More Ways to Care for KidMin Volunteers
4. Creative Team-Teaching Ideas
If your potential teachers are afraid of teaching alone, try these creative team-teaching ideas:
- Pair up teachers in a classroom. Actually, two teachers should always be present in every classroom. Teachers can take turns teaching every other Sunday with the help of an assistant.
- Trade classes. Give teachers a break in lesson preparation. Have two teachers teach a unit for one month. Then have them trade classes and teach the same unit. They’ll have different children but can recycle the unit they prepared for the previous month.
- Use specialists. Enlist volunteers who are skilled in specific areas, such as music, crafts, storytelling, puppetry, creative snacks, or games. Set up each specialist in a different room. Have specialists prepare their part of a lesson each Sunday. Have kids travel in groups so there’s a different group in each room at all times. This is a great way for teachers to plan less and kids to enjoy more.
- Invite parent helpers. For each class time, bring in parent volunteers who can help facilitate learning centers, take care of administrative tasks, or teach part of the lesson.
5. Family Thank-You’s
When a parent volunteers in your program, the entire family is involved. The family has to show up early with the volunteer. The family loses time with Mom or Dad when teachers have training meetings. And family members sometimes have to serve as guinea pigs for new crafts or games.
You’ll encourage commitment from your volunteers’ families if you let them know you appreciate their sacrifice and joint ministry. Here’s how you can affirm families:
- Feed them. After church, serve a picnic lunch to volunteers and their families. Meet at a park so kids can enjoy playing.
- Send a letter. Let families know in writing what their family member’s contribution has meant in specific children’s lives. Tell families the volunteer’s ministry would not be possible without their support.
- Provide a movie night. Give a movie coupon and a package of microwave popcorn to each volunteer. Tell families to enjoy a family night together, compliments of the church.
- Send them out for a treat. Give families coupons from a frozen yogurt or ice cream store—one for each family member. Encourage them to go out and enjoy each other.
- Recognize families in the worship service. The next time you appreciate your volunteers, have their families stand also and mention their behind-the-scenes service.
- Label families as part of the team. Give family members buttons to wear at church that say, “My mom’s a Sunday school teacher!” or “My husband teaches Sunday school!”
- Give them a Saturday night break. Ask pizza restaurants to donate pizzas. Or have your church staff or Christian education board make pizzas at your church. Let parents know ahead of time that you’ll be delivering dinner.
This article was originally published on ChildrensMinistry.com, © Group Publishing, Inc.
