10 Tips You'll Want to Know About the People You Teach

Age is not always the most accurate tool for determining the level of understanding of an individual. Heredity; environment; physical, emotional and social development all impact on a person's faith development. Understanding how the people in your classroom think and learn will help you plan and teach more effectively.

Ages 3-4 very short attention span (5-10 minutes); keep activities short, simple, and varied respond to bright, attractive learning settings; display their artwork at their eye level learning to use large and small muscles through play develop attitudes of wonder and sympathy by exploring new things feel the only viewpoint that exists is theirs; egocentric follow the only viewpoint that exists is theirs: egocentric learn by touching objects and through repetition imitate their families' faith think of Jesus as a friend accept what they are told about God.

Faith development is directed toward the spiritual growth and strengthening of the individual in relationship with God, the Word of God, the church, staff, others, and God's world.

Ages 5-6 attention span of about 10-15 minutes; small motor coordination improves greatly need to play and pretend first hand sensory experiences are valuable let them handle, smell, taste and listen in the age of loving God, family, self understand taking turns and sharing expect prayers to be answered literally and immediately see Jesus as a hero who was kind and good (past tense) don't try to explain miracles to this age group.

Grades 1-2 active; attention span increasing; changes activities frequently would rather stand or sit than use chairs that are too large enjoy group work; need a sense of belonging worry about following rules; particularly interested in biblical stories of right and wrong motivated by praise; accomplishments contribute to self esteem eager to talk about their experiences; ready to learn from the contribution of other children and the teacher may be confused about the distinction between God and Jesus need encouragement and guidance; help them pray in their own words see God as a friend, parent or judge think of God as having a body "somewhere" enjoy developing friendships; alternate group work with individual activities.

Grades 3-4 enormous curiosity! can become very absorbed in projects; love to figure things out enjoy expressing themselves in creative ways have lots of questions and will expect honest answers developing leadership and organizational skills; involve them in planning future activities becoming more independent of family; a Sunday school teacher willing to share personal faith stories can be very important in faith development can accept their own personal failures and feel secure in God's love and forgiveness beginning to see God as a spiritual being beginning to see prayer as conversation and not just "asking for things" Provide for differing abilities by planning open ended activities that can be completed in a variety of ways.

Grades 5-6 do not like to be called children! physical development varies greatly full of energy; want to be challenged with a variety of learning activities beginning to struggle with abstract ideas highly developed sense of fairness want to see the connection between Bible stories and their daily life want to explore their own ideas and feelings see Jesus as teacher beginning to see prayer as their private communication with God need a teacher with a good sense of humor and an energetic teaching style.

Junior High growing and changing constantly; expect moodiness and self-conscious behavior encourage abstract reasoning but expect some bizarre conclusions peer relationships important; teamwork activities are preferred increasingly able to sustain conversations; need to practice this without constant teacher intervention need strong adult models who are willing to express their own Christian witness frail self image; need an environment where each child can feel comfortable sharing with ridicule or exclusiveness age of searching and questioning need adults to establish safe boundaries but will almost always challenge these limits recognize God as a personal friend and advisor.


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