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Roundabout Online offers tips from the quarterly Roundabout newsletter
and additional information about the Gather 'Round curriculum |
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New and noteworthy |
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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.
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Fall schedule reminder
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Gather 'Round's Fall quarter
begins August 30, the week before Labor Day. The quarter ends November 22.
The Winter quarter begins with Advent on November 29.
Beginning in 2010, the Fall quarter will always start on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
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Plan ahead
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Be sure you have all the materials you need
before the start of the quarter. Order extra student books to have available
for visitors. Welcome new families with a Talkabout and a copy of Connect, the Bible guide for parents and
caregivers.
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Come on in!
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Gather 'Round is a Bible story-centered
curriculum. But not all teachers are practiced in inviting children and youth
to enter into the biblical story in a meaningful way. Help these volunteers become more
comfortable by sharing the ideas in chapter 8 of the Gather 'Round Handbook,
called "Teaching Made Easy." This chapter includes ideas on arranging a
hospitable classroom, setting apart worship space, learning and telling the
Bible story effectively, and making Bible memory work fun and memorable. Give new teachers a copy of the Handbook and encourage them to look for this chapter. Click here to read an excerpt from chapter 8 (pp. 104-105).
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Get ready, get set...teach!
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Are you prepared for a fun, inspiring new Sunday school year?
Take time to meet briefly with other educators at your church. Share
information, pray together, and spend a few minutes becoming familiar with
Gather 'Round teaching materials. Review all the new Fall 2009 resources, and
look for the following:
- Resource
Packs are filled with creative teaching aids--fun games, colorful Bible
story pictures, and many more items
to add variety in teaching and
learning. - Primary
student books include some
pages geared to early
readers and some
especially designed for non-readers. - The Multiage
student book has three
to five activity pages per week, with at
least one page
geared to non-readers. - Preschool
children have an activity
each week that provides something they may
take home. - The Bible insight essays provide excellent study materials--use them alongside
your personal study and you will be enriched spiritually.
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Glance through any Teacher's Guide for an
overview of the quarter. Encourage teachers to try a wide variety of responding
activities.
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| Check in with parents |
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Look for a welcome letter to parents included as
one of the extra teaching aids at the back of the Preschool, Primary, Middler,
and Multiage teacher guides. Mail this to parents early in the quarter. The
letter will tell them what their child is learning, help them know how they can
be involved, and invite them to make you aware of any special needs their child
may have.
Click here for a PDF of the letter to parents. |
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Prayer for Fall 2009
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Stay by me, God, as I walk through your word, preparing to guide the children under my care. Let the vision of your hope guide me to the light of your restoration, that I may envision the rebuilt
temple of your kingdom. Amen. -Frank Ramirez, Multiage writer
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| Help families link church and home |
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 The Talkabout is a unique at-home resource with scriptures, prayers, discussion
questions, and activities designed to
spark family faith talk and action around the weekly Bible stories. The Fall quarter's Talkabout is
a
set of interlocking cards on the theme "Exile and Restoration." Look in your Fall order for a special
note about the Fall 2009 Talkabout to send home with parents and caregivers. This note introduces families to the quarterly
theme and helps them use the Talkabout. Print one copy of the note
for each family, and distribute it with the Talkabout.
Click here for a pdf of the Fall 2009 Talkabout letter to parents and caregivers.
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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.
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