I remember a line from a Christian education seminar I took many years ago (though I confess I don't remember the person who spoke it); it went something like this: "The teacher who insists on covering everything in a single session, usually covers up more than he or she reveals."
Is the point too subtle? Our task as Christian educators is to reveal the truth of God's Word to those we teach. We don't want to cover up, gloss over, or confuse. The teacher who tries to cram everything into the lesson, even if the teacher guide says it can be done, runs the risk of failing to teach the main points sufficiently.
It is for this reason that I always emphasize that the teacher is the final editor of any Sunday School lesson. It is a responsibility that you cannot ignore. Plowing blindly through every word of the teacher guide will leave little time to reflect on what the students are learning, or not learning. The publisher provides material for a long session with average students. You may have a much shorter session and you have very specific students for whom you can, and should, tailor that lesson.
The successful final edit identifies the main points, especially Law and Gospel, and the activities that will most be likely to teach these points to my class, while leaving enough time for the interaction that will tell me that the students got it.
Please, don't try to cover everything.
God's blessings as you teach His children His Word.
I am quite thankful for this honest post. I really appreciate the concept of the teacher being a final "editor" of any material!
ReplyDeleteAs a younger DCE, this is something I most likely neglect reminding the excellent teachers in our congregation- regardless of the age of the students!
Matt, it is a humbling task to edit lessons that teach God's Word and not one any teacher should take lightly, but also not one any teacher to ignore. TN
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