Gay

You've thought through the questions we would have asked you, like how many of the different ages do you have, and how mature are the kids. It would seem like your kindergartners might be ready to 'move up.' But an idea that will help them whether they are in your class or moving up is to try to address their needs. In the older class, they'll need some help with reading. But that is also a great opportunity for your 2nd-graders and even first-graders who are doing well at reading to help out their new friends.

Also, we wanted to make sure you know about the free Teacher Tips at www.FaithWeaver.com. You can check out tips for the week for any age level, and this can be especially helpful when you have older kids (as is your case right now) or younger kids (as your 1st and 2nd grade class would have).

Remember to keep the kids and parents in on the communication, and welcome feedback. You want the kids to know you think they are ready for the next class, and not think you're moving them because you don't like them! :-) And the parents, too.

Hope this helps. We'll be praying for you and your ministry! Keep sharing your thoughts and ideas, and let us know if we can be of service in any other way. God bless you and your ministry!

Deb Bernard

Curriculum Senior Marketing Manager

Gay

We have a class of 3,4, and 5 year olds and a class for Kindergarten through 2nd grade.  I would definitely agree that the K's need to move out of the preschool area and into the older class.  In school they have moved up and to keep them in with preschoolers at church I would think, as you have said, would add to their misbehavior because of boredom.  I have had great success with my 1st and 2nd graders helping out the K's and the younger ones are more willing to get involved when they see the "big" kids participating.

Sarah in Ohio

I commend you for your willingness to teach when no one else will but at the same time I am sad for the children in your program who probably aren't getting the age appropriate teaching that they need.  I can't imagine that a 2 year old and a 17 year old can learn successfully together.

I'm wondering, what's holding your helpers back?  Are they afraid that once they commit they're committed for life?  Do they think that they don't have a gift or enough knowledge for teaching?  Or is it that they just truly don't want to prepare for a class each week?

Here's one idea I've thought of.  What if you take the large group/small group approach?  Have all 20 kids together in the beginning along with your helpers.  You use teaching techniques from FW to teach all children the main story.  After the story has been told, you send helpers out with 3 separate groups in 3 separate areas: preschool, elementary, and jr./sr. high.  Each helper is then just responsible for follow up activities with these groups - workbook pages, games, crafts, etc.  You would "float" from group to group giving help and guidance to whoever seems to need it.  This at least gives some age appropriate learning to all children and the helpers would just be responsible for helping you gather supplies for their activities.

Hope this helps a little.  Again, I commend you for your willingness to serve.

Sarah in Ohio

Kimberly.....wow, my heart goes out to you.  I also would worry that the older kids and teens were not getting what they need. 

When my sis and I took this class, we actually were only filling in for a day when the couple who had been teaching moved.  Then our director said she had found someone to take it but would lose her sub so I said I would be glad to stay with it until she found someone permanent.   Of course, the next question was "would you take it????"!!   I have not regretted it ever and love working with those children and have also found myself with my own 3 yr old granddaughter in my class and she hadn't been coming to church at all.  She loves it and has so much fun and is absorbing so much. 

I have to tell you all that my sister and I were involved in a tornado 5 yrs go and were actually caught out on the road in the middle of an F4 tornado.  We survivied being out in the open during winds of around 240 MPH.  Long story short, we were both taken to the hospital where Jane was released that evening.  I was air evaced to another hospital for repair of a broken neck.  I also broke my right shoulder, left jaw, 2 ribs and had an 8" gash in the back of my head but the broken neck was my most serious injury.  I knew that God had spared our lives and I think now 5 yrs later, I can see why and what He had in store for us both. 

Once again, thank you to all of you for input into our situation and I really appreciate your prayers for us and our solution

Gay