In the Small Church Kidmin Facebook Group I posed the question, “What is the one big question, or challenge, that you are currently facing in your ministry?” This is the first in a series of posts to address some of those questions.
Teaching a group of people, whether children, youth, or adults, can always be a challenge. As I think about the challenges we face teaching multiple ages in a single setting, I wonder how education was accomplished in one room schoolhouses.
Here is a short video I found that shares the rules of the one room schoolhouse:
Children are expected to respect the teacher, leaders, and other children. They should not speak unless called upon after raising their hand. This institutes some sort of order and respect for the one speaking. This is something that I insist upon whenever I am teaching.
Depending on the child, I would allow some squirming and fidgeting as long as it was not disruptive to the rest of the room. Some children need to move and to restrict them from movement for a long time could initiate a greater distraction if the child “melts down”.
Removing hats when entering the building may be a cultural thing, but once again, it was establishing a respect for the space they were entering as was the expectation to keep the room clean. We need to have the children and adults showing respect to others and their environment.
One item that I found interesting was that older students were expected to assist younger students when the teacher was busy. In many scenarios today they might call these older students Leaders in Training, or Student Leaders.
The last rule is also important today. Students who break rules can expect consequences. If the leader/teacher is consistently “threatening” consequences but they are never enforced, then there are no consequences. Do not seek out a discipline issue so you can initiate a consequence to prove a point, but if you’ve stated certain consequences, then be sure to follow through with them.
I have taught a range of ages several times, at times having a common craft for all elementary aged children. Here are my personal tips:
- Teach to the older children. Younger children will tend to try to understand whereas an older child will disengage if it seems to being taught to younger children.
- If you use a “big word” or concept, then be sure to explain it for the younger children. You can engage the older children to try to define it for them by asking, “who knows what that means?” Always remember, and know, the group you are leading and do you best to engage all of them on their level at various times.
- Yes, older children may disengage quicker than younger children. I saw it frequently. I gave the older children opportunities to serve, like in the one room schoolhouse, the older students were expected to help the younger students. I gave them opportunities in various ways depending upon the ministry and situation. One side benefit to this was that as the younger children saw the older children serving, it generated a desire within them to serve as well.
- When I had a common craft for multiple ages, the craft was “prepped” so that the younger children could complete it, with help, while the older children had more to perform to complete the craft. Once again, if the older children completed their craft, they would help the younger children complete theirs.
- Have variety in the lesson. I have used video, discussion, music, and lecture all in the course of one lesson.
- When using real life examples, offer several examples. You want to give an example so each age group can relate the lesson, or point, to their life, which should also generate discussion.
- Be creative and silly at times. The brief distraction can help gain more minutes of engagement.
I do not suggest that things will be great all the time. There will be days when you are “pulling your hair out”, but if you have the basics, expecting respect, having the children realize that there will be consequences, and doing your best to keep them engaged in various ways, then those days should be minimal.
The one other suggestion I would give is to keep preschool separate. I have had K-6th grade together with preschool in their own class/group. The wider the age/grade span, the more difficult it will be to engage all ages.
Are here other tips that you would give others who teach large age spans? If so, please comment below.
