A Smart Start

For Teachers
Ever wonder why Sammy sings her heart out during praise time, but hardly talks when there’s a group activity? It’s because she’s smart! And did you notice the way Gabe’s eye’s lit up as he worked on the matching-the-picture game? He’s smart, too!

Know Your Kids!
The kids in your small group learn best in a variety of ways. That’s why it’s important that you study your students to discover which activities really connect. When you know how your kids are wired, you can select options that you know they’re going to love!

Identify the ways your kids learn best. But don’t rely solely on this test to tell you how your kids tick—watch their expressions each week as they act out stories, create collages, solve puzzles, do experiments, and more. Use the multiple intelligence icons to take note of which kinds of activities really engage your kids’ attention.

S-T-R-E-T-C-H Yourself!
You’ve got your own set of ‘smarts’—so while some of the Hello, Know, Grow, and Show exercises will inspire you, others will seem a little strange. Don’t limit your session to the activities that reflect your smarts! Consider your kids and stretch yourself to try something new. Check out the “Using Volunteers” box at the beginning of each leader’s guide. You’ll find tips for recruiting occasional helpers to lend their smarts to your sessions.

A well-planned session will include a balance of activities that reflects a variety of learning styles. Chances are your group has a mixture of all the smarts, so use this session planning sheet (.pdf) to help craft a lesson that will connect with everyone!

For Coordinators
When is the Christmas program?
Is there Sunday school the weekend of Thanksgiving?
Which unit am I teaching next month?

As you settle into this year’s schedule, consider how you’ll stay connected with your team.

Email Etiquette
Everyone suffers from email overload, but no one denies its convenience. If your leaders are online, consider these tips for making your ministry messages short, snappy and specific.

• Coordinate schedules quickly and skip the never-ending which-date-works-for-you emails by using a free online tool like http://www.meetingwizard.com/ for events or meetings. This amazing time-saver allows you to suggest several dates and then creates a graph that shows you who is available when.
• Save leaders time by sticking to one topic per email, and using the subject line to highlight useful information like the time and date of an event—Re: 6:00pm Christmas Meeting 11/10/08.
• Create several specific groups in your address book so that you can quickly key in “K-1 Teachers” instead of searching for individual addresses. Include only the people that really need to know what’s in the message.
• Offer words of encouragement in every email, along with one or two contact numbers for support.

Sensing Support
Keystrokes will never replace conversation. Even with excellent emails your leaders may feel like they’re flying solo each Sunday as they meet with their own small groups of kids. So help your team sense your support by

• Praying together 15 minutes before Sunday school starts, weekly or monthly. If your program occurs during the service, encourage everyone to arrive at church a little early. Emphasize prayer as an important part of preparation and welcome spouses and kids to join in.
• Posting teacher’s names, photos, and grade levels along with the Sunday school schedule on a bulletin board where kids, teachers, and parents can see them.
• Passing through the halls a few minutes before class begins and after it ends to check in with teachers, answer questions, and lend a hand.

Recommended Resources

Equip your Sunday school teachers to start off the year right! Three new teacher training workshops you can lead are now available for free download or for purchase. Each training book includes a full script, instructions for the trainer, and reproducible handouts. Here are quick summaries of each new workshop:

• Tell it Again! Telling God's Story to Young Children: Explores how teachers and families can tell The Story to little ones in ways that will make them want to hear it again and again and to live it day in and day out.
• Goodbye Classroom Chaos: Offers proactive strategies you can use or share with your Sunday school team to create nurturing environments for sharing God's word.
• Pray With Me!: Explores the role of prayer in shaping one's faith and strengthening one's relationship with God.

Looking for ways to support the families in your congregation as they nurture the faith of kids and teens? Check out Nurture, the new parent newsletter that includes short articles in regular columns like Ages & Stages, Fear Factor, and Faith Talk.