The Sunday School Teacher's Network Newsletter - Great ideas for children's ministry!


The Place for Christian Education Communication Children need the Lord...teach them about Jesus! Ranks consistently among the top Christian education websites.
Issue #44 - October 21, 2008 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. ~ Jesus
To reply or to post a new topic: Please TITLE your email to reflect the content of your message. When replying, highlight the text that is pertinent to your response, then hit reply. NEED PRAYER? Visit our Prayer Board. Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for details.
In this issue of the SSTN Newsletter: Scroll down the page to view articles. 1) Christmas Skit for Preschoolers? 2) Parental Involvement 3) Teacher Evaluation 4) Teacher Evaluation 5) Teacher Evaluation Invite your friends and coworkers to join us. Click here! 6) Prayer Force One 7) Getting Parents Involved 8) Trunk or Treat Idea 9) Calling Christians to Prayer 10) More Fall Tracts, Bible Games, Crafts, etc.	Home Search for Ideas Support SSTN PCM Discount 15% OFF Ministry Resources Bible-4-Life Curriculum Gospel Fun Activities Holidays & Holy Days Make N' Take Downloads E-books F-R-E-E Resources Bible Games Christian Crafts Christian Skits Object Talks Missions For Kids Recycling Ideas

1) Christmas Skit for Preschoolers? Looking for a short skit for preschoolers for Christmas any ideas? --some really cute ideas are found in our bookstore. Type, "instant Christmas pageant" in the search box to locate them at: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/bookstore.html
2) Parental Involvement >What are some creative ways to encourage parents to become more >involved with children's ministry? And in particular, to help them >understand the importance of their own children memorizing the Bible >memory verses from class time? In Jan. '08 we started Family Sunday School. First, each family bought a copy of the Children's Bible in 365 Stories by Mary Batchelor. Next we developed a reading list for a brief daily family Bible reading time during the week. Then we began to come together on Sunday mornings using the inductive Bible study format, coloring pages and puzzles found on HigherPraise.com. We made attendance completely optional for the parents. They do occasionally choose to attend the adult Sunday School session but generally gather with the group of families. We have a fairly small group (~20 total) and have decided that, as we grow out of the space we are using, we will divide the group evenly and thereby incorporate newcomers into part of the original group. As an opening, we have been learning the books of the Bible by singing Bible Book Bop by the Go Fish Guys. We also use Quickie Quizzes by CPH and play Bible Challenge to reinforce knowledge and increase speed in locating Scriptures. Many times the parents join right in and either assist the younger ones or play the game themselves. It has been quite enjoyable for the parents to learn alongside their children and oftentimes the children seem to behave in a way that is more grown-up through interaction with their parents and other adults. Neat!!!	Journey to the Manger Kids Can @ Christmas Time! Now available in a hard copy or e-book version. Click here. An Advent celebration of 31 crafts, recipes and daily Scripture readings. For churches and family worship time!
3) Teacher Evaluation I would like to respond to #3 Teacher Evaluation from Issue #43. I have had many Sunday School teachers through my childhood. The one I remember is the one who taught us to open with a prayer and then we all took turns reading the scripture. That was the best teacher I ever had and remember that one above all the rest. I'm sure there are other teachers who do more and will be remembered as much or maybe even more, but let's not underestimate the value of what might not seem to us at the time of being something of great value. Every teacher is a special gift to someone. RB	Thanksgiving Activity Pilgrim & Indian Finger Puppets Print as many as you need!
4) Teacher Evaluation While I understand the point made about not evaluating teachers- that we should welcome all as they bring various gifts, I did read a good book by Jim Wideman called Children's Ministry: Volunteers that Stick that offered good tips in this area. In his book he talks about recruiting teachers/volunteers, job descriptions, interviewing and placement, orientation, training and evaluation. While I have chosen not to formally evaluate my teachers, I found that he offers good suggestions for evaluating your overall program. It's an easy read, funny and interesting. God's joy, Jackie --from SSTN: you can find it by clicking the book's title or typing the title into our bookstore search box: http://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/bookstore.html
5) Teacher Evaluation I agree with whomever said "don't." When I first became the CE director here I realized there were problems. I thought about evaluating, but knew it would make enemies fast. One solution - we combined all our classes ages 4-11. Each teacher was assigned one part each week, and we put the schedule on a marker board. We had a weekly meeting to plan the next Sunday. I could discuss our strengths and weaknesses without pointing fingers. We discussed ways to strengthen the weak parts. Peer pressure from other teachers made everyone want to do their best. One teacher resigned after a while, admitting her heart was not in teaching (obvious to everyone). She found another area of the church to work in. In addition, I provided lots of training opportunities, and required each teacher to have 12 ours of training per year. Providing new ideas really encouraged the teachers and made teaching enjoyable. Hope this helps. T
6) Prayer Force One Pray for the USA government and up coming elections at: www.prayerforceone.com
7) Getting Parents Involved Regarding this question: >What are some creative ways to encourage parents to become more involved with children's ministry? And in particular, to help >them understand the importance of their own children memorizing the Bible memory verses from class time? About every 6 weeks I write the lesson in such a way that it is a parent/kid lesson at church. It is for "Parents Night" on Wednesday's Kid's Klub. The kids have their parent(s) come with them and attend club with their child, going from the main room lesson time, to the small group discussion time and even to gym/craft time. When the parent sees how much fun the kids have they, too, get excited that their kids are doing something they love AND at the same time will benefit their kids in the long run. Not all parents show up, but those that do almost ALWAYS benefit from the visit. Don Bursell DonB! Ministries
8) Trunk or Treat Idea I would like to share my trunk decoration from last year, I did the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4: 4-26) --Raise the trunk up and place a large washtub in the floor of the trunk (you may have to place some kind of blocks or boxes under it to raise it up or tilt it some) then stretch a burlap duck blind cover or some other kind of material or tarp across the raised lid of the car trunk to 'camouflage' the back portion of the trunk (behind the tub). Add some artificial greenery around the outer sides of the tub to look like plants growing around the "well"; inside the tub place a strand of clear Christmas lights, and cover them with crumpled cellophane gift wrap- this gives the look of water. Make a poster board sign that says; Jacob's Well, and you may want to place an outdoor flood light to illuminate the sign. A costumed 'Samaritan Woman' with a 'water jug' filled with treats can tell her story to all the visitors that come by the well. I used things that I had around my home and the children loved looking down into the well to 'see' if they could see the water. Happy trunk treating! Brenda Rupard Woods Chapel General Baptist Church, Brookland, AR --from SSTN: awesome idea!
9) Calling Christians to Prayer As I read #5 and your newsletter calling us to prayer, just one minute, I thought how simple but yet know so many will not even take that minute to pray. Some will probably read it and jump right over it and ignore the importance of prayer. Anyway, after reading it last night, I copied and pasted it in Word Perfect and made it like a note card with the request for prayer inside and on the outside, I placed in large letters, Do You Have a Minute? Tomorrow I will be participating with a nonprofit ministry at a small town community event and this morning I had 200 invitations to pray copied and tonight I just finished folding them. I can hardly wait until tomorrow to pass out the invitations and await their responses. Thank you so much for passing on such great ideas. By the way, I am planning to send that as an invitation to most if not all on my e-mail list for so much stuff comes without value. Spending a minute and hopefully more for many with the Lord in prayer is Priceless! May God Bless each prayer and oh how we need His Blessings on America. Loving Him more, Ann Nixon I plan to include this in my Sunday School class also. --from SSTN: great idea!
10) More Fall Tracts, Bible Games, Crafts, etc. More tracts have been added to the site. You can find them in the "Object Talks" section. Also check out, "Bible Games" and "Crafts", all are located in the bright, green box, above.
Help SSTN To Continue Your donation of one dollar a month helps to provide the Christian educational resources in the website and newsletter. To learn how you can help, go to the following webpage: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com/ministry_support.html Or, write your US check or US Money Order to: S.A. Keith - Creative Imaginations (d.b.a.) Mail to: SundaySchoolNetwork.com 438 East Ilex Drive Lake Park, FL 33403 USA (In the memo section of your check write: "SSTN Subscription". Please include your email address.) Your webservant, Sarah Keith <><
ADVERTISE WITH US! Visit the following page to learn how you can advertise your business, ministry or product to over 23,000 Christian educators: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com/advertising.html
SSTN Posting Guidelines: http://SundaySchoolNetwork.com/SSTN_guidelines.html
Copyright 1997 - 2008 / d.b.a. "S. A. Keith of Creative Imaginations Reproducing in any medium, commercial or noncommercial, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. SSTN has contributors from all over the world who share their ideas. If you reprint any of the ideas from SSTN, SundaySchoolNetwork.com or ChristianCrafters.Com in any medium (websites, magazines, newsletters, etc.), you must contact the submitter, and website for reprint permissions. Any materials used must also include the submitter's name and where the ideas were gleaned from. The opinions expressed or advertisements displayed in the SSTN e-Newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by SundaySchoolNetwork.com or any of its affiliates. SSTN reserves the right to edit and or exclude information from the SSTN e-Newsletter. SundaySchoolNetwork.com \| SSTN.org \| ChristianCrafters.com \| Bible-4-Life.com ChristianTeachersNetwork.com \| Sunday-School-Lessons.com \| Bible-Lessons.net \| FreeCraftsAndGames.com
*NEED PRAYER?* SSTN has developed a Prayer Board for it's members. You may submit your requests, but while you're there, pray for others too! We ask that you guard this area and monitor it for abuses that could arise. It is not a place for gossip or for marketing products. Please respect this area. It has been set apart for you! Follow this link to begin posting your prayer requests and praying for your brothers and sisters in Christ across the world: http://sstn.org/corkboard/index.html
SUBSCRIBE -- UNSUBSCRIBE Directions To SUBSCRIBE a new email address, visit the following page at: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.Com/page3.html (If you are subscribing your friends, make sure you have their permission.) To UNSUBSCRIBE, scroll to the very bottom of your newsletter and click the unsubscribe link. Click here to access, and search out, past topic ideas from SSTN!