My youth class has several foreign-exchange students, which creates a challenge. However, even more challenging is a student who claims to be an atheist. How do I adapt my teaching style to meet these challenges?
Signed: Challenged

Dear Challenged:
You do have a difficult situation, dealing with both language and theological challenges. With youth whose first language is not English, you want to simplify the concepts without "dumbing down" the theology. It may help to have the English-speaking youth help you translate the ideas into simpler terms. This is a good exercise for them, too, to learn how to distill key theological terms into common language.

It's interesting that you have an avowed atheist coming to Sunday school. It makes me wonder if this person may be reacting against a church upbringing or trying to push the envelope to see how you will react. Youth are in the searching stage of faith, trying to understand what they believe for themselves. Before youth can truly own Christian faith, they must reexamine the teachings of their childhood through a critical lens. Don't apologize for being Christian. I suspect you will be a positive influence for all the youth in your group if you teach the biblical truths with conviction and respond to their questions of faith with grace.

This is the first time I'm teaching this curriculum. I'm used to checklists and exact answers to the questions. What do I need to know in order to adjust to this different style of teaching?
Signed: Just asking

Dear Asking:
It will be an adjustment for you to not have all the answers supplied for you. Our curriculum encourages critical theological reflection, a big term that means we encourage children and youth to think about faith concepts and how they apply to individuals and the faith community today.

We want our users to know more than just the facts of the Bible story, and to be able to connect the biblical truths to their own experiences in ways that help them live as faithful followers of Jesus Christ every day.

The wondering questions are meant to help children reflect on the story with their hearts. They are not meant to be answered orally or to have a single expected response. They get below the surface and can lead to a deeper understanding of God's ways. It may take awhile for you to adjust to sitting with questions and allowing children to explore their ideas without giving them a "right" answer. Remember that Jesus sometimes answered questions with questions!

There is a child in my class who comes to church with her grandparents. Her parents are not together. "Sally" does not take pride in her work. She will color part of the picture that goes with the story but doesn't complete it and does not want to take it with her at the end of class. If we have a class project to do, she may do it quickly, and not neatly, and soon put it away. She won't take these papers with her when she leaves. Besides not wanting to participate in class, Sally can easily upset other children. What counsel can you give me as teacher? Thanks for your help and your prayers.
Signed: With Compassion and Frustration

Dear Compassion and Frustration:
Could it be that "Sally" doesn't enjoy coloring and art projects? Multiple intelligence theory tells us that each of us has one or more key "intelligences," and we work better when we are allowed to use them. Sally may be resisting the work you describe because she doesn't feel she can produce anything that meets her standards. Try giving her some options other than coloring or drawing. Could she build something or read a book or retell the story to herself or others with puppets? If your problems persist, you might try asking another adult to serve as her one-on-one companion during activity time.

It is difficult when children take out their own negative feelings on others. Talk with Sally privately about your expectations for respectful behavior. If you haven't already done so, have your group create a class covenant. It's so much easier to enforce a rule that your group has already bought into.

Blessings on you for your concern for all the children in your care.

Our congregation is interested in combining all ages for a multigenerational Sunday school program in the fall. What suggestions can you give us as we plan for this new way of teaching and learning with Gather 'Round?
Signed: Trying Something New

Dear Trying Something New:
Great idea! I commend you for giving children and adults the privilege of learning and growing in faith together. Gather 'Round lends itself to multigenerational learning because all age groups study the same biblical story each week. There are many activities that can be adapted for use with intergenerational groups.

Look through all the materials that come with the quarter, marking the activities that will work best for your group. Select a gathering activity from one of the teacher's guides. Then have a good storyteller tell the Bible story to the whole group, using the story in the Multiage Teacher's Guide.

After hearing the Bible story, have smaller groups rotate around to three or four of the Responding activities you've prepared. Or offer a few areas and invite people to choose an activity or two. One standard area can be a selection of the Gather 'Round student books. Children will enjoy selecting the activities for each session that best fit their skills and interests.

Good luck with your new program. We'd love to hear how it goes for you.

I noticed that there is a Youth/Junior Youth Supplement for the summer quarter. Can you tell me what that is?
Signed: Just Wondering

Dear Wondering:
The summer quarters with Gather 'Round are unique. We offer regular materials for Preschool (ages 3-4) and Multiage (Kindergarten-Grade 5), as well as Connect, a Bible study guide for parents and other caregivers of children. We do not produce the other graded levels because many congregations do not hold summer Sunday school.

In response to requests for a Gather 'Round summer resource for older children and youth, we created the Youth/Junior Youth Supplement. This curriculum accompanies either the summer Parent/Caregiver guide or the Multiage Teacher's Guide.

The supplement includes varied suggestions for reading the Bible story with junior youth and youth. It offers age-appropriate ideas for Connect to the story and Responding times. For opening and closing activities, and reflecting questions, teachers use the suggestions in Connect or the Multiage Teacher's Guide. Choose the guide that best meets your needs: for a younger youth group, try the Multiage guide; for a more mature group, Connect may work best.