My interest in teaching Sunday school definitely has ebbs and flows. I love the time in the actual classroom. I’ve gotten better at dealing with large numbers than I used to be. And the hugs at the end of the day are more than sufficient compensation. It’s the Saturday prep work I could do without. There never seem to be enough hours on Saturday to fit in errands, household chores, and the creation of an amazing, Biblical craft to go with Sunday’s lesson.
I have learned of late that the less preparation I actually do, the better things seem to go. I’m not sure what this says about me as a teacher. I can’t imagine it’s a good thing. But this was one of those weekends where I simply did not have enough time to devote to the Saturday preparations. Fortunately, the lesson was an easy one for 3-5-year-olds to grasp. (Though many adults seem to struggle with it.) Genesis 1: God Created the World.
The adapted Bible reading was very participatory, and despite an unusually large group, the kids, for the most part, did a great job listening. (There are a few for whom this is hard, demonstrating the vast chasm between ages 3 and 4.) I’m not very musical, I have a terrible singing voice, and we didn’t learn a lot of children’s hymns in my house, so my Sunday school class is usually music-free. But today “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” came to mind and we started singing it. (Though when I asked them if they’d like to sing a song, most said no.) They all really got into it, so after I had sung all the verses I could think of, I started ad-libbing. Their favorite line was “He’s got the moon and the pizza in his hands.” (I am frequently hungry when I teach Sunday school.) As they colored waiting for their parents to pick them up, they continued singing. And the parents saw that it was good.
I have learned of late that the less preparation I actually do, the better things seem to go. I’m not sure what this says about me as a teacher. I can’t imagine it’s a good thing. But this was one of those weekends where I simply did not have enough time to devote to the Saturday preparations. Fortunately, the lesson was an easy one for 3-5-year-olds to grasp. (Though many adults seem to struggle with it.) Genesis 1: God Created the World.
The adapted Bible reading was very participatory, and despite an unusually large group, the kids, for the most part, did a great job listening. (There are a few for whom this is hard, demonstrating the vast chasm between ages 3 and 4.) I’m not very musical, I have a terrible singing voice, and we didn’t learn a lot of children’s hymns in my house, so my Sunday school class is usually music-free. But today “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” came to mind and we started singing it. (Though when I asked them if they’d like to sing a song, most said no.) They all really got into it, so after I had sung all the verses I could think of, I started ad-libbing. Their favorite line was “He’s got the moon and the pizza in his hands.” (I am frequently hungry when I teach Sunday school.) As they colored waiting for their parents to pick them up, they continued singing. And the parents saw that it was good.