|
Roundabout Online offers tips from the quarterly Roundabout newsletter and additional information about Gather 'Round curriculum |
|
| Join our list |
 |
|
New and noteworthy |
|
Come, Gather 'Round DVD available now!
See how Gather 'Round is being used in classroom settings and learn about the curriculum and its specific components. This 12-minute DVD is an overview of the curriculum and includes the following segments:
Welcome to Gather 'Round
Getting started
Inside a teacher's guide
Preview Pack
To view the video, go to www.gatherround.org. You can also order a free copy to show to your Christian education committee and teachers.
|
|
Plan ahead for summer |
|
During the summer quarter, Gather 'Round offers materials for Preschool, Multiage, Junior Youth/Youth, and Parent/Caregiver. Be sure to check with teachers and parents and plan ahead for the resources you will need.
| |
|
| Easter Issue - April 2009 |
| Easter for all ages! |
|
Different ages need different ways of hearing and connecting to the story of Jesus' journey to the cross and resurrection. In coming weeks, children, youth, and adults will learn about the Easter story in creative, age-appropriate ways.
 In session 6 of Grow magazine, Middler children will use their Bibles to locate and write down verses on the theme "When I feel alone," and to complete the word puzzle "On the cross."
On Easter morning, Preschool children will place a "stone" over a drawing of the garden tomb, roll it away to reveal the resurrected Jesus, and then use crayons to color the picture.
In session 8 of Good News Reader, Primary children will "follow the footprints" as they read what happened when Jesus came back to life.
In session 9 of Call, Junior Youth will participate in "Obstacle course"--an active classroom exercise to illustrate the difficult situations people might experience as they follow Jesus.
The April 18 daily devotion included in Connect, the Bible guide for parents and caregivers, focuses on the terror and amazement of the women at the tomb. Click here to read the Connect daily devotions for the week of April 18, 2009. |
| Meaningful evaluations |
|
 Taking time to evaluate your congregation's Sunday school program and curriculum can be a meaningful way for teachers to reflect on their experiences and needs. Each quarter, evaluations completed by Gather 'Round teachers also help the Gather 'Round staff collect new ideas to improve Gather 'Round curriculum, and great suggestions to share with other Gather 'Round educators. If you haven't filled out a Gather 'Round evaluation recently, consider doing so soon. Here are some tips to help you:
1. Find an evaluation form in the back of each teacher's guide or online at www.gatherround.org/evaluationform.
2. If you're a superintendent or pastor, remind teachers in your congregation of the importance of evaluating. Make it easy for them by emailing a link to the online Gather 'Round evaluation form, or by offering to collect and return paper forms on their behalf.
3. If you're working with a group of teachers, you might find it helpful to have everyone meet at the end of the quarter and fill out Gather 'Round evaluations together. Take a few minutes to also think of items specific to your congregation's Christian formation program that you'd like to discuss together. Share any joys and concerns, and encourage one another for the quarter ahead.
Reaffirm your shared mission to nurture children, youth, and adults in becoming followers of Jesus by praying together, or by reading or reciting Deuteronomy 6:4-9, one of the key Gather 'Round biblical texts. Find all the Gather 'Round biblical texts, as well as links to the mission and goals and theological convictions that inspire Gather 'Round, at www.gatherround.org/keybiblicaltexts.
| |
|
Gather 'Round is a Bible-based curriculum nurturing children, youth, and adults in becoming followers of Jesus: people who know and love God, interpret God's word, belong to God's gathered community, and share God's good news. It is a joint project of Brethren Press (Church of the Brethren) and Mennonite Publishing Network (Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada).
Order Gather 'Round from your denominational publisher or at www.gatherround.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
