I teach kindergarten but the activities in the Primary Teacher’s Guide didn’t work well for the children in my group. Someone suggested I try the preschool curriculum. The Preschool Student Book was more appropriate for my kindergarteners. I find it works best to combine the preschool and primary curriculum to find enough appropriate activities. What do you think of this solution?
Signed: Creative Combinations

Dear Creative:
What an excellent idea! One sign of a good teacher is the ability to find ways to use a curriculum to your best advantage. Obviously you have put your children’s needs first and taken the time to find the best solution for your group.

One of the advantages of Gather ’Round is that all age groups are studying from the same scripture text each session. Mixing and matching works very well with the curriculum. I encourage teachers in other age levels to follow your lead! Thanks for the tip.

Dear Anna:
I have seven preschoolers in my group. It’s hard to get them to cooperate and pay attention. What can I expect from 3- and 4-year-olds? I don’t want Sunday school to be just play time.
Signed: More than a Babysitter

Dear More Than:
A child’s first Sunday school experience may affect how he or she views church for a very long time. In this special setting, children learn to know God through interaction with you and with other children.

As the teacher, you represent the hands and voice and face of God to each child. How you interact with the children and share God’s love through stories and activities is more important than making sure children know the facts of the story. For preschoolers, this time together can be "godly play"—meaning a time of guiding them in activities that help them experience God’s loving kindness.

Count on the attention span of children to be one minute for every year of age. This means three to four minutes is the optimal time per activity. Tell the story more than once—during snack time and when they are doing other activities.

Sunday school for the very young is a time for building relationships, creating a safe place, and inviting children to experience God’s love through you. You are teaching much more than a story. You are helping children meet God.

I teach a small youth class. My kids don’t like to sing from the hymnal—actually they don’t like singing at all. What do I do?
Signed: Teaching Tuneless

Dear Teaching Tuneless:
Isn’t it ironic that kids can listen to their iPods nonstop but don’t want to sing at church? Often youth feel self-conscious singing in a small group. Boys may feel more vulnerable with their unreliable, changing voices.

Try using the hymnal to read the words of a song. This is a form of music appreciation. If you have access to a recorded version of a song, such as the Gather ’Round music CD, encourage them to listen to the music without expecting them to sing along.

Involve youth in finding music that fits the theme of the quarter. Ask them to find songs from their personal collections that might fit with the theme of Judgment and Hope for the fall quarter. Play a few of their songs each week. Talk about how the lyrics do or do not express the biblical theme.

By beginning with their music preferences, you might be able to pique their interest in the hymns of the church. Also, some hymnals have a companion book that gives background about the music and the words for each hymn. That could spark some interest, too.

Don’t give up! Even if the youth won’t sing, you can integrate music into your session in other ways.

Dear Anna:
I really like the Middler session plan. It works well with my own learning and teaching styles. I could use a little help, though, in understanding 10-year-olds. I assumed they would be more mature than they are. Where can I get more information about what to expect from this age group?
Signed: Puzzled with Preteens

Dear Puzzled:
Knowing about the kids you teach is as important as knowing yourself as a teacher. It’s hard to define maturity in 10-year-olds since children grow and develop at their own pace.

The Gather ’Round Handbook has a section on working with middlers that may help you understand this age group better. You will find a chart (p. 134) with characteristics that give you a glimpse of the middler child—from physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual perspectives.

There are lots more tips on how to work with middlers, including ideas for classroom management (pp. 134–142). The Handbook is a helpful resource for teachers who want to be the best they can be. For more on the Gather ’Round Handbook, click here.