Our curriculum Is Too Basic

Your Question:

“Our curriculum doesn’t offer any training, not many teacher options, or visuals. Can we add those things, or should we find a different curriculum?”

The Issues:

Supplying the CM team with the curricular “tools” they need to effectively teach should be a top priority.  Giving the CM team a lesson topic, and even a scripture to teach is a great foundation.  Some of your CM team members may be able to create a thrilling lesson with only a scripture verse; but most of your team will not be able to do this.  Providing the “tools” they need may cost money and take time to create.

Scripture Foundation:

“With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.”  Mark 4: 33, 34

Short Answer:

Providing the CM team with the “tools” they need to be successful is a perspective that will produce a strong CM team that not quit. The “tools” they need include a good curriculum, effective training in using the curriculum, and “ancillary materials” that will help the lesson be understood and remembered. These “ancillary materials” include visuals, object lessons, activity supplies, craft supplies, video clips, etc. These materials make a “basic” curriculum exciting.  If you like the core of the curriculum, it isn’t difficult or too expensive to add the “ancillary materials.”  If you can afford a more expensive curriculum that possibly includes these “ancillary materials,” then you can switch curriculum; but switching may be more challenging than adding the things that your basic curriculum needs.Providing the CM team with the “tools” they need to be successful is a perspective that will produce a strong CM team that will not quit. The “tools” they need include a good curriculum, effective training in using the curriculum, and “ancillary materials” that will help the lesson be understood and remembered. These “ancillary materials” include visuals, object lessons, activity supplies, craft supplies, video clips, etc. If you view a “basic” curriculum as a bowl of white rice, you can understand the concept of adding some “sauce” to the rice.  Some people love plain white rice, but most people want to add some sauce to the rice to increase its flavor. This is the same with all curricula!  Whatever “basic” curriculum you use, it can always be improved with some added “sauce.”  The “sauces” that you can add to a basic curriculum are: effective training, visuals, video clips, music, stories, object lessons, guest visits, Zoom field trip experiences, etc. For more help, click on the links below.

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