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 Posted 2/16/2009 1:02:08 PM |
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Hi there,
I am intrigued by the idea that mixed-age elementary groups can learn just as well as age-specific groups and even cut down on discipline problems. This seems counter-intuitive, though, and would be a tough sell if, for example, I encourage the church to go with a Group VBS this year. Group says in its FAQ's that "studies" have proven the utility of mixed-age groups, but I don't know what these studies are or where to find them. Would anybody be able to point me to some articles? While I appreciate the testimonies of people in the forum who say they've done it this way and "it's works," I think something more substantial than these anecdotes will go a long way toward convincing me and the volunteers.
Thanks!
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| Posted 2/16/2009 1:42:26 PM |
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The director's manual gives lots of reasons that the mixed age crews work. Introducing new ideas to a congregation that is set in their ways can be tricky sometimes. My first yr. as director was our first using Group. To keep everyone from going into shock from all of the changes, I kept the crews in same age groups and then the following year (after everyone had fallen in love with Group's program) I introduced the mixed age groups. Of course each church is different, this is just what worked for me.
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| Posted 2/16/2009 1:42:46 PM |
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| I'll look because I think I have the references somewhere here. But let me say this, which I have suggested before. You can always encourage your volunteers to try it for one year. What's the big risk, really? You can evaluate things after the fact and then decide what you want to do the following year. It's not like you are making a forever commitment by trying something different one year. Edited: Here is an article I found online quickly and it has several source materials that you might want to check out. http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/mixed.age.group.pn.html
Pictures taken on vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC.
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| Posted 2/16/2009 1:45:00 PM |
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| I don't know about the studies myself. I do know that our church has used Group for about 5 years now and we follow the mixed age crews as they suggest. It really has worked well for us. We were very skeptical about doing it, but it really just flowed well. The older kids help the younger ones. The older kids don't get into their little cliques and turn their noses up at the activities (which I think can sometimes happen otherwise). It really works well. We have about 85 kids. Also, because several crews will travel together to all the stations, even though kids might not have kids their age in their crew, they probably have some in other crews within their group, so they still are able to be together somewhat. Hope that helps.
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| Posted 2/16/2009 1:48:51 PM |
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| Posted 2/17/2009 9:50:18 AM |
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I have never done the mixed age groups but I am really exited about trying it this year. I like to read a lot about what others do in their ministry and I have heard from quite a bit of them that this works. Even the David C. Cook VBS talks about the benefits of it in their program. I just never used it because there were studant books for each grade level and I didn't want to confuse the volunteers. I am not one to follow trends just for the sake of trendiness, but if it works, people will start talking and that is what they are doing. If your concerned about the age groups not making friends within their grades, then you can hold a follow-up event for the age groups to discuss what they learned and have some fun together. Our Preteen group at VBS has always been the hardest to please, so I am willing to take the risk. Which is only breaking a little routine anyways. May God bless you in all your decision making duties. May HIS will be done to minister to your specific group of people.
Sarah
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| Posted 2/17/2009 6:56:38 PM |
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I was the VBS Director at a former church, & we used the mixed-age crews, which worked very well for us. We usually had 40-50 kids there.
The 1st year I helped with VBS at our current church (2 yrs ago), they had been using Group's curriculum for several years, but never used the mixed-age crews. I suggested that they try it, but they didn't, which was fine. Last year, I became the director & asked if we could do the mixed-age crews, & received approval, so we did use them. (I think that maybe they hadn't considered it before because everything else they do is by grade-level, but that's just a guess on my part.) Several people told me that it was the best VBS they'd ever had. I don't know if it was due to the mixed-age crews, or other factors, but it worked well. We had close to 150 kids both years I've been involved at this church.
Anyway, that's been my experience with mixed-age crew. I hope it helps!
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| Posted 2/19/2009 10:13:07 AM |
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| I think one reason is that mixed-age crews work is because in Group VBS, we aren't asking them to do intense learning activities like they have in school, but just to experience and share. So you are free to receive the other benefits of the mixed-age crew that have been stated here. It's when you add in workbooks with reading and questions and writing assignments that you need to start going by age/grade. One alteration we make to the mixed-age crews is that we have K-crews. One group in the rotation in the regular program is all Kindergarteners, and the rest of the groups are mixed-age crews of grades 1-5. When the K-crews get to Chadder, they do the Preschool pages. The other stations just work accordingly with them in the regualr activities, perhaps picking and choosing a little differently, but not much. But looking at this year's pages, I don't know that it will be necessary to do that anymore. In the category of "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," isn't it interesting that in recent years, more and more publishers are having you do it "Group's way?" Or at least building in that option. They even do "Daily Challenges" (but of course they don't call it that).
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| Posted 2/21/2009 10:26:40 AM |
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| We have always done mixed crews and have an attendance of about 200 -210 kids. With about 140 -150 being in the Elementary program. We have separate programs for Preschool (potty-trained 3's through kids who have not yet attended kindergarten) and Junior High/Middle School (kids who have just completed 6th - 8th grade) We try to mix the kids who have just completed K - 5th grade. I love this for a few reasons. I think it's good for the kids to mix with other ages - less fighting, confidence building for the older kids, the younger kids LOVE the attention from the older kids. Also, if they bring a friend, cousin, sibling that is a different age they can still be together. We DO NOT separate kids who came together just for the sake of mixing though. We do allow a space on the registration form for the child to request "a friend they might like to be with." If five same age kids came together we would usually separate them into 2 crews, but keep them in the same rotation. This has seemed to work well for us. 85% of the kids who attend our VBS are from outside our church. Some we know from previous years or our neighborhood etc, but some we have never had contact with. A lot of prayer goes into the setting up of crews - God know the kids but I don't! I am the director, but I also do registration so I feel like I have a better handle on things. I work with the crafts in the elementary which gives me an opportunity to see the crews "in action". This has been extremely helpful and enables me to make adjustments as the week goes on. In some cases, kids are just "oil and water" and needed to be moved around a little or a crew has just grown too large. I try whenever possible to keep them in the same rotation they were in. I have at times had to move certain kids to a stronger crew leader. I kept a mental note for the next year on kids that can not be put into the same crew!!! This gives us more flexibility than being "trapped" in the same small primary or middler room all day. Hope this helps!
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| Posted 2/21/2009 11:51:23 AM |
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| We do mixed age groups at our church. I have helped at other churches who want to keep things by grade level, and always see the problems with bullying and clicks. We are sensitive to kids who are very shy, and invite friends, but since we have up to 20 kids traveling together, things work very well to mix things up. The first year, some of the adults were skeptical, but at the end they were completely sold. It also makes registration easier because you can balance the size of the crews easier. When I have done VBS previously that was divided by grades, there are always one or two grades that are huge and others that are small in numbers, which makes is harder for stations to prepare. This also a great way to grow leadership with your older elementary. They become junior crew leaders as they help the younger kids. When they are able to signup to help in a year or two (we limit middle school help to the preschool area) they are ready to go.
Denni the Decorating Diva
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