Discipleship Across the Lifespan Trinity International University Class #5

Producing Change What is learning?

Change in… Thinking Feeling Behavior

Not merely information But…

Learning Styles No single learning style is “better” Instructors tend to utilize their own learning style Reading Visual Aural Kinesthetic

Thomas Groome Shared Christian Praxis: An interaction with the biblical text through the lens of personal experience Theology critiques experience and experience critiques theology Professor of theology and religious education at Boston College

Lawrence Richards A Christian education must be derived first and foremost from our theology Socialization as a mode of education taken from the Bible and its community of faith Author; taught at Wheaton, Princeton, & Talbot Faith is more “caught” than taught We learn best through relationships

Small Group Exercise Share the information in your papers on Experiential Learning. To what similar conclusions did you arrive? What different conclusions did you suggest?

Discussion Questions How did Christ allow for experiential learning? How does your local church allow for experiential learning?

What gets you excited? If you are not excited about Christ, your students will not be excited either

There is a corollary between… And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them… (Matthew 9:36) CompassionMotivation

There is a corollary between… We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19) CompassionMotivation

Don’t destroy your students

All teaching begins at the feeling level All teaching begins at the feeling level ― Howard Hendricks

Credibility precedes Communication People do not care what you think until they think you care

You can impress people at a distance; you can only impact them close up. You can impress people at a distance; you can only impact them close up. ― Howard Hendricks

Principles of Teaching Children Children are not "empty vessels." They come to school with previous experience and insights. Children want to learn. The natural curiosity of children can be used to help them learn without presenting material as a lesson. Children learn best when using a range of senses. Children like to copy ― They need good role models

Principles of Teaching Children Children need to learn information that is relevant. Learning needs to be related to a child's environment. Children need praise. Children love to play. Playing can be an active form of learning.

Small Group Exercise Put together a lesson plan for an one hour age-specific teaching event in your church, taking into account how your particular age group is able to learn

Preschool (3-5 Years Old) Short interest span Vocabulary increasing at various levels Thinking is concrete & literal Group learners ― want to do things with people Want adult approval Full of wonder Credulous Strong play interest

Early Elementary Children Wide range of reading abilities Concrete thinkers Conversational Concerned about right & wrong Fascinated with heaven & God Appreciation of supernatural Desire for love & security

Upper Elementary Children Strong group instinct (clubs, teams) Hero worship Sense of humor; giggling Logical thinking Love for facts Concerns for home life, especially in context of separation or divorce

Middle Schoolers Profound emphasis on peer relationships Physical changes (physical and internal) Gradual shift from concrete to abstract thinking Ability to reflect on one’s own thoughts & actions Lacks self-control of emotions Usually self-conscious Looking for a model ― a hero

High Schoolers Outgrowing awkwardness Concerned about sexuality Profound influence of social group Enjoys argument & debate Continuing shift toward abstract thinking His religion is personal Able to appreciate an atmosphere of worship His doubts about his faith may increase

Small Group Exercise Put together a lesson plan for an one hour age-specific teaching event in your church, taking into account how your particular age group is able to learn Lesson Objective Biblical Foundation Lesson Content Teaching Methodologies