What did i just get myself into??
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What did i just get myself into??
I just agreed to teach the 3 yr old preschool class at church, once a month! We are Catholic. I didn't attend catholic school and the Parish School of Religion i went to was useless. So i don't know THAT much about the Bible. I probably know more than i think though.
Anyways, i'm not a teacher. So i am so nervous about teaching these little kids for an hour on Sunday. The worst part is that the lady signed me up for the FIRST class. I was thinking I would watch the other teacher and then have a frame of reference for my turn, but no. I have to do it first. The classes will revolve around the Gospel that week. I am guessing i will do some songs, stories and crafts.
If you are Catholic and have ever done this type of thing before, PLEASE HELP LOL 
I taught pre-school (3 and 4 yr olds) at our Catholic church back in the 70's when I was 17 or 18 years old. I had a workbook to follow, which laid out the lessons very clearly. I did have to make sure we had all the 'craft materials' ready (which our church paid for).
As far as knowing the Bible, the most you're probably going to cover each Sunday is one verse and/or one Bible story. As I said before, I don't know of any Bible School program that does not have a teacher's workbook for you to follow. If by some chance they leave you to fly on your own (which I would really question), I'm sure there are pre-school level workbooks available for Catholic study.
Good luck! You're doing a really good thing. I went to Catholic school, as do/did my children - and I don't feel I'm in any better or worse position than you to teach. You'll do great! The key is to keep all the children busy or involved at all times! They get bored awfully fast.
I'm not Catholic, but I teach the 3-6 year olds one sunday a month, and 3-5 year olds a couple of times a month for Wednesday night "Master Club".
One hint: Children get tired of coloring sheets if they have to do them all of the time. If you can come up with a quick craft involving stickers or using glue sticks to glue pictures on a colored piece of construction paper, they are much happier, and you'll have the little ones working on their craft, rather than running around the room! My kids favorite project was so simple: I cut out numerous pictures in magazines of anything that God made...plants, animals, fruits, trees, pics of water, sun, moon, stars, children...you get the point... Anyhow, with the lesson, we went over the Creation. And for the craft, we discussed how God made everything, and I let them take turns choosing pictures from my cutouts to glue onto construction paper. They loved doing that. And I always let them pick the color of paper they want, and that thrills them.
It really is the little things.... Oh yeah, we did a song called "God made me." It goes to the tune of Farmer in the Dell and goes "God made me, God made me, God made everything and God made me. Then you take turns with each child and put their name in the song... God made _____. They loved singing with each of their names.
And for that age group, I always have some type of reward (if you are welcome to do that type of thing) for them at the end of class. I go to a store where everything is a dollar a lot of times and get things. Something small. Stickers for each of them, little erasers, cheap bead necklaces with a cross on them (plastic) was a huge hit with my kids. If they start getting noisy or not paying attention, just remind them. I'll say: I have a surprise for everyone who behaves (or does their craft, or listens to their story....). If you don't behave, you don't get the surprise...
This usually quietens them down immediately. And I don't let them know what they get beforehand. That way, the mystery of the surprise makes them try extra hard.
Well, I've written yet another book. If you ask me about kids, I get started and can't stop! hehe!
I know you'll do great! Really, they are very receptive, and I think you'll enjoy it so much.
Thanks Kay, and i guess i forgot to mention that the kids get a little workbook and there is a teachers version of that book with some lesson plans in it. I don't have the book right now, maybe that is why i am so nervous. Once it is in front of me, maybe i will relax a little bit.
I need to figure out how to keep them busy, i know that do get bored really quickly!
Adena mentioned some great things to keep them occupied. The rewards idea was one I had forgotten about.
Thanks Adena, i love the song idea. That sounds easy and im sure the will love it! Thanks! The reward idea is great too, if we can do that sort of thing there. Actually, i liked all your ideas!
Thanks again!
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