What Is the Small Sunday School Problem?

It strikes me that the small Sunday School does NOT have a student population challenge.

Small can be good. Public schools complain about class sizes being too large, not too small. Children, generally speaking, thrive in one-on-one interaction with adults. Even the Sunday School that has one three year old, one third grader, and one sixth grader on Sunday morning is not too small for the Gospel to shared enthusiastically and in an age-appropriate manner.

The small Sunday School does NOT have a curriculum challenge.

Even the best curriculum in the world cannot work miracles in overcoming developmental differences among a diverse but small student population, but a curriculum that works effectively to teach thirty or forty Sunday School students can teach three students.

The small Sunday School has a teacher enlistment challenge!

To teach the one three year old, one third grader, and one sixth grader most effectively, you should probably have at least two or three teachers. The high teacher-to-student ratio, often one to one, seems extravagant to some. But, looked at from an educational perspective, it is right and necessary. (For some enlistment assistance check this previous post: http://teachgodschildren.blogspot.com/2011/08/five-steps-for-enlisting-teachers.html.)

The answer?

Make effective, Christ-centered Christian education a priority for your congregation. Impress on parents and congregational leaders the challenging reality that sometimes is does take three teachers (and three sets of teaching materials) to teach three students effectively. Refuse to take shortcuts that will short-change the education of one-third or two-thirds of your students. And know that it really is worth the effort.

Some suggestions:

• Warm up each week with student-teacher conversation. Get used to talking one on one with your student and get him or her used to talking one on one with you.
• Use activities that match your student's preferred learning styles. If he or she like to draw, use drawing as a frequent means of reviewing the Bible account. If he or she likes drama, use it, even if you both have to take several roles.
• Have extra activities in mind to extend the lesson, since one-on-one discussion often takes less time that the teacher guide allows. Look for craft activities that relate to the lesson.
• Allow the teacher (especially if it is you) to flex the lesson schedule. If you prepare this week and have no student to teach, use the lesson next Sunday. Skip next week's lesson, or in the interest of good stewardship drift behind the scope and sequence as needed. Eventually you may be able to skip buying a quarter's worth of the curriculum.
• Give one or two students all the energy and enthusiasm you would give twenty students. No whining about small class sizes.

God promises to bless as you teach His children His Word!