Our Sunday school time is only 45 minutes, so I don't have time to cover everything in the teacher's guide. Often I don't even get to the Responding activities, which would be fun to do. Do you have any counsel for how I can best use my time?
Signed: Crunched for Time

Dear Crunched:
The Responding time is definitely supposed to be fun, but it's more than that as well. This is a way to help children creatively integrate the Bible story with their own spiritual lives. Providing multiple options allows children to internalize the Bible story through a learning mode that works for each one of them.

Try shortening your gathering time. You might also integrate the reflecting and connecting activities to leave a little more time for response options. Watch the clock and stick to a schedule something like this: Gathering (10 minutes); Bible story, Reflect, and Connect (15 minutes); Responding (15 minutes); Sending (5 minutes).

I am a Middler teacher. Neither I nor my students like the illustrations in the story pictures. We find them too cartoon-like, and we think that is disrespectful of the Bible stories. Can you please find a different illustrator?
Signed: Disheartened by the Art

Dear Disheartened:
I'm sorry you and your group aren't enjoying the Middler story pictures this year. Reactions to visual art vary a great deal and this goes for Sunday school illustrations too. Some people prefer a realistic rendition of Bible story art, while others feel that children relate better to more whimsical portrayals. We contract with different illustrators every year, and I hope that next year will suit you better.

In the meantime, encourage the children to focus on the story elements in the pictures. Each illustration is based on specific instructions from the writer and editor, so that the visual elements support the retelling of the story given in your teacher's guide.

Our Christian Education Commission is trying to find ways to cut the budget. Since curriculum is our largest expense, we wonder if you offer Gather 'Round materials on CD for us to print and copy.
Signed: Cost-Cutting

Dear Cost-Cutting:
Everyone is anxious to get the most for their money these days-and that's a good thing, even when we're not in an economic downturn! But before you take the knife to your Christian education budget, I suggest you reevaluate the needs of your congregation. What is the value you place on resources that will help to grow your children into faithful Christians?

One way to explore this question is to look at the percentage of your congregation's total budget that goes toward curricular resources. In most congregations, it's less than 2 percent! While there are many critical items in church budgets, I'd urge you to help your congregation understand the long-term benefits of a solid Christian education program that is supported by excellent and engaging resources.

Gather 'Round works hard to provide high-quality resources as economically as possible. Colorful student books and resource packs help keep learners engaged. So far our users seem to prefer to purchase hard copies of teacher's guides rather than to have church offices print out multiple copies of 96-page books. We do offer our youth curriculum (Search) as a download and on CD, and this format seems to work well for this age level. We'll try to keep on offering resources that best meet the needs of congregations and Christian educators.

Do you publish skits in your Sunday school curriculum? If not, why not?
Signed: Desire for Drama

Dear Desire for Drama:
You're right to want to offer drama options to your group. Many kids love to play the part of Bible story characters. Gather 'Round writers present the Bible stories in a variety of ways, and drama is one of the methods used. For some stories you'll find readers theaters included in the teacher's guide and student books.

Costumes aren't essential, but a box of dress-up clothes in the room makes for a lot of fun. Also, sometimes you can simply allow children to act out the story in their own way. This invites spontaneous creativity and encourages children to internalize the actions and meaning of the story.