{"id":24011,"date":"2017-08-15T07:44:24","date_gmt":"2017-08-15T14:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sharefaithblog.wpengine.com\/?p=24011"},"modified":"2020-08-12T18:42:23","modified_gmt":"2020-08-12T22:42:23","slug":"the-back-to-school-checklist-for-sunday-school-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharefaith.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/the-back-to-school-checklist-for-sunday-school-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"The Back To School Checklist For Sunday School Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Summer is a fantastic time for Sunday School: VBS, summer camps, small class sizes, and great weather; but winter is coming. With this back to school checklist, you\u2019ll not only be able to face back to school, you\u2019ll conquer it! While this time of year is serious business, we\u2019ve assembled the top 10 back to school memes for Sunday School to inject some fun along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Back to School Checklist For Sunday School Leaders<\/b><\/h3>\n

So here\u2019s the bad news: The longer you put off your back to school prep, the more difficult it will be. Why not save yourself some pain, and start planning now? Just because you have a lot to do doesn\u2019t mean it has to keep you up at night. So let\u2019s fire up those memes and get started!<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Take Stock Of Last Year<\/b><\/h3>\n

Some people think Sunday School is easy: kids come in, the teachers tell a couple of Bible stories, and then the parents come pick up the kids after church. How hard can it be? <\/span>Please!<\/span><\/i> Those of us who have served in Sunday School know the real deal. A thriving kids ministry doesn\u2019t just happen; it takes a good plan, hard work, and a lot of grace. <\/span><\/p>\n

But before you get back to work for back to school, take stock of how things went last year. What should you keep doing? What should you <\/span>stop<\/span><\/i> doing? Try this fun and handy tool to help you evaluate: <\/span>12 Sunday School Rules For Success<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Build A Solid Game Plan<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you want back to school to be a success, then your Sunday School needs a plan! Where is the Sunday School program going? What are the program\u2019s goals for the kids? Who is your team? School is coming quickly, which means bigger classes, new families, and a shortage of volunteers. Now is the time to plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start with last year. List three things you really hope to accomplish this year, and prioritize them. List three things that it\u2019s time to change, and prioritize them as well. These two lists will make your plan. Start with your top priorities and begin brainstorming!<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Take A Look At Your Budget<\/b><\/h3>\n

The budget meeting is the most feared of all Sunday School meetings. The pressure, the hopes, the disappointment. Having a game plan can go a long way in getting the budget you want.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a secret: Your leadership is on your side. Tell them the top three things you\u2019d like to do, and show them what you think it will cost to do them well. Let them give input. You\u2019ll be pleasantly surprised at how far a good meeting like this can go.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Choose Your Curriculum Wisely<\/b><\/h3>\n

One of your key budget items will be curriculum. But what\u2019s there to discuss? Sunday School curriculum is a lifetime choice, right? Nope. Cue the voice of Morpheus: \u201cWhat if we told you there was a curriculum your kids and volunteers would both love?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Every Sunday School curriculum must be affordable, fun for kids, and volunteer friendly. If you\u2019re not satisfied with your current curriculum, summer is the perfect time to test drive something new. We suggest these <\/span>four FREE lessons<\/span><\/a> from Sharefaith Kids!<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. Upgrade Your Supply Closet<\/b><\/h3>\n

They may be some of the most cluttered rooms on the planet Earth. It\u2019s where every prop, costume, craft, and activity goes to live forever: the Sunday School closet. Just when you didn\u2019t think it could hold any more, summer events such as camp and VBS proved you wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what needs to happen:<\/span><\/p>\n