Sunday School Teaching Tips

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Try the Bible Flash-A-Cards from A Beka Book. Go to "online ordering", sign in as a guest and then choose "Bible Flash-A-Cards". They are big beautiful cards of Bible stories. Tell the accounts in an effective way! They have the flash cards for preschoolers as well as elementary school BUT I USE the elementary school Bible Flash-A-Cards for EVERY age including high school (the kindegarten and first grade et al flashcards are the same). They are just big beautiful pictures. You pray, read your King James Bible and add a Bible tic-tac-toe (see below) and you'll systematically teach Bible truth in an interesting way.

Tips Letter #1

A sister recently wrote (July 2000) and asked --

Dear Mrs Tracy

I am currently student teaching three year olds at our church, and next week is the first time that I get to teach the main lesson , something I am really excited about.

I was wondering if you had any ideas on how I could make the lesson really interesting for them, the difficulty arises because it's not very easy to hold their attention, and I really want to make this lesson unforgettable.

The lesson is on " Forgiveness" and the story is the stoning of Stephen.

I would really appreciate any assistance and ideas.

Kind regards.

My response--

Dear Friend:

Greetings and thanks for writing. Three year olds...mmm...

I've worked mostly with older children but one thing about 3 year olds is they have pretty good understanding. Here are some tips:

1. When teaching them (or anybody else for that matter), use different facial expressions, hand gestures and tone of voice based on the story.
2. If you have visual aids (good idea with all ages) practice using them effectively to help you tell the story.
3. Have a Bible near you and at the beginning explain that this is a true story from the Bible.
4. Also have a big rock so that when you tell about the stoning you can pick it up and explain what happened.
5. At the beginning of your talk, give an overview of what you are going to say so that the kids get excited and can follow the story because they know where it is going. "Today we are going to talk about a man who died because he believed in Jesus. His name was Stephen. I want you to listen very carefully because I am going to ask you some questions at the end..."
6. In order to solidfy the information in their minds and determine that they understood, after you tell the story, ask them some questions. Who was the story about? Why did the people kill him? How did they kill him? When a student answers wisely give great affirmation. Others that did not listen will want the adulation next time you tell a story. When they are just guessing "No, that's not the answer does anyone else want to try?" In time, they'll start listening more closely.
7. Pray and fast and ask the Lord to annoint you and the students to give and receive His precious holy word.
8. A short, simple, practical exercise on forgiveness will also let the children become more involved at the end of the story.
9. Have a worksheet or project to give to the children to show Mom and Dad so that they can retell the story. You could even give each one a stone to remind them of the first martyr--not so small that they could fit it in their mouths and choke on it. Perhaps in a small container or something.

[for those teaching older children and adults, Bible tic-tac-toe is a TREMENDOUS hit!

1. Compile nine questions that are answered in the story.
2. Divide the group into two teams. Pick one captain for each team.
3. Draw a big tic-tac-toe on a board or piece of paper
4. Label each box 1 through 9 so it looks like this:
       1|    2|    3
   ___________
       4|    5|    6
   ___________
       7|    8|    9
5. Pick a number between 1 and 10 and ask the two group leaders to guess what it is. Whoever is the closest gets to go first. The group leaders are the only ones who can pick a number but they can consult with team members quickly.
6. The first team picks a number and you read the question associated with that number. If they get it right, they get their x or o. Play then passes to the other team. Continue until game is over.]

Thanks for the opportunity to share a word with you. You are doing important work. If you have remembrance, I'd like to know how it goes. God speed. May Christ and His doctrine be magnified in us.

for Jesus' sake,
tracy
--
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com

...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them,
Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them,
neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee,
and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words,
nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 2:4, 6

Tips Letter #2

Here's my response to another request for teaching tips--

Dear Friend:

For Bible memorization, I like to write the entire verse, including reference, on a chalkboard/whiteboard. The whole class reads it through a couple of times, then I erase most of the first word, just leaving the first letter. We read it again. Then I do the same thing for the second word. For instance--

James 1:13, Let no man say when he is tempted...

James 1:13, L no man say when he is tempted...

James 1:13, L n man say when he is tempted...

Eventually it will look like this--

James 1:13, L n m s w h i t....

Then I erase the whole verse including the reference and the class says it all together. Then I ask individuals to volunteer to say it by themselves. The kids really enjoy it and I get to learn it at the same time!

for Jesus' sake,
tracy
--
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com

...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Ezekiel 2:4, 6

Tips Letter #3

Dear Friend:

Greetings and thanks for writing.

A few things come to mind.

(1) I love flannelgraphs like the Betty Lukens which vividly illustrate the story as you are telling it. They only require a little practice and organization. You'll want the right graphic at the right time. I put my in a folder. I put the graphic I am going to use last at the bottom so that after I've piled them all in, I have my first graphic on top. If the flannelgraph has background scenery you can place that as you explain the setting of the story. Always be sure to reference what book of the Bible the story is in.

(2) If the children are learning the books of the Bible you can have the first 10 books of the OT on the board when they arrive. Use the same method as memorization. After they've gotten it, divide them into two teams and they can go back a forth naming the books until a team gets a book wrong. For instance, team 1 says, "Genesis", team 2 says, "Exodus", "Leviticus" "Numbers" "Deuteronomy", etc. The next week have the first 20 books of the OT on the board when they arrive. Do the same thing again. The next week 30 books and then the subsequent week 39 books. After they have all 39 books, do them for a weeks in a row until they know the books of the Bible like the back of their hands. The move on to the NT. After they get the NT down, have them go back and forth from the OT through the NT. Have them repeat this activity from time to time. Don't let this knowledge die. Further down the line they will come to know the important contents of each of these books.

(3) Children need to learn sound hymns of the faith. The Bible says to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Our kids need Jesus songs in their heads, not the world's songs and "entertainments". During class you could start out with a hymn like "More, more about Jesus" because they are going to be learning "more about Jesus in his word, holding communion with my Lord, hearing his voice in every line, making each faithful saying mine. Tell me more, more about Jesus. Tell me more, more about Jesus. More of his saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me."

(4) Have prayer for the kids before and after class. You do the opening prayer and ask one of the kids to do the closing prayer. Pray for them whenever you think of them.

(5) Ask Jesus to give you deep love and commitment to the work He has allowed you to do. Working with kids is IMPORTANT KINGDOM BUSINESS! We are talking about the kingdom of God business. Be not slothful, be diligent and sow the seed which is the word of God. When I look back at when I went to VBS as a child, the only thing I remember was the crafts. Make sure you are giving the children the WORD. When a child (or adult) gets saved under my ministry, I'd try to get them a $5 King James Bible as fast as possible. I write on the inside cover--their name in commemoration of their decision for Jesus Christ on (date), given by Mrs. Tracy (I put my name and telephone number in there). I oftentimes will write other words of wisdom on the inside cover too. I tell them they need to read the Bible. Also things like,

"This Book will keep you from sin.
Sin will keep you from this Book."

When you give them a Bible they will (a) have the most important Book in the universe (b) have a physical reminder of their Christian profession and (c) though they may stray from it, somebody will find the Bible again, with inscriptions, and at that point it will be a book of remembrance--I once loved the Lord, what happened?

(6) Second graders can be soulwinners too. Show them how to transact kingdom business. Explain to them the plan of salvation and then have them come to the front of the room by twos. One person plays the part of a Christian, the other person plays the part of an unbeliever. The unbeliever asks how to be saved and the Christian explains how. Help them when their understanding is not right. Then have the two children reverse roles. After they are done have another two come forward and so on. You can even have the children give "the unbeliever" a tract.

for Jesus' sake,
tracy
--
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com

...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Ezekiel 2:4, 6

Tips Letter #4

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Crow
To: tracy@jesus-is-lord.com
Date: Thursday, August 17, 2000 5:24 PM
Subject: david/goliath

do you have any dynamic ways to teach this story to 5/6 year old children?

thanks

Dear Friend:

When I teach any story, I begin by knowing it well. I gesticulate and sometimes use visual aids, like a blackboard, flannelgraphs, etc. I use various tones of voice and use words that children can understand. I also repeat important portions that I want the children to remember.

for Jesus' sake,
tracy
--
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com
...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 2:4, 6

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