That's a Good Question

Much of the interaction that takes place in your Sunday School class is the discussion that occurs between the teacher and the students, and—in upper grades—among the students themselves, on the Bible passage or topic under consideration. Lively discussion and assimilation and understanding of information are the result of good questioning techniques on the part of the teacher. Do you spend more time than you’d like lecturing, talking, or “filling the silence” in class? If your teacher-talk-to-student-talk ratio is out of balance, these tips may help.

Three Levels of Questions
We can ask three levels of questions during Bible discussion—information questions, analysis questions, and personal questions. All three are important to successful study. Each level gets deeper into the text and it is generally helpful to ask information questions before asking analysis questions and analysis questions before personal questions.

Information Questions
We ask information questions at the first level to verify the accuracy of the participants’ understanding of the text. “What does this say?” “Where was Paul when he wrote the letter to the Romans?” “To whom was he writing?” Information questions assess the degree to which the students have heard the words of Scripture.
• Use the “reporter” questions—who, what, when, and where? These questions get at the facts of the Bible account.
• Avoid questions that can be answered with yes or no. Such questions almost always steer the students to the answer you desire. Occasion “yes or no” questions should always be followed with a “reporter” question.
• Gear your questions to your class. The questions in the teacher guide are of necessity written with a broad audience in mind. You, however, know your students better than the editor of the material. You can revise or create questions that will get at the heart of things for your students.
• Don’t ask questions that everyone can probably answer. Students will tend to turn off their critical thinking skills and give you only what you ask for.
• Don’t ask questions that no one can answer—at least not very often. This can lead to frustration and will cause some students to withdraw from further participation.

Analysis Questions
We ask analysis questions at the second level to deepen the participants’ understanding of the text. Analysis questions require the students not just to hear the Bible text but assimilate and integrate that information with what they already know to increase their understanding. “What does this mean?” “Why did Paul write that?” “How would the Roman Christians have felt about that?”
• Analysis questions should always find their answers in the text or in the text combined with other knowledge the students are known to have. They are not intended to elicit speculation or opinion.
• Follow up unexpected answers; don’t label them wrong. You may learn something new about the text—or about the participant—by asking how he or she came to that conclusion.
• Silence does not mean you’ve asked a bad question. It may indicate you’ve asked a very good question and the students are deep in thought. Wait out the students’ silence whenever possible. This can be a painful wait for many teachers. Count silently to ten (or even 20) while resisting the temptation to rephrase the question or help the students.
• Don’t rephrase the question. Many of your students will then be considering how to answer two questions—your first question and your rephrased one. Mental gridlock can result.
• Avoid “questions by the paragraph.” Participants can’t answer a string of questions or a question that they don’t understand. Keep your questions short and allow the students to answer each one before moving on.

Personal Questions We ask personal questions at the third level to help participants apply Scripture to their own situations. “How is your life situation like that of the Roman Christians?” “What would your friends do if you acted that way?”
• Don’t request embarrassing information or examples. This will dampen participation. Almost as much good can come from asking “When might children your age sin against this commandment?” rather than “When do you sin against this commandment?”
• Respect opinions. Information and analysis questions may have wrong answers; point out correct answers in the text. Personal questions are trickier. Ask follow-up questions, state your beliefs, and let Scripture speak clearly. Remember that the Law condemns us all; it can be helpful to speak it in the plural: “God’s Word condemns us when . . .”
• Avoid questions that begin “Don’t you think . . . ” They are really statements masquerading as questions to which we don’t want the students to answer “no.”
• Encourage participants to ask their own questions. Don’t ignore the questions they ask. If you don’t have the answer, ask for the opinions of others, steer the questioner to an appropriate resource, or offer to research it yourself.

Practice and Prepare
Applying these levels of questions and tips can be hard work. It is a good practice to write out (or rewrite) the discussion questions you will use in class as you prepare to teach. Then you can evaluate them before you use them and grow in your questioning skill. As you write the questions, make sure you can answer them—and would want to. This advance preparation will help to guarantee interesting discussion and lots of student participation.

(This content was first published in Teachers Interaction magazine and is (c) 2005 and used with permission.)

How Do You Know that They Know?

Assessment is not typically a highly visible concern in Sunday School. Teachers do not give the students tests or quizzes. They do not give grades. No one fails or is retained. Most Sunday School teachers do not keep portfolios or assign homework.

That could give the impression that the Sunday School is not concerned about acheivement, that we don't care whether the students actually learn and retain the concepts we teach. Certainly that is not the case.

So the question arises: "How do we know that the students know the points we have been teaching?"

I have written elsewhere on this blog about the importance of student talk (check the second part of this post as well). The essence is this: we can verify what the student is taking away from the instructional session only if we are hearing from them or seeing their learnings displayed in some way. Call this lesson feedback. Here are a few ways you can solicit such feedback from your students:

* Invite the students to retell the story.

* Ask lots of good questions.

* Assign free art, where the student draws a picture and then displays and tells about it.

* Invite students to act out the Bible account.

* Play Bible review games. (The Growing in Christ curriculum, especially in the middle and upper grades has several great resources of this nature.)

The bottom line is, we don't know what they know until they tell us: in words, or drawings, or writing, or actions.

How do you figure out, from week to week, what they know? Share your ideas.

God bless you as you teach God's children His Word.

How Will Your Teachers Grow in 2012?

Effective teachers are the key to strong Sunday Schools.

Yes, curriculum is extremely important, since a flawed curriculum is a huge obstacle for any teacher, especially one with limited background or experience.

But even the best curriculum may fail if the teacher is unskilled, inexperienced, unmotivated, or not well prepared.

So, how will you work to equip your teachers, and yourself, for great Sunday School education in the new year?

Here are some tools to consider.

The Teacher Guide
The Growing in Christ teacher guides are packed with helpful information and tips. If a teacher uses the guide fully and regularly, he or she is likely to grow. In particular, the key point, Law/Gospel points, and biblical commentary on the first two pages of the lesson are packed with potential. I suspect, though, that the teacher who has taken too little time in preparation may be skipping over these gems.
The Sunday School Spot Web Site
CPH is working to improve this site in the new year, but it even now has some wonderful opportunities for growth. One of best are the "Seedlings" podcasts. These weekly recording are highlighted on the first page under the Teacher Spot tab. where a link brings up a 20- to 30-minute discussion of the next Sunday's lesson. Former editor Pam Nielsen shares her wisdom with Sunday School teachers each week courtesy of the folks at Issues, Etc. (We failed to post podcasts in about six of the last 52 weeks, but we plan to do significantly better in 2012.)
Teachers Interaction
If you are not yet providing this magazine for your teachers, by all means, consider it for 2012. Teachers Interaction is the only magazine devoted specifically to strengthening the Lutheran Sunday School teacher for the crucial task of teaching God's children His Word. I will happily send a sample copy to anyone who would like one. Post a comment to this post, or e-mail me at tom.nummela@cph.org.
Teacher Meetings and Training Opportunities
How do you train your teachers? Are teacher meetings and training courses a thing of the past? I'd love to hear what you do in your congregation along these lines.

God bless your task in the year ahead.

The Children's Christmas Service

Friends, just a short post before Christmas about that wonderful tradition in many churches: the Sunday School Christmas Service. Perhaps yours has already taken place. Perhaps it is scheduled for Christmas Eve. In our large congregation there are often three such services, two in the weeks before Christmas and one on Christmas Eve. I hope yours was a wonderful event for the congregation, its children, and their families!

Now it's time to start thinking and planning for next year. The first step in that planning process should be defining the purpose for the event. I see the following goals as important ones to consider.

Share the Gospel

The primary purpose of any worship service or Christmas program would proclaim God's Word of grace, the reason He sent His Son, Jesus, to take our human form for a time, life a perfect life and die a sacrificial death in our stead, and win for us eternal life with Him in heaven. Entertainment and photo opportunities don't measure up!

Let the Children Tell the Story

The children's Christmas service or Christmas program is a wonderful opportunity for the children of your Sunday School to share the Gospel with their family, friends, congregation, and community. In the process, it should become a story they understand and can express in words that could be their own.

Tell the Story Accurately

Sad to say, there are many resources offered for your use on this occasion that stray far from the truths of Scripture.It should not need to be said that snowmen and Santas are really not part of the equation.

Tell the Story Winsomely

That is not to say that the service or program cannot enjoyable and touch the hearts of those who see it. Narrations that are well rehearsed, familiar songs and hymns of the season, and a visually rich environment can be important considerations.

What else needs to be said?

What will you be looking for in your next Christmas service?

Thanks for making it another occasion to share God's Word with His children!

What Is the Value of Sunday School?

What is your Sunday School for? How you answer that question will guide all the critical decisions about Sunday School.

• Many congregations are facing tight budgets in these tough economic times. Every expenditure, including the cost of Sunday School material, is being reconsidered with at an eye to saving money. Perhaps they will look at a different, less expensive Sunday School curriculum.
• A publisher has mailed an attractive flyer to your Sunday School director featuring their new curriculum. It looks fun, interesting (which is the job of such a flyer). Some teachers are all in favor of trying it out. Should you?
• A parent reports that it is difficult to get her child to attend Sunday School; the child says it is boring. He would rather be signed up for the city soccer league and be out on the field on Sunday mornings. You wonder whether some new style of Sunday School would make it more attractive to families with similar issues.

If your Sunday School is in competition in family schedules with other activities as a form of entertainment, a nice opportunity to have fun with friends, someone has missed the point. It is unlikely that your Sunday School can compete in this arena, and I wonder why you would want to.

Sunday School is valuable as an agency that assists families with the spiritual nurture of the children and adults in those families. It is a place where the proclamation and study of God's Word combats the forces of sin, death, and Satan, offering grace and forgiveness for those burdened by guilt and mired in sin. Sunday School, seen in that way, offers far more than any game of soccer.

If that is not what your Sunday School does, change is in order. If that is not how Sunday School is perceived by the families of your congregation, it is time to get that message out. Sunday School is an opportunity for God's children to see Jesus and know the salvation He came to win for us on the cross.

That kind of Sunday School will not be in competition with soccer, will not be evaluated only the basis of fun, and will more likely be seen as worth the cost.

How do we communicate the real value of Sunday School to the families we serve? What tips can you share for presenting that message?

God's blessings as you teach His children His Word.

Christmas Plans

I've seen some posts this past week on e-mail list I follow on the topic of how to deal with Sunday School on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Most, almost all, of the responses fall into two groups: those who are going to cancel and those who are going to some form of alternate activity.

I'll admit I'm hard pressed to choose between the alternative of teaching nothing or turning the class over to a video of dancing and singing vegetables who preach moralism instead of God's grace.

Those who follow this blog will know where I stand on this one: there is no better day to teach a solid lesson about God's gift of a Savior from sin, death, and Satan, than on the day we celebrate the Nativity of that Savior and no excuse for teaching moralism in Sunday School ever.

I know that staffing your Sunday School can be difficult on these holidays and I know that low attendance can make planning and teaching a challenge. But in the long run, how we handle these Sundays will say a lot about a congregation's priorities.

How will your congregation meet these challenging Sundays?


How can a congregation prepare for the staffing and attendance challenges without sacrificing the opportunity to teach God's children His Word?

Why a Lutheran Sunday School Curriculum?

I am trained and certified in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as a director of Christian education. It is a title that I am proud to hold because I think it says something about my abilities, education and preparation for my work, professional status, and commitment to the ministry of teaching God's Word. I take my theological preparation seriously, and I treasure the doctrinal heritage of our Church and its emphasis on teaching both Law and Gospel and distinguishing clearly between them as we do so.

Therefore, it puzzles me and makes me sad when I see Christian education leaders in LCMS congregations (be they pastors, DCEs, lay people, or others) who place so little importance on the theology of Lutheran Church as they select materials for use in the congregations they serve. Can they really not see that material prepared by Baptist, reformed, or non-denominational publishers will consistently fail to teach correctly about the Means of Grace? Even material prepared for other Lutheran denominations will reflect that church body's beliefs about God's Word and their social agenda.

Don't be fooled!
* Material that avoids teaching about Baptism and the Lord's Supper in order to appeal to a broad market of Christian churches misses the very tools that Jesus has given the Christian to nurture faith and sustain a Sunday School student's daily walk as a child of God.
* Material chosen for is appearance or fun activities rather than its theology shortchanges the participants in the long run.

I've heard some Sunday School leaders justify their choice of heterodox materials by saying "I review the material and edit the theology" or "My teachers add Lutheran doctrine as they teach." But if the material omits the Means of Grace, it will rely on Law as the way to salvation. How much editing will be required to strip that kind of error from each Sunday School lesson? How can a lesson that teaches legalism and moralism be corrected by "adding the Gospel"? We cannot teach both error and truth.

I pray that God will guide those who teach His children His Word in the choice of material that is faithful to that Word.

What characteristics do you place first when evaluating Sunday School material?

How can we better communicate the importance of doctrine as we make curriculum choices?