Calvin Synod Herald, 2006 (107. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2006-09-01 / 9-10. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 5 last week. Positives of this model Children learn through action, people who never taught find they do, rotation addresses the whole person, not just the intellect. It allows kids to know more people in the church, thus, enlarging the family of God for them. Drawbacks of this model Teachers need to develop their own curriculum. It could start out excellently and slowly degenerate. Teachers must make their students see that they believe in what they teach. The Contained Classroom was developed to combat the following problems: 1. To teach illiterate children, this explains why it was patterned after the school classroom. 2. To combat the idea that children are just small adults and could leam like adults. This model introduced age appropriateness. Positives of this model Scope and sequence: Engages the mind with the grand narratives of Scripture. It is easy to teach with minimal preparation time. It has a curriculum guide for teachers, good for volunteers, has good content. Students get to know each other to form Christian gangs. Students are safer with dangerous questions more easily answered by teachers, progress can be measured. There is more face time between teachers and students. Students leam better in small groups and have less discipline problems. Drawbacks of this model It is often perceived as the traditional or old model. When teachers and students do not relate well, there is no alternative for the student for the entire year. A child alone in a room with a teacher is more at risk for abuse. It could bore the students since the teachers are the king or queens in their own kingdoms in a contained classroom. Modified Arena Sometimes called “Large Groups/Small Groups” model. In many ways this model is retro. The large group portion is a more polished and targeted opening exercise. This model was developed to combat the following problems: 1. A lack of willing volunteers, especially in the very large and very small Sunday Schools. 2. A lack of preparation time among potential volunteers. 3. A lack of space for individual, age-graded classrooms, but a great way to use a gym or all-purpose room. Positives of this model With a few dedicated, gifted Christians who love children, a church can guarantee that its teaching program for children is excellent. The model allows for a wide variety of formats. It can keep kids on the edge of their seats. Not every adult leader has to be strong in traditional teaching. Today’s children are visually literate. Volunteers for small groups are easy to come by because little or no preparation is necessary. Children are easily separated. It breaks down today’s school model. It has some of the best features of the one-room schoolhouse with children building friendships across age levels. Pete then moved to bible teaching and with group participation used a format sheet entitled: Using BIBLE-IN-LIFE Effectively The first part of the sheet asked what three ingredients are required for instruction: They were - student, teacher and curriculum. The second part was “metaphors make a difference.” This is where we stopped in mid-air to define the word metaphor. The dictionary defines the word metaphor as: a figure of speech in which one object is likened to another by speaking of it as if it were that other, as he was a lion in battle; distinguished from a simile. Examples were discussed for the following: Traditional Transformational 1. Metaphors for the learner 2. Metaphors for the teacher 3. Metaphors for the curriculum Steps in bible curriculum 1. Motivate 2. Facts 3. Practice 4. Apply Pete Zickefoose from the David C. Cook Publishing Company was the keynote speaker at the Christian Education Conference in July Steps in Lesson preparation 1. Read the guide 2. Evaluate the options in the guide 3. Study key verses 4. Aims and objectives - prayer 5. Adjust steps for students 6. Become familiar with the story Tips for better teaching 1. Know your learners - touch their life outside of class 2. Expect excellence - memory work, skits, have fun 3. Teach God’s role in your life (continued on page 6)
