This is for the teacher who feels like she is not getting through. I have been in the same situation. Please do not give up and feel like you are not getting through to them. I had a class of really roudy boys. (Sometimes I didn't even feel like they listened long enough to even hear a word I said.) Here's a few tips.
Repetition - I use standard publishing material and sometimes I would get bored when lessons repeated but this is a big key to learning. Each time they hear a story they may pick up a new detail. If possible follow up with a movie about the story now and then.
Games - play games but give them multiple choice answers to help them. Sometimes they may not be able to think of the answer but if they hear it they know it is right. This helps them build it into their memory.
Busy work - give them something to do with their hands while they listen. Coloring a picture while you tell a story sometimes helps keeps them quieter but they are able to listen without getting bored.
Pray - pray for each child and find that one thing you love about each child and let that show through when you teach. Children can sense frustration or love. It impacts their learning. My boys now have gone on to another class but by the time they left I was amazed at how much they new even though I felt like they didn't listen.
Mary Beth
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2) Respect for church building?
I need help with lessons to teach to K-3 students about being quiet in church and classes. How do I go about this without offending parents and driving them away? In Christ Cathy
A great idea recently shared with me is to have the children in your ministry build a wall using paper bricks. The bricks are earned when a designated amount of money or items has been collected. Once the wall is complete, the money or items are sent to the mission of your choice.
I was going through the archives on the topic of the Lord's Prayer. I found one of interest from Sept 23, 2003. I tried to send an email to the address that was listed but came back.
I was wondering if anyone has anything on this or if the person who posted this still receives these postings but has just changed their address I would appreciate hearing from you.
I any one has anything please email it to suttonnancy78@hotmail.com . Thank you for your help.
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He's Risen Eggs
Use a child-friendly Bible and the twelve He's Risen Egg Holders to tell the Easter story. Each egg picture is numbered to correspond with its explanation. Let your class color and cut their own set. Get the complimentary "Palm Branches" pattern with explanations at:
I have Ist grade boys in my Sunday school class also. The best way for me to get their attention is to do as many activities as possible where the kids get up and move around. The boys seem to learn better with hands on activities. Sometimes I have them stand up and stretch for a minute if I seem to be losing their attention during longer periods of discussion. I usually give them treats like candy if they can relay back to me the main points of our lesson. They listen more carefully if they get to have candy for answering a question! A other techique that has been helpful for me is to have them fold their hands if they are having trouble sitting quietly. Hope this helps. God bless you, Misti Bridges jmabridge@yahoo.com
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6) Prayer with Primaries
Great idea, Hollie. I have been using strips of coloured construction paper to write down answers to prayer and connecting them to make a chain. I like your idea of writing the request and posting it, as well.
Thanks, Carol
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7) Teaching Reverence?
At what age and how, could showing reverence to God be taught? Or is this something that comes out of their growing love of Jesus?
Carol
--from SSTN: as soon as you begin talking to children -- even in the womb :) you can begin creating an environment of love and respect for God through songs, prayer, and later with lifestyle and direct teaching. And certainly as our love for God grows, reverence grows as well, but like everything good, it begins with with wise teaching and actions. (We never have to teach children how to be bad or disrepectful.) The first three commandments show us how to show love and respect for God AND why it is good for us! For example: The first commandment says:
Have no other gods. Exodus 20:3. In this commandment, we learn of God’s love by knowing that God is the only true God. He is the one who created us, loves us, and is powerful enough to help us. He is the only God we will ever need. Therefore, why would we want any other "gods"?
Am thinking a group could go "Whatever Holiday Caroling" at any time with similar results. (Or could sing at a nursing home.)
I had my group make cards for Christmas and Valentine's Day and did a similar thing at a local nursing home. It is an incredible experience for the young and old alike. I would be real careful with candy though. Many at a nursing home are not able to have any -- learned this at Christmas! I would like to go again around Easter but would like the kids to make something other than a card but does not involve candy. Does anyone have any suggestions? (Cheap!!!) Thanks
Angie in California
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9) Servanthood Film?
Does anyone know of any films that address the issue of "Servanthood" or "Servitude"? Looking for a film to show on Retreat. Or a film that goes along with Isaiah 26:8 Thanks Bethbeth_garvin@bellsouth.net
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10) Heaven / Race?
Looking for ideas for teaching children about heaven, lessons, object lessons, etc. I am having trouble finding anything out there to teach elementary children about heaven.
Also, looking for ideas to create an "Amazing Jesus Race" to help children learn the importance of appreciating each other's gifts and abilities as well as differences based on having teams of kids move to different rooms decorated within the church to represent difference countries similar to the TV show The Amazing Race. Has anyone done anything like that or have any suggestions?
Thanks! Linda Annett lannett@fellowshipreformed.org
--from SSTN: please respond to SSTN so all may benefit. Also, check out the Amazing Race game in the Games section at: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com AND, check out all the "heaven" responses at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/archives.html
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