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SSTN # 29 - March 5, 2003


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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:


--> Buggie For Jesus - VBS or Midweek Fun


1) St. Patrick's Day & Easter Ideas?
2) Explaining Dinosaurs
3) Teacher Appreciation Craft and Poem   
4) Good Samaritan?

--> Egg-shaped Easter Story Cards

5) Incentives   
6) Jesus to the Rescue CD?
7) Incentive rewards
8) Incentives   

--> NEW-LIFE PUPPETS 

9) Incentives   
10) Twenty third Psalm Pictograph?
11) Puppet Ministry?   
12) Burned Out   


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Buggie For Jesus - I'm A BEE-liever!

Reproducible buggie crafts, games, lessons, and yummy devotions
to coordinate with your summertime VBS programs, or midweek classes.

In the Curriculum section: 
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html 


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1) St. Patrick's Day & Easter Ideas?

I would like to hear some ideas for these two holidays.  I'm pretty open
to anything.  My kids range in age from 5-14.  Even if you think my kids
might be too young/old for an idea tell me anyway.  I might be able to change
something to "make" it work.  Thanks

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2) Explaining Dinosaurs

It has been interesting to read the various comments about Dinosaurs and
related issues such as cavemen, creation, etc. It seems to me, however,
that there is a lot of speculation and reliance on fallible men's
theories. Surely, as Christians, we should go instead to the book written
by the only Person who was there in the beginning - the Bible.

If we start casting doubt on the first few chapters of Genesis - in effect
doing mental gymnastics with God's straightforward Word -, and
consequently teaching that God doesn't really mean what He says, why
should children believe us when we teach on, for example, the
substitutionary death of Christ ?

As a scientist myself, and ex-atheist, and ex-evolutionist, one of the
thrills of my life was to discover that true science and the simple
reading of the Bible are in total agreement.

Maurice Sweetsur.

--from SSTN: amen! ;o))

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3) Teacher Appreciation Craft and Poem   

I have recently read the teacher appreciation craft and poem article dated
may 8th, 2002 and would like to know how to go about getting the
footprints stencil. I have gone to several Christian bookstores and they
are not able to give me information.

--from SSTN: check out my other website for custom made stencils:
http://www.Creativeimaginations.NET 
I'd be happy to create one for you.
ysic, sarah <><

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4) Good Samaritan?

Hi, I just sent a request on a lesson for the good samarathan. Hope you
got one for me or some type os suggestion. God bless. Bye.

--from SSTN: check the Archives too: 
http://christiancrafters.com/archives.html 

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Egg-shaped Easter Story Cards

Ten Egg-shaped cards that tell the Easter Story - When the cards
are cut, colored and assembled, players can play Easter Egg Scramble and
learn the Easter Story! Reproducible so your whole class can make a set!

In the Curriculum section: 
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html 

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5) Incentives   

We have a K-3 youth group that meets on Sunday & Wednesday nights.  We
have used movies as a reward.  For each class you attend you get a ticket
in the drawing for the movie.  Can also collect tickets by reciting the
memory verse used in the lesson & bringing a Bible to class.  We give away
every 2 months.  The kids find it very effective.  We also have a grades
4-12 Youth Group.  We are doing a 10,000 point club where they are
collecting points toward tickets to Kings Island (an amusement park fairly
close to here).  Based on the points earned, that will be how much their
ticket will cost.

Tracy
Unity Baptist Church, Flemingsburg KY

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6) Jesus to the Rescue CD?

To the person who has the cd of "Jesus to the Rescue" I have been trying
to find the music for it for a weekend retreat for children. I have some
of the literature for that VBS theme but not the music or craft book. Any
help you could give would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Debbie
coxdk@mail.etsu.edu

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7) Incentive rewards

I am Dea. Eric P. Jackson, I am superintendent of Sunday School
WOuld you also share the resopnse with me directly?
My email adddress is bcorek@aol.com
Thank you and God Bless

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8) Incentives   

Joyce was asking about using incentives in her classroom.  May I suggests
she read The Dirt on Learning by Thom & Joani Schultz (Group Publishing).
The authors make many strong arguments for NOT using incentives in the
classroom.  It's also an excellent book on developing learner-based
classrooms.  Hope this helps.

Christine
Bloomington, IL 

--from SSTN:
"The Dirt on Learning: Groundbreaking Tools to Grow Faith in Your Church"
is available in our bookstore. Just type the title into the search box to
locate it: http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html 

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NEW-LIFE PUPPET patterns 


When assembled, New Life Puppets turn inside out to change from a tadpole
to a frog, or a caterpillar to a butterfly. They're easy-to-make and
children will learn about becoming new creatures in Christ! Get a free
puppet skit too! In our Curriculum section:

http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html 


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9) Incentives   

This is regarding incentives. I teach pre-k on Sunday morning's to a class
that usually averages around 10 (minimum) to 25 (maximum) children on
averages, all of whom are four years old, or 5 going into kindergarten in
the fall. I use small incentives every week to get children to say their
Bible verses for the week, it is not always an actual take home incentive,
sometimes it is playing outside on the playground after snack, a sticker
for their shirt, an ink stamp on their hand, a small toy, a special snack
like cookies or cupcakes, a pencil, anything to remind them that they
worked hard. I line the children up, they say their verses one by one. If
a child is having trouble saying their verse, I say it with them word by
word, and then let them repeat the whole thing back to me. It works really
well, and the kids remember their verses from week to week, they never
know what the incentive is going to be, so they do not expect a toy or
candy every week. Sometimes something as small as a good job stamp or a
Jesus loves me sticker is all the encouragement that it takes.
Hope this helps
Sarah
California

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10) Twenty third Psalm Pictograph?

We are trying to find some teaching material appropriate for ages 5-10 on
the Twenty-Third Psalm. I have spent days trying to track down the Pict O
Graph for this. Is there some other teaching om this subject and do you
know where I might findd this Pict O Graph?

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11) Puppet Ministry?   

We are interested in beginning a puppet mininstry that will involve
students 4th grade through 8th.  We have tried to locate patterns for
simple handpuppets, but have been unsuccessful so far.  We are interested
in suggestions for patterns, skits, etc.

Jean Ann

--from SSTN: the Archives has a TON of info on this subject.
http://christiancrafters.com/archives.html  
Use keywords: "puppet" and "puppets" and "puppet patterns"

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12) Burned Out   

I first want to applaud you!  God Bless You for loving these children and
teaching them the Word of God.  Secondly, I am 29 (with no children of my
own, but feel called by God to teach the children) and I too go to a very
small church.   I first came to my church as a hired nursery worker .  I
became more involved in the church and decided that I no longer needed to
be the nursery worker.  For a time my church was able to pay other people
to keep the nursery (ages 0-6).  But because my church is so small it came
to pass that we no longer are able to pay someone to watch the nursery.
So we requested volunteers.  Much like your situtation no one wanted to
volunteer.  It reminds me of going to the Dentist to have your teeth
pulled.  To make a long story short, I coordinate a Nursery Minister
Calendar.  We have gotten most of the Mothers whose children will be in
the nursery and a couple of the Grandmothers to volunteer.  (Open this up
also to those who don't have children or whose children don't use the
nursery because they are too old.)  This way they get into a rotation and
if you have 5 or 6 they don't have to watch them so often.  The calendar
is placed somewhere that everyone can see and also on a bulletin board in
the Nursery.  I also have provided each Volunteer with the phone numbers
of the other Volunteers so that if they are not able to watch the nursery
during that service they can find someone to trade with.  I also teach
Sunday School Class for the 7-12 age group and have now begun a Children's
Church on Sunday mornings.  So I do know what you are going through.  You
need to again talk with your Pastor.  It doesn't have to be just one
person taking on these tasks (especially being the full time Nursery
worker) everyone needs to hear the Word of God.  He needs to understand
that you must be feed the Word of God too.  I used to be part of the
rotation for the Nursery because I love the kids and want to help by
taking my turn, but I no longer do that.  I realize that I am not able to
be fed in Sunday School because I teach and I do not get fed on Sunday
mornings because of Children's Church.  Sunday evenings and Wednesday
evenings are my time to hear the Word of God.  I would like to also say
that this was not an easy task.  I only had 2 or 3 want to volunteer, but
we continued to ask all the ladies to consider helping out.  I prayed
about it and continue to do so.  I come up with a set of guidelines for
the children while they were in the nursery and for those who volunteer.
(We have some young boys who have been rather challenging and the
guidelines have helped.)  Each volunteer got a set of guidelines for them
and the guidelines the children must go by.  Each Mother (ones that have
not yet volunteered) who have a child in the nursery also get these
guidelines.  I also created a Welcome letter for new families and I give
them these guidelines and ask them to consider becoming a Nursery
Minister.

I believe that you are at a point of breaking.  You can't give your all to
the children when you feel so burnt out.  Speak with your pastor first,
suggest some ways to solve the problem, give him some ideas, ask to have a
meeting with all the ladies of the Church, let them know you need some
help.  I will be praying for you and your situation.  I think you are an
awesome lady and I thank you on behalf of all Mothers for giving of
yourself to these children.

If you ever need someone to listen my email is tplovesmh@aol.com.
Teri

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