Steps for Implementing New Curriculum in a Local Church

In a formative meeting of all people interested, discuss and define the purposes of Bible classes in a local church.
Drawing from the discussion and formed by the consensus of the group, state the purposes in writing.
Discuss and define how curriculum serves these purposes.

Designate who will provide leadership for the Bible class work in the local church – a deacon, for example, may be assigned to manage the Bible classes.
The leader may investigate curriculum possibilities and show samples to parents and teachers.
With the input and ideas of a group, decide a curriculum to be used in the Bible classes and the time of its implementation.
Determine how the new Bible class work will be promoted and encouraged.

A workshop can introduce curriculum and encourage teachers and better teaching.
It can motivate and stimulate ideas, making the work of preparing and teaching a collaborative effort.
Workshops are available through the Shaping Hearts team and Workshop CDs are available for purchase.

Become familiar with the curriculum and how it serves the purposes of Bible classes.
Review the curriculum’s scope and sequence. For example, it may be a three year curriculum covering the entire Bible with the material divided into quarters.
Learn the curriculum components and how they work together.

Make a roster of students who will be in the Bible classes, including their ages and grades in school.
Determine the best way to group the students into classes. A typical and workable arrangement is 6 to 24 months, 2s & 3s, PreK, K & 1st grade, 2nd & 3rd grades, and 4th & 5th grades.
Designate a classroom for each group.

Find teachers who are willing to try the new curriculum and will be dedicated to using it to the fullest extent.
Designate teachers for the classes. A workable arrangement is two teachers per class forming a teaching team.
Establish a teacher rotation, designating teachers per class for one year. To keep teaching fresh and to avoid burnout, rotate teachers as much as possible.

Recognize the potential of involving others who may not stand before students to teach.
Involve as many people as possible, making Bible classes a work of the entire church.
Men may be involved in preparing classrooms and equipping a resource room; women may be involved in preparing and storing materials.

Review the curriculum together, sharing ideas about its components and
implementation.
Decide what will be standardized in the classrooms, such as bulletin boards, time lines, maps, and marker boards. For example, each classroom will have a bulletin board and a time line.
Discuss how various components of the curriculum will be used or not used. For example, students will learn memory verses or Bible facts in all classes.
Discuss what will be purchased, who will do it, and how items will be made available to teachers. Discuss a procedure for requesting and acquiring additional items as needed.

Install items determined to be standard in all classrooms – bulletin boards, time line, etc.
Corresponding with the theme of the first quarter’s studies, develop the classroom at students’ level in an engaging way.

Send letters to parents briefly describing the new study and stating the expectations of students and parents.
Discuss with the preacher the possibility of beginning the quarter of study with a sermon on the quarter’s topic.
While teaching the present quarter of material, teachers are preparing for the next quarter.

After the first quarter, assemble the teachers to evaluate.
Were students excited and engaged about learning? Did they attend regularly and participate?
Were parents informed and engaged? How can this be sustained or developed?
What is the general “feeling” about the curriculum? What needs to be modified or changed for future quarters?
Share ideas about what did and didn’t work, referring to lesson notes from each teacher.

Implementing New Curriculum