Sunday School Teaching

[SPALATIN]

I was informed last Sunday that I would be the sole sunday school teacher for the 5th and 6th grade. There are only about 6 or 7 students at the most in the class. What I want to know is whether I should stay with the Sunday School lessons provided by the church or if I should consider something different.

I also am not like the other teacher who always brought a treat for the students. I don't like the idea of them expecting a treat each week. I also don't have that much money to dole out for treats all the time. That and I don't want to give them something sugary and then send them home like a pinball bouncing off the walls.

Would like your input on this please.

[ctay]

If the lessons are provided by the church you may want to stick with it. All the classes are probably doing the same lessons but at a different level which each grade would understand. If you want to do something different, you could talk to your pastor about it and get some input.

I help out with the 2nd and 3rd grade class at my church, the lady that teaches the class brings some kind of snack every week, too. You might could do it every once in awhile and bring something healthy.

[Jim47]

I still remember my structured Sunday school lessons. My first Sunday school teacher was very old fashioned and diciplined. He is now nearly 90 and still one of my best church friends. While wanting to do something different isn't bad, I think the churches lessons must be good. You can always add to them and bring up additional scriptures etc.


As for the treats. I don't agree with them myself. Kids are always eating these days and not getting enough excercize. Good eating habits are very more important.

The lessons are what should be focused on, not snacks. ;)

[SPALATIN]

I still remember my structured Sunday school lessons. My first Sunday school teacher was very old fashioned and diciplined. He is now nearly 90 and still one of my best church friends. While wanting to do something different isn't bad, I think the churches lessons must be good. You can always add to them and bring up additional scriptures etc.


As for the treats. I don't agree with them myself. Kids are always eating these days and not getting enough excercize. Good eating habits are very more important.

The lessons are what should be focused on, not snacks. ;)

Thanks Jim,

I will take this under advisement. I agree about the snacks. Kids need more sugar like they need a hole in the head. :D

If they have a hole in their head their brains will leak out. I am more interested in feeding their brain than I am their stomach. I will probably stay with the plan and every now and again deviate only when I feel it necessary to do so.

[KEPLER]

Thanks Jim,

I will take this under advisement. I agree about the snacks. Kids need more sugar like they need a hole in the head. :D

If they have a hole in their head their brains will leak out. I am more interested in feeding their brain than I am their stomach. I will probably stay with the plan and every now and again deviate only when I feel it necessary to do so.

If they get the answers wrong, give them Coke; if they get them right, give them Pepsi. Of course, if I were in your class, I would deliberately get the answers wrong. I like Coke. :)

Seriously, Jim & Ctay are correct I think. But in terms of adding a little something, if you have a copy of Luther's Table Talk, it might be fun to incorprate a little bit of Luther into their diet. Alternatively, start inocculating them against various forms of pietism that tend to sneek in. But definitely stick with the general structure.

They're also correct about no snacks. Unless it's fresh fruit or something.

[SPALATIN]

If they get the answers wrong, give them Coke; if they get them right, give them Pepsi. Of course, if I were in your class, I would deliberately get the answers wrong. I like Coke. :)




I wouldn't do that to anyone. I might allow one to choose which one they want but I would never make Coke or Pepsi the losers reward. I want to encourage learning not discourage it.

[Edial]

I was informed last Sunday that I would be the sole sunday school teacher for the 5th and 6th grade. There are only about 6 or 7 students at the most in the class. What I want to know is whether I should stay with the Sunday School lessons provided by the church or if I should consider something different.

.....
Scott, you are the teacher.
You are put in that position.

Is your lesson better and/or more applicable than the usual one?

If it is - go for it. :)

Thanks,
Ed

[SPALATIN]

I just want to make sure that I am teaching Orthodoxic and Orthopraxic principles and not heterodoxic garbage that many church espouse today.

[mnphysicist]

On a very practical level, its tough to write a full blown curriculum on your own first time out. One really needs to beta test it, and going live on your students with untested material can make for experiences you won't forget. (both positive and negative).

Otoh, modifying existing curricula can work wonders, and its a lot easier than spinning your own from scratch. This is even if all you work off of is the base concepts from the structured material.

Roger on the treats thing, maybe for a special occasion, but its really out of place imho.

Now, this is a tough one; your first day does sets the tone. If you screw up on day 1, it takes forever to get back on track. I learned this the hardway.

I taught for a few years, and it was a great experience, I had some great classes, and some not so great, but the teacher, really does become the student. It is amazing.

Ron

[Rechtgläubig]

If they get the answers wrong, give them Coke; if they get them right, give them Pepsi. Of course, if I were in your class, I would deliberately get the answers wrong. I like Coke. :)

What ever happened to a good ol' rap on the knuckles with a ruler?

:sigh:

[ChiRho]

Did someone mention diet and Luther's table talk? Well, here goes:

"Whenever the devil harasses you, seek the company of men or drink
more, or joke and talk nonsense, or do some other merry thing.
Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves, and even sin
a little to spite the devil, so that we leave him no place for
troubling our consciences with trifles. We are conquered if we try
too conscientiously not to sin at all. So when the devil says to you:
do not drink, answer him: I will drink, and right freely, just
because you tell me not to." ~ Martin Luther *

As far as the sugar rule with kids; I say give 'em an overload! But, be sure to do this about an half hour before class so they will be nothing but still, relaxing in a sugar-induced diabetic coma. I know, I know, I'm a monster.


Pax Christi,

ChiRho









*sent to me by a far too long and selfishly ignored friend. I am shameful for my silence. My friend, atleast know this, I have selfishly isolated myself from nearly everyone- equally. In this case, it is truly me and not you.

[SPALATIN]

Ok, things have changed just a little. I am now going to be teaching the Junior high group instead of the 5th-6th graders. The materials I have ended in November though they did not finish the book because of Christmas program practice was during the Sunday School time. I was wondering if I should just pick up where I left off or if I should for 1 week do a lesson that is fun and in the spirit of the Advent/Christmas and then pick up with a new set of lessons in the program that we are beginning in January. Would appreciate your input

[Jim47]

I think doing something for Christmas/Advent would be great. There is always enough time to cover the other lessons.

[Edial]

[QUOTE=ChiRho]Did someone mention diet and Luther's table talk? Well, here goes:

"Whenever the devil harasses you, seek the company of men or drink
more, or joke and talk nonsense, or do some other merry thing.
Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves, and even sin
a little to spite the devil, so that we leave him no place for
troubling our consciences with trifles. We are conquered if we try
too conscientiously not to sin at all. So when the devil says to you:
do not drink, answer him: I will drink, and right freely, just
because you tell me not to." ~ Martin Luther *

...QUOTE]
I can't believe Luther said that.
Oh, I believe he said it, I just can't believe he did, especially the last sentence.

What was Luther's experience with the devil that he is taking it to such a complex level?

Thanks,
Ed

[Edial]

Ok, things have changed just a little. I am now going to be teaching the Junior high group instead of the 5th-6th graders. The materials I have ended in November though they did not finish the book because of Christmas program practice was during the Sunday School time. I was wondering if I should just pick up where I left off or if I should for 1 week do a lesson that is fun and in the spirit of the Advent/Christmas and then pick up with a new set of lessons in the program that we are beginning in January. Would appreciate your input
Scott, you should know by now whether your lessons are good or not. :)

Are they good? Do kids historically relate to them? If so - go for it.

Also, you might want to spruce up the existing material with your own "flavor".
The previous instructor's "flavor" were the snacks.
Yours might be Biblical games. puzzles, ...

Good luck, :)
In Christ,
Ed

[SPALATIN]

[QUOTE=ChiRho]Did someone mention diet and Luther's table talk? Well, here goes:

"Whenever the devil harasses you, seek the company of men or drink
more, or joke and talk nonsense, or do some other merry thing.
Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves, and even sin
a little to spite the devil, so that we leave him no place for
troubling our consciences with trifles. We are conquered if we try
too conscientiously not to sin at all. So when the devil says to you:
do not drink, answer him: I will drink, and right freely, just
because you tell me not to." ~ Martin Luther *

...QUOTE]
I can't believe Luther said that.
Oh, I believe he said it, I just can't believe he did, especially the last sentence.

What was Luther's experience with the devil that he is taking it to such a complex level?

Thanks,
Ed

Luther along with many in that day believed that to get the devil to flee from you you should break wind when you feel him near or swear at him. If you read the reason in his statement. He did this so that Satan could not trouble our consciences with trifles. Often that is where Satan will attack us the most when we are focused on a trivial matter so much that we make it more important than anything around us.

[Edial]

[QUOTE=Edial]

Luther along with many in that day believed that to get the devil to flee from you you should break wind when you feel him near or swear at him. If you read the reason in his statement. He did this so that Satan could not trouble our consciences with trifles. Often that is where Satan will attack us the most when we are focused on a trivial matter so much that we make it more important than anything around us.
Fascinating.
His observation is correct that one of the Satan's attacks occurs is when a person concentrates on trivial things.

But Luther's method of resisting the devil is not good.

I am not saying it will not work here and there. The devils are indeed sensitive to taunting, since they are quite proud themselves.

But it is a guaranteed failure in a long run.

And I will not be surprised if they'll pretend to be resisted, so to "pull one in" deeper into the swearing and wind breaking habits.

Thanks,
Ed

[SPALATIN]

[QUOTE=SPALATIN]
Fascinating.
His observation is correct that one of the Satan's attacks occurs is when a person concentrates on trivial things.

But Luther's method of resisting the devil is not good.

I am not saying it will not work here and there. The devils are indeed sensitive to taunting, since they are quite proud themselves.

But it is a guaranteed failure in a long run.

And I will not be surprised if they'll pretend to be resisted, so to "pull one in" deeper into the swearing and wind breaking habits.

Thanks,
Ed

I don't know about that. I feel Satan trying to get me on to trivial matters often. I can't say that I have used swear words, but I like the idea of breaking wind to get rid of him. that way if someone has an idea that maybe satanic they would get a whiff and stay away.