This is actually something I’ve been thinking about for a very long time. I know other people have mentioned this kind of stuff before as well, especially anyone who has ever come from the field of education. I think actually pulling something like this off might be next to impossible, but greater things have happened. If I’m totally off, just ignore me then.
I have a very personal opinion that most children’s pastors who write their own curriculum should not be writing their own curriculum. I know that we’re very opinionated and we feel that we know what’s best for our kids, but just becasue we feel we’re good educators and teachers does not mean we know anything about curriculum paths, development progression and pushing out a comprehensive scope and sequence. For the most part, we should leave that to the curriculum publishers as many of them understand that better than us (not all of them though and that’s worth considering too).
Here’s the great thing you get from a publisher. They map out a multi-year scope and sequence that spans from birth through 5th grade (and often beyond). If a church sticks with that curriculum, that child will have a thorough experience. Most curriculum companies understand the process of teaching with the end in mind and they design their curriculum that way. They include various elements at different places so that kids progress through the material in an ordered and comprehensive way. Scope and sequence is good. It’s something we need.
However, here is the problem. Children’s Pastors don’t stick with any one curriculum for 10-15 years. At least none that I know. One publisher might have a great new product that addresses specific types of kids in a very relevant way, so we switch to that. Then another publisher comes out with something innovative that’s easier, so we switch to that. This isn’t bad, we want what’s best for our kids and it’s good when publishers create new and innovative products. However, every curriculum company has their own scope and sequence. When we jump around, ultimately our kids pay the price. Their curriculum experience is scattered and possibly incomplete.
Let me first preface. I personally believe that life change for our kids primarily takes place because of relationship. That’s the most important thing. However, curriculum does play and important part in directing the content of things discussed in that relationship. Therefore, curriculum is important.
My crazy thought would be that curriculum publishers could somehow work together and follow a predetermined set of standards. Certainly every publisher could agree on what a well rounded Christ-follower would look like and what concepts would need to be taught to point them in that direction. Curriculum companies already do this, but they just do it in their own way and and in their own time. I’m not talking about a total re-write of curriculum where every church is teaching the same thing ever Sunday, but what if there was an agreement that certain key concepts were taught to 4 and 5 year old children across the board. The same with 4th and 5th graders. Maybe it’s just 5-6 concepts that show up in the curriculum that cover these important foundations. That way as kids move and find themselves in a new church or when churches switch curriculum they don’t start all over. They merely pick up right where they left off.
Independent standards allow children to have consistent educational experiences regardless of what school they attend (usually). Independent standards allow consumers to know that they’ll be safe in their car regardless of which make and model they purchased. Independent standards allow patients to rest assured that the care they receive will be comparable regardless of what hospital they visit. Doesn’t this make sense? Doesn’t it seem like it would serve children and families if there was more collaboration (or at least predetermined standards) for the curriculum publishers?
Again, I know this one’s a crazy thought, but it’s been something I’ve wrestled around with for years. Tell me what you think? How am I wrong about this? How is this an impossible endeavor?
I think one of the biggest challenges with scope and sequence is that the chances of having kids for 10-12 years is becoming less and less common. Many only come 1-2 times a month and many families church hop every couple of years.
Scope and sequence is “ideal”, but I don’t know if it’s realistic for our changing mobile and transient world.
I think the issue here is not curriculum, but rather scope and sequence. I agree that there should be some long term thought put into curriculum if a children’s pastor is going to write their own. However, to say that they should not write their own curriculum I can’t agree with. The needs of the kids in our churches can be different from one church to another within the same city, not to mention across the country. Certainly Biblical truths never change, but the same way that a lead pastor should prepare and deliver his sermons based on the needs of that congregation I believe that a children’s pastor should do the same.
“I have a very personal opinion that most children’s pastors who write their own curriculum should not be writing their own curriculum.†I have to disagree with this. Would we say that most lead pastors who prepare their own sermons should not prepare their own sermons? While some pastors are better communicators then others, we would never suggest that most of them should not be preparing their own messages. Would we say that lead pastors should get their sermons from a sermon writer that knows more about the progression of a Christian adult then they do? I don’t think so, but there is some truth in this as the needs of adults of different ages adults vary widely, even as the needs of children at different ages are different.
I don’t mean to be argumentative, but I believe very firmly that pastors were called to lead the church and that this includes things such as writing curriculum. There are certain lessons that I feel a child needs to learn before he or she leaves my children’s ministry. Even as God burdens that lead pastor with the sermons that should be delivered to the adults, God has burdened me with these lessons for children. That is why God called me to be a children’s pastor. Now, if someone has not been called to be a children’s pastor, but is simply filling in a slot, then they probably shouldn’t write their own stuff, but if God has called them to be the children’s pastor for their church, then I think there is no better person to write the curriculum. Plus, I like the flexibility that writing my own stuff gives me. If something major happens in my church that affects my kids, then I can address that in the curriculum. If there is some trend that I see in my kids, then I can address that. If there is some movie that is coming that is going to be popular among my kids, I can use that as a tool. Using other people’s curriculum prevents that level of flexibility.
Now all that being said; I have nothing against buying curriculum. If I see curriculum that teaches the lessons that my children need to hear and do a better job then I think I can do, then I will get that curriculum. But, if I can’t find something that teaches what I want to teach in a manner that fits my ministry, then I am going to write it myself.
If you know of any good resources for helping me write better curriculum, or books on Scope and Sequence, then let me know. I am always looking for things to make me better at these things.
You’re absolutely right… but I think you missed the point of my post. If there were independent standards that most publishers followed, then even if kids jumped from church to church or if one church switched from curriculum to curriculum, the kids would get a consistent experience and a fairly complete experience… just like the would if they moved from school to school.
Matt, I’m going to disagree with you. You are right, each children’s pastor does need to assess the needs of his/her ministry and do what is best for his/her ministry. Sometimes that may involve writing something special. Most of the time it probably can be addressed through tweaking. No argument from me there.
However, I don’t think comparing a senior pastor and a children’s pastor is the same. It’s apples and oranges. Pastors/Communicators are not doing spiritual formation, they’re doing spiritual re-formation. They’re trying to undo what’s been done and help adults develop a new way of thinking. This takes creativity. This takes looking at where these adults are, and teaching strategically to where they are at. It’s different with kids. Ministry to kids is spiritual formation. Although some of the older kids may not have a completely clean slate, building a spiritual foundation is easy as they are sponges, totally open to change. I do feel that the approach is fairly systematic, something that would be provided in a good scope and sequence.
Plus, I also wholeheartedly disagree that just becasue someone what called to be a children’s pastor does not mean they are qualified to write curriculum. Teach, maybe. Write curriculum, not necessarily. Good curriculum is written by people trained to do so. It’s done by people who truly know age-level development, learner-based outcomes and the ability to create maximum retention in learning. These things aren’t necessarily things that we just “get” when we’re called, but they’re developed skills.
That’s why I have a beef with CP’s who write their own curriculum. Some do a really good job with the production and it’s something the kids really enjoy. However, it’s possible that the experience isn’t as rich without a well thought out scope and sequence.
Just my thoughts. Take them or leave them.
As a children’s pastor who writes their own curriculum, I can admit that the scope and sequence is somewhat lacking in the preparation of each unit. Not that it is NEVER thought about, but time has never really been taken to write down a compositie plan and stick to it. Mainly because of your post, I am in the process of researching and working up a 3-year plan. I know this isn’t the endall, but it will hopefully help broaden the kids’ scope and keep me from recycling content within that 3-year period.
On the flip side, I have kids ages 5-12 in the same class and they must ALL be taught the same curriculum, whether I write it or purchase it. Kenny, I’m currious how independent standards could be implemented in those type of settings. All elementary kids in my ministry are together during Sunday School, Kids Church, and during our Wednesday night program. I have a leadership program for the 4-6th graders, but the purpose is more to get them involved in ministry than to teach.
Lastly, something like this will almost certainly never be able to regulate all curriculums, but there could be an accredidation board or similar that reviews curriculum and stamps their approval. “This curriculum approved by the Christian Curriculum Association.” I believe that is the most practical application of this idea. Then, when a new family moves into the area, they could just ask, is your curriculum approved by the CCA?
P.S. I do not plan to always write my own stuff, but for now, budget issues and finding the right curriculum for our very small ministry holds us back. Your remarks, while cutting, have given me a lot to think about as to the true importance of not putting this off any longer than absolutely necessary.
Jared, I’m really glad that this post impacted you this way. I understand that some people are going to write their own curriculum and for their kids, it could honestly be the best thing for them.
Standards are simply this: They’re the things you want kids to know by certain ages or milestones.
Even though you’ve got all your kids in the same room, that doesn’t mean you can’t ask the same questions. What do you want your 5th graders to know before they move on. Plan that out in your scope and sequence. It may mean that your 1st and 2nd graders are going to hear it as well, but that’s what you’ve got to work with. You may even have the 4th and 5th graders help teach the younger kids those certain items which will help to cement the concepts for your older kids. And remember, just because you cover something once, doesn’t mean they’ve got it.
Yeah, my thoughts would be that independent standards could be adopted by anyone, either a curriculum publisher or a part-time pastor writing his/her own stuff.
Just my thoughts.
Hey! This is in response to Jared and the community at large. I do not know the legalities of sharing curriculum, but is it possible for larger churches with the budget to buy new curriculum regularly to pass on old curriculum to smaller churches with tighter budgets? Is there a resource, maybe similar to Freecycle but specifically for churches, where this sharing of physical resources (old props, old sets, curriculum, etc.) can be easily communicated to the church at-large?
Sara,
I like the thought and I know it has been done, but from what I have researched, most license agreements state that only the purchasing church is able to use the curriculum. I totally understand the thought there and support it, but I agree that it would be nice if larger churches could send some stuff our way.
I know that some curriculums, 252 basics comes to mind, offers a rate based on size of the kids ministry, which is VERY helpful, but we are not quite to a place where we can even afford that because in order to get the rate, you have to purchase a whole year (which is common from what I have seen).
If anyone knows of anything like what Sara is talking about, let me know. I would love to check it out.