested, you wing it. That's what teaching is all about!
Please Don't . . .
So, you can, should, and will adapt your lessons as you prepare and teach them. But, please! Don't revise the theology! One of the strengths of Growing in Christ Sunday School materials, is that they have been carefully written, edited, and reviewed by folks chosen for their ability to teach God's Word in accordance with Lutheran theology, that is to say, what the Bible really teaches. If you believe something has been misstated, your pastor is a ready resource for verifying what is true and should be taught. Though we strive at CPH be be consistently faithful and error-free, our systems occasionally skip a beat. Don't hesitate to let us know, if you think that has happened.
We earnestly desire that God's Word be taught to His children correctly.
What do you find yourself revising most frequently in the lessons you teach?
Which do you think is easier: revising a bogus activity or revising the theological basis for a lesson?
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Is This a Good Test of a Sunday School Curriculum?
"The math questions are too hard."
I confess that I don't get it, but that complaint has been registered about our middle grades Growing in Christ materials. It is one of the reasons cited for a possible change of curriculum. Sigh.
I could argue that the math questions cited, used as part of a puzzle that reviewed a key biblical text in the lesson, were not too hard. In checking a number of on-line math practice resources, all the skills involved are taught in most third-grade classes. I would readily admit, however, that skill development in elementary students varies widely and the problems will undoubtedly seem hard for some students. And the use of math problems in a Bible lesson is not my first preference anyway.
I could also argue, though, that mathematical intelligence is one of the many "ways kids are smart" according to the theories of Howard Gardner and, in varying instruction to engage a wide range of learning styles, using math activities with students who are mathematically inclined is not a bad strategy.
But I really don't need to go far with either of those arguments.
My big concern is with using any single activity, or the inclusion of a type of activity on an occasional basis, as rationale for rejecting an entire curriculum.
The essence of any Christian Sunday School curriculum is its ability to share the Gospel. If you can find two or more such curricula (good luck with that), then you can get fussy about other elements. I promise you, that it will be much easier to edit, adapt, and supplement the activities in a curriculum than it will be to correct bad theology and infuse Gospel.
Really! You cannot expect that any curriculum will meet your needs in every respect! You can read more about why I say that in my first post to this blog; you can read it here. But I would always make theology, Jesus Christ as Savior in every lesson, the non-negotiable starting point.
What criteria do you look for in Sunday School curricula?
God's richest blessings as you teach His children His Word.
I confess that I don't get it, but that complaint has been registered about our middle grades Growing in Christ materials. It is one of the reasons cited for a possible change of curriculum. Sigh.
I could argue that the math questions cited, used as part of a puzzle that reviewed a key biblical text in the lesson, were not too hard. In checking a number of on-line math practice resources, all the skills involved are taught in most third-grade classes. I would readily admit, however, that skill development in elementary students varies widely and the problems will undoubtedly seem hard for some students. And the use of math problems in a Bible lesson is not my first preference anyway.
I could also argue, though, that mathematical intelligence is one of the many "ways kids are smart" according to the theories of Howard Gardner and, in varying instruction to engage a wide range of learning styles, using math activities with students who are mathematically inclined is not a bad strategy.
But I really don't need to go far with either of those arguments.
My big concern is with using any single activity, or the inclusion of a type of activity on an occasional basis, as rationale for rejecting an entire curriculum.
The essence of any Christian Sunday School curriculum is its ability to share the Gospel. If you can find two or more such curricula (good luck with that), then you can get fussy about other elements. I promise you, that it will be much easier to edit, adapt, and supplement the activities in a curriculum than it will be to correct bad theology and infuse Gospel.
Really! You cannot expect that any curriculum will meet your needs in every respect! You can read more about why I say that in my first post to this blog; you can read it here. But I would always make theology, Jesus Christ as Savior in every lesson, the non-negotiable starting point.
What criteria do you look for in Sunday School curricula?
God's richest blessings as you teach His children His Word.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Five Steps for Enlisting Teachers
There is no magic here, but let me share a process that worked for me in my 15 years of ministry. Perhaps you already do many or all of these things.
1. Enlist the help of one or both pastors in preparing a list of potential teachers. You want to be able to say, “Pastor X and I agree that you would make a good teacher for our Sunday School and we hope you will prayerfully consider it.” Grandparents, parents, and single young adults are all great candidates.
2. Prepare an honest estimate of how much time each week the task will require (at least an hour, perhaps two, of preparation and an hour of teaching; more if you require your teachers to follow up on absent students or attend SS teacher meetings). If the time required is be judged as too much for those you are enlisting, you may need to consider a system where teachers alternate. I resist this, but when it is necessary, I’d go for a system where a volunteer teachers serves two weeks and is off a week, working in a team of three (one teacher, one assisting, and one off each week). This provide continuity for relationships with the students and, oddly enough, it is often easier to enlist two or three teachers than it is to enlist one, since they both know they will have help. Also set a realistic term of service, such as a quarter. This is a pain for recruiting, but might be necessary. Volunteers will resist giving you a blank check on their time or accepting a “life sentence” to teach forever. You can always invite them to re-enlist.
3. Send a letter of invitation to teach and follow up in person or by phone. Don’t take a yes or no answer to this first personal contact; instead answer questions and invite the person to consider and pray about things for a week. Then follow up again. Invite the prospective teacher to sit in with one of your best teachers to see what it is like.
4. Offer training and support. Place new teachers with experienced teachers in a team. Lead the volunteer step by step through the teacher guide and material before their first class, so that they see all the resources available and know how to use them. Offer to sit in with them in their first experience. No one wants to take on a responsibility and then feel like they are failing; do everything you can to make sure each teacher feels successful.
5. In all your contacts, elevate the position of Sunday School teacher for the potential volunteer. Point out the opportunity to impact the lives of young Christians for eternity. Call this service what it is, “one of the most important volunteer tasks in the church.” Install your teachers before their service, thank them publicly and often.
What hurdles do you encounter in finding Sunday School teachers, or in being a Sunday School teacher?
What works for you as you enlist teachers?
God bless your efforts to enlist other in teaching God's children His Word.
1. Enlist the help of one or both pastors in preparing a list of potential teachers. You want to be able to say, “Pastor X and I agree that you would make a good teacher for our Sunday School and we hope you will prayerfully consider it.” Grandparents, parents, and single young adults are all great candidates.
2. Prepare an honest estimate of how much time each week the task will require (at least an hour, perhaps two, of preparation and an hour of teaching; more if you require your teachers to follow up on absent students or attend SS teacher meetings). If the time required is be judged as too much for those you are enlisting, you may need to consider a system where teachers alternate. I resist this, but when it is necessary, I’d go for a system where a volunteer teachers serves two weeks and is off a week, working in a team of three (one teacher, one assisting, and one off each week). This provide continuity for relationships with the students and, oddly enough, it is often easier to enlist two or three teachers than it is to enlist one, since they both know they will have help. Also set a realistic term of service, such as a quarter. This is a pain for recruiting, but might be necessary. Volunteers will resist giving you a blank check on their time or accepting a “life sentence” to teach forever. You can always invite them to re-enlist.
3. Send a letter of invitation to teach and follow up in person or by phone. Don’t take a yes or no answer to this first personal contact; instead answer questions and invite the person to consider and pray about things for a week. Then follow up again. Invite the prospective teacher to sit in with one of your best teachers to see what it is like.
4. Offer training and support. Place new teachers with experienced teachers in a team. Lead the volunteer step by step through the teacher guide and material before their first class, so that they see all the resources available and know how to use them. Offer to sit in with them in their first experience. No one wants to take on a responsibility and then feel like they are failing; do everything you can to make sure each teacher feels successful.
5. In all your contacts, elevate the position of Sunday School teacher for the potential volunteer. Point out the opportunity to impact the lives of young Christians for eternity. Call this service what it is, “one of the most important volunteer tasks in the church.” Install your teachers before their service, thank them publicly and often.
What hurdles do you encounter in finding Sunday School teachers, or in being a Sunday School teacher?
What works for you as you enlist teachers?
God bless your efforts to enlist other in teaching God's children His Word.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)