18729530

Toward Success in the Classroom

grant@blam.online (Blam Websites) — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 13:14:35 GMT

We all like to have success in life. Our success can come in many forms, success in family relationships, success in our education and work endeavors. This week we want to suggest some ways that can lead to success in the Sunday School classroom.

Respect

In their book, “The Discipline Guide For Children’s Ministry” Jody Capehart and Gordon and Becky West

comment, “Respecting children is the first step toward creating a positive classroom and minimizing

discipline issues.” Too often when working with children we react negatively when they do not exhibit

the kind of behavior we expect. Our negativity is shown through our attitude and the words we use.

Through the use of demeaning words and comments we can easily destroy a child’s self- image,

however we show our respect for children when we correct them with carefully chosen words and when

we encourage good behavior. As adults we desire to be respected by others and how much more do our

children need our respect as well.

We show our respect for our students by speaking words of acceptance and approval. In Mark 10:14

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”

While we may not approve of their behaviour, responding to them as Jesus did will give them a sense of

worth and when we do so the child’s behaviour will begin to change in response.

Meet your student’s needs

Even as adults, life has a way of challenging us, leading to discouragement and frustration, how much

more will life impact the emotions of our students. Studies have shown that when children are happy

they are more likely to be patient with themselves and others and deal with the struggles of life just a

little bit better. Children need to know they are loved and cared for and when they do they are less

likely to react with anger when they encounter life’s difficult circumstances.

Among the needs that children need to be met are boundaries that set limits on their behavior and an

understanding that there are consequences for breaking those boundaries.

Follow the rules yourself

How many times have we as adults been in situations where we are trying to pay attention to a speaker

when there are others who stand in the back of the room and talk as if nothing is going on. When we

establish classroom rules we need to honour those rules just as we expect our students to do. Students

are frequently more observant that we give them credit for and we can be certain that if we as teachers

do not follow the rules they will not see the need to do so either. As adults and teachers, we are to be

examples to those we teach and lead.

Offer choices

As adults we like choices. We like choices in the food we eat, the clothes we buy the music we listen to.

We have a saying “variety is the spice of life.” It is the same with children. While it’s not always

convenient to offer choices but when it is possible to let children choose they will be more comfortable

which will ultimately help them be happier and lead to better behavior. Providing choices does not

require us to provide a multiplicity of activities. It may be as simple as letting the child chose between

markers, crayons or coloured pencils for a particular activity.

Helping children understand the consequences of poor choices is also an opportunity for learning.

Give each child your attention.

Help your students take flight

Babies and toddlers are very dependent on parents and teachers and that is how it should be but when

children reach the ages of 4 and 5 our role begins to change. We need recognize that children begin to

mature we need to step back and give them room to make their own choices and fail every once and a

while. By letting children make choices and experience the accompanying risks we help them develop

their relationship with God. While it is difficult to watch a child make a bad choice and have to deal with

the consequences it is much more difficult to watch and hear of young people making poor and life

changing choices because they did not have the opportunity to make choices when they were young.

As our children grow we as teachers change our role from being an authority figure to becoming a guide.

We need to be prepared to give our children their wings as they grow, learn and mature. As we step

back and let our children learn to make their way we can become mentors that will develop lifetime

relationships with our student.

Let yourself experience joy

One of my favourite movies is the original “A Christmas Carol” starring Alistair Sim as Scrooge. As the

movie draws to a close and Scrooge is experiencing the joy of Christmas he says to himself, “I shouldn’t

be so happy”. Too often as teachers we seem to feel the same way but instead we need to take joy in

the progress of our students. We need to take joy as we begin to see the behavior of a troublesome

student begin to change and they accept discipline without protest. We need to take joy when our

students begin to understand the principles that are taught and not just the facts. Take joy when you

begin to see your students begin to know, love and obey God. We need to say with the Psalmist, “For

you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” (Psalm 92:4,

ESV).

The Goal of Bible Centered Ministries ministry is “to see that every boy and girl in Canada has the opportunity to hear about Jesus.” One of the ways we accomplish this goal is to provide training for children’s ministry volunteers. We want to help you reach the children that live in the community around your church. Give us a call at 1-877-272-9262 or email training@bcmintl.ca.

The Basic Needs of Kids

grant@blam.online (Blam Websites) — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 13:14:35 GMT

As children’s workers we sometimes get so caught up in our program planning and preparation that we forget that it’s important to focus on the needs of the children we work with. Its also true that often discipline problems are the result of our neglecting to meet the needs of our children. Here are some suggestions as to ways we can meet those important needs.

Children need to feel Important

Children feel they are important when they feel they are part of what’s going on, not on the

outside looking in. Some of the ways we can help our children feel important are by calling our

children by their names, use name tags or picture charts to help you learn and remember their

names. Children also feel important when we take time to listen to them. Sometimes we get so

busy with the program that we forget that our children have their own concerns and need a

listening ear. Giving our students the opportunity to serve others and play an actual role in the

class by helping to set up chairs or hand out worksheets will also help meet the need of self-

worth. Publicly recognizing the child through a special honour such as “Helper of Week” can be

very significant in meeting this basic need.

Children need to be complimented

We all like to receive complements and probably remember one of our own teachers who

complimented us when we were students; so why not make it a point to complement our

students for their help or for an accomplishment. We can do this verbally but sometimes a

written note means a little extra to a child. Encouraging words can change a life.

Children need acceptance

Children may think they have to do something outstanding to be noticed. Our students need to

know that we accept them just as they are and that they don’t have to make straight “A’s” or

make the rep hockey team to be accepted. While we are not required or expected to approve

of bad behavior our children do need to know they are loved and respected. Children need to

hear our words of acceptance and approval even as we address wrong behavior. As we are

God’s messengers to our children they need to understand that they have our unconditional

love even in the middle of behavior correction.

Children need to know what is expected

One of the mistakes we often make is to fail to clearly let our students know what is acceptable

behavior. If our students sense that you don’t respect them and don’t expect them to behave

well, their behavior will match those expectations. We need to have clear and written

expectations so there is no doubt as to what behavior is expected. Our students intuitively want

to please us and want to know how they can respond appropriately. One of the ways to

accomplish this is to invite our students to be part of determining what those expectations are.

Children need security

One of the ways that children begin to feel secure is through developing relationships with their

teachers. This can only take place with the consistent and regular presence of their teachers.

As teachers we need to follow through on our commitment to teach. If we hope our students

will attend every Sunday they need to be able to count on us to be in class. Often this need is

disrupted by a system of monthly or even weekly teacher rotation and the students never really

get the chance to get to know and trust their teacher.

Children need examples

As teachers we need to be sure we follow the same behavior expectations that we expect our

children to follow, in other words, we need to walk the talk. If we want our students to be quiet

and listen to the lesson our volunteers and others need to do so as well, not stand at the back

of the room and talk. We need to avoid at all costs the “do as I say not as I do” syndrome, it just

doesn’t work. It is also one of the quickest ways to lose any respect that our students have for

us.

Children need guidelines

Children need to know and understand the class guidelines. Too often we expect children to

behave in a certain manner but do not provide the rationale behind the rules. While we don’t

always have to give the reason for class rules we must be able to explain them if necessary. If

we do not have a clear reason for a rule perhaps its time to evaluate the rule’s purpose. When

we are asked “why” for a certain rule, “Because I told you so, that’s why” is not a valid reason.

Too often this answer leads to frustration on behalf of both the student and teacher. An

effective method of developing class guideline is to ask the students to help formulate the

them. Giving the students this opportunity will help them “own” the rules and be more willing

to follow them. Children also need to not only understand the consequences of misbehavior

they also need to know when they acknowledge their disobedience there is forgiveness.

PS The Goal of Bible Centered Ministries ministry is “to see that every boy and girl in Canada

has the opportunity to hear about Jesus.” One of the ways we accomplish this goal is to provide

training for children’s ministry volunteers. We want to help you reach the children that live in

the community around your church. Give us a call at 1-877-272-9262 or email

training@bcmintl.ca