Tag Archives: peaceful classroom

Growing in God’s Word: Helping Children Memorize Scripture

Posted by Jun 9, 2017 children, Methods for teaching children, Serving , , , , , , , , ,

Summer is here and it’s time to review the year, and consider ways to sharpen our teaching skills for our future students. If you’re in children’s ministry, you’re probably teaching throughout the summer. But one thing  is for sure if you’re a good teacher, you’re always learning new things and looking for ways to improve your teaching!  In my last blog,  I discussed the importance of helping children memorize Scripture. Here are some practical ways to help them learn—and retain Bible verses in their long term memory.

  • Psychologists tell us that information that’s presented both visually and verbally is easiest to remember. This is why using visuals and objects when teaching children is important.  And why explaining an idea with words, and visually is especially effective. When teaching children something new, associate the new concept or information with something they already know, and build on that. For example, when teaching about baby Moses, using a doll wrapped in a blanket will help young children associate something they’re familiar with, with a new story about a baby who was protected by God.
  • Before you have children memorize Scripture, teach them the meaning of the verse. They’ll remember it longer and be able to apply it in their life (in keeping with their age and maturity).
  • Children also learn through experiences, and they remember activities more when they talk about them. The experience of working together to put the words of a memory verse in order, filling in blank spaces of a verse, or playing games that reinforce Scripture will help them memorize better. Children will look forward to your class each week if you make it interesting and fun.  Surprise them occasionally with a new game or activity that will bring enthusiasm to your Bible verse learning time.
  • Because short-term memory is very brief—only 20-30 seconds in duration according to memory experts, it will be lost unless new information is connected to your long-term memory. For example, most people can only remember a new telephone number briefly unless they write it down, repeat it, or associate it with something for recall.  Experts tell us that long-term memory comes from well-learned information, which leads us to the importance of organization and repetition
  • Well organized information is easier to learn and memorize than disorganized material presented in a haphazard way. For this reason, we should take care to teach Bible verses in a systematic way. Teaching, explaining, reviewing, and linking verses from week to week will help children retain them in their long-term memory.
  • Repetition is essential for helping children memorize new information. Once they’re familiar with the verse and its meaning, use a variety of methods to repeat and review the verse.  Do this periodically with verses they already know to reinforce them as well.

    (The above steps for teaching Scripture to children are taken from my book, First Steps for Effective Teaching) 

    In my next blog I’ll share a variety of Bible verse learning activities.

God Bless You Today!

Verda Rubottom

 

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The Best Resource for Parents and Teachers

Posted by Jun 23, 2016 children, Methods for teaching children, Serving , , , , , , ,

Bible lightstock_333439_download_medium_verda_rubottom_I often find myself reading and underlining verses in Proverbs because I need all the wisdom I can get! I think you’ll agree that as parents and teachers we could all benefit from spending a little time each day meditating on the advice given in this amazing book. If you’re dealing with a “sticky situation”, a student who is resistant to learning, or wonder how you can get it all done, you’ll find answers here. The God who made us, is ready to help us in every situation in life, including our ministry with children. Truly, His Word is still the best resource we can have!

Here are a few nuggets I’ve underlined in my Bible (NIV) from Proverbs, chapter 15:

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (15:22)

The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. (15:7)

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (15:4)

A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel. (15:18)

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; and good news gives health to the bones. (15:30)

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. (15:31)

Whether you teach in a church, or a public or Christian school setting, you bring the wisdom that God has put in your heart into your classroom.  It will come out—even in unspoken ways as you lovingly teach the children, with patience, diligence, kindness, and understanding.  Even correction, will be more easily  accepted by our students when we use wisdom.

God bless you as you teach today!

Verda 

Preparing for the Unexpected

Posted by Mar 18, 2016 children, Methods for teaching children, Serving , , , , , ,

If you teach clightstock_246144_xsmall_verda_rubottom_hildren, you know the unexpected can—and often will happen! One day while teaching, just after I got a new class settled in, a little boy threw up all over the floor! I quickly and gently comforted him and found a place for him to sit a short distance from the group of 26 or so students. Young children tend to overreact in these kind of situations and I had to go into my back-up plan mode immediately, keeping them calm and busy with other activities while attending to the little boy.

If I could sit down with you over coffee, we probably would have many stories to share about unexpected events that have happened to us while teaching.  Everything from a fire or tornado drill to a nosebleed can happen without warning.  But having a plan for the unexpected helps bring calmness and confidence to these situations, and often you can sail right through them.

I enjoy planning. It’s exciting to think about different ways to motivate and inspire children to learn. But teaching isn’t the only thing that we teachers do, and sometimes we fall short of the time we need to prepare.

I’ve learned that both short and long-term planning are important. Even spontaneous ideas work great if you have the basics covered. Long term planning is great because on the days when you’re running late or short of time—you’ve already given yourself a back-up plan. Here are some that you may want to use:

  • Use a standard calendar to write in the themes and lessons for the coming quarter, and if possible the entire year. Keep it in a prominent place where you can write down  lists of supplies and ideas as they come to mind.  A calendar is a constant reminder of the time you have left  to prepare, and also what you have already covered that you can now review.
  • Build a supply of teaching resources at home where you can easily retrieve them for last minute planning. Flash cards, objects for lessons, a favorite puppet, felt stories, a variety of visuals, teaching videos, big books, etc.
  •  Memorize a few action songs, easy learning activities, poems kids enjoy, mystery clue word games, trivia facts, and large and small group movement activities.  These really help when kids need to move their muscles and have a break.
  • Collect interesting stories that have good moral and spiritual value.  These can be stories from your curriculum, children’s magazines, missions periodicals, or from your personal experience.  I collect interesting real life stories from newspapers and other publications that I think can be used someday to inspire others.
  • Use review games often!  Children love games, and it’s a great way to see what they’ve actually been learning.  Use non-competitive games, or for older children who enjoy a little friendly competition, you can use games involving teams.
  • Use writing activities that are simple and only require a pencil, paper and your idea to get them started.  Write a question on the board.Here are some examples: What is your favorite time of year and why?  What would you like to be when you grow up? What have we learned about God in our class?  My favorite Bible story is________. You can use questions about recent lessons to get them started or help the children recall other Bible stories they’re familiar with. For very young children always have crayons and paper handy for drawing.
  • One of the best ways to prepare for the unexpected in your class or children’s church is to come prayed up and with your mind and heart focused on God. The peace of God is a wonderful thing! I’ve experienced it many times in my life during difficult and crisis situations. God has promised to be with us as we minister in Jesus’ Name.  And we can rest in that and remember Jesus’ words:

      Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

These are just a few ideas on planning for the unexpected.  But remember,  we can also expect  God to bless us and the children we minister to each and every week!   The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. I Thessalonians 5:24

God Bless You Today!

Verda

 

Wisdom For Teachers From A Timeless Book!

Posted by Jan 12, 2015 Serving , , , , , , , ,

lightstock_112728_medium_verda_rubottom_I think every teacher needs to read the book of Proverbs. Because in this book, we can find wisdom to help us understand our students, and glean insights on how to deal with problems that come up in the classroom

This year I decided to begin my daily devotions in this wonderful book because–and I think you’ll agree—as parents and teachers, we need all the wisdom we can get!  Proverbs gives us valuable principles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that we can apply in challenging situations that will affect the environment, and bring a sense of peace and order where learning can take place.

Here are a few nuggets I’ve underlined in my Bible (NIV):

  • Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (15:22)
  • Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.(16:3)
  • The lips of the wise spread knowledge;  not so the hearts of fools. (15:7)
  • A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)
  • The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (15:4)
  • A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word! (15:23)
  • A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; and good news gives health to the bones. (15:30)
  • He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.(19:8)

Teacher, whether you’re in a public or Christian school setting, you bring the wisdom that God has put in your heart into your classroom.  It will come out, even in unspoken ways as you lovingly teach the children, with patience, diligence, kindness, and understanding.  Even correction, will be more easily  accepted by the children when we use wisdom. The wonderful thing is—God is ready to give you the wisdom you need! Just ask Him! (James 1:5)

God bless you as you teach today!

Verda