Training Meeting: August 12, 2012 Kids4Christ Helpers

THANK YOU for serving in this capacity at Lakeside! You have a very important ministry, and are instrumental in helping children learn about the Gospel.

Role of the Helper

PRAY James 5:16

1. The most important thing you can do for your class is to PRAY for your head teacher and each student. “… The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16). Be faithful in your own relationship with the Lord, so that you can be sensitive to His working in your classroom.

Do everything you can so that the head teacher can teach without interruption.

2. Do everything you can so that the head teacher can teach without interruption. Next to prayer, this is the most important thing you can do in the classroom. The head teacher should never have to deal with misbehavior or distractions – this is your job, and it is a big one! The rule of thumb is to handle misbehavior in as gentle a way as possible. This means that you first try to make eye contact with the misbehaving child and subtly point his attention back to the teacher. You might make a silent “Shhh” motion with your finger and lips and redirect attention back to the teacher. You might lay a gentle hand on a shoulder as you smile and redirect attention back to the teacher. It’s very important that you are aware of everything happening in the classroom, and that you keep a loving and friendly countenance as you focus children’s attention back where it belongs.

Be sensitive to the Lord and to the head teacher.

3. Be sensitive to the Lord and to the head teacher. We want to take advantage of all those “teachable moments,” when children are interested in learning more about the Gospel. Make sure that you contribute to these conversations and never distract from them.

Attendance

4. Take attendance. Count heads and make sure that each student is recorded.

Snack

5. Help with the snack. Ask the teacher how you can assist.

Bathroom Policy

6. Bathroom policy: Children in grades 3+ may leave the classroom alone to use the bathroom. Children in grades 2 and under need to be accompanied by a teacher or helper. This teacher/helper should stand outside the bathroom door, ready to walk the child back to class. Never accompany a child into the bathroom without another adult present; any help the child needs (buttons, belts, tights, etc.) should be given outside the bathroom door.

Dismissal

7. Either help with dismissal, or interact with students as the head teacher handles dismissal.

Clean up

8. Help clean up the classroom. This includes returning snack items to the kitchen, tidying the classroom, sweeping it, and putting chairs and tables back where they belong.

Remember:

Remember: Children may not remember what they learn in Kids4Christ or Sunday School, but they will always remember if they felt loved and important there. Become skilled in your ministry/job, and always remember that the loving way you care for these children could very well affect eternity.