Teaching kids -- Inspiring teachers
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Teaching kids -- Inspiring teachers |
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Kids Learn At Different Times Part 1 It is not new information that children learn at different paces and speeds and in different ways. We are all aware of that and try to remember it when putting together our lessons and programs. The point I would like to make today is: You NEVER know when kids are going to grasp the message. Truly – never. You have those that seem like they are hanging on your every word and are so good in class and seem to know all the right answers. You think you are hitting a homerun with them every week. But you don’t know that they are actually grasping the point and that it is making a difference in their behavior and in their lives. Conversely, there are the kids that seem to take all your energy, ignore all your best object lessons and visual hoop-de-doos, and you are pretty sure their parents wonder if you ever teach anything during your service worthwhile. But, in reality, you never know what is happening in their heart. You don’t know how they are soaking in the information or how they process the stuff that is being said while they are busily bugging the child next to them. The age old phrase “You can’t judge a book by its cover” applies here. You cannot know what is happening on the inside of someone by how they appear on the outside. (I Samuel 16:7 reminds us of that fact.) This is true of all people, children included. After 25 years of ministry work, I have stories I can share! But I’m sure you have a host of stories as well. Good stories, funny stories, and sad ones; stories about parents telling me about “Suzy” or “Johnny” sharing a truth with them when playing a game. And I didn’t think “Suzy” or “Johnny” paid attention in the least. How then should we let this truth affect our lesson planning? The answer: GREATLY. One thing I have witnessed over the past few years is a move to make the lessons more “hyper” (if I can use that word). There needs to be a strong energy for today’s kids, definitely. But I we should be careful to not over-hyper our entire class squeezing out the quiet moments. If we do, we might lose those kids that respond to the quiet moments. I have a concern that there is an entire demographic of children that are being forgotten about because they are quieter. It is nothing more than the pendulum swinging too far in one direction. Classrooms used to be set up so that every child was expected to be absolutely silent the entire time and that was unrealistic, but going the extreme opposite is not the solution. Balance is what we really need. Variety is actually the best answer to a great kids’ service. You know, like a buffet – a little of this and a little of that. You’ve got a great lesson, fun music, an object lesson that packs a punch, jokes, funny skit, interactive game, etc. And you also include, strong teaching moments where the truth rings out, prayer time when the kids pray or get prayed for, and times where a worker can look a kid in the eye and ask them how they’re doing and wait for the answer. Ahhhh … children’s ministry. It makes me smile. It warms my heart. |
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