After attending my first Christians Engaging in Faith Formation conference this year, I noticed that there were so many wonderful things and gems that I took home with me that I could reflect upon. I noticed recurring themes in keynote speeches of embracing change and a loving heart in our society: whether it be technological advances and how to evolve with them and incorporate them in the church, how our differences in each generation/class/cultural background could enhance all our experiences with each other as long as we keep an open mind and try to embody Christ, or how we need to evolve with our fast paced society by bringing the church to the people instead of expecting the people to come to the church.
Everywhere I went during this conference I was met with enthusiasm, kindness, innovative new approaches and techniques, and ideas that I could apply to take back to my home church with me, to make better connections with the families I work with, and help them foster the growth of faith and curiosity in their children. I learned from Barbara Bruce that, as God created each of us with our own unique abilities and learning styles, it is my job as a Christian educator to help each child discover, hone, and explore those unique aspects of themselves within their faith, without limitations, so they each can make the most of absorbing the important life lessons we try to bestow upon them each week.
Some of the things I took home with me that I will definitely incorporate into my teachings were completely new concepts and tools I’d never heard of, and some were things I knew due to my previous experience in childcare, but needed a refresher on, like remembering to not stifle a child’s creativity by telling them exactly how something should be done or made, and instead letting them take their own creative license to come up with new ideas and creations. Barbara really helped invigorate my interest in the workshops also and inspired me to bring that back to my classroom by encouraging open discussions, word association, and creative activities involving multiple senses and learning styles. Everyone learns the most effectively in different ways so instead of just reading a bible story for auditory learners, she taught me to simultaneously incorporate tactile activities (like a finger labyrinth or bending things into sculptures), visual activities (drawing a picture), inter/intrapersonal activities (praying in our head while meditating or having a discussion with others about material), musical activities and ways to get kids moving their bodies, and so much more. I will forever be grateful for this learning opportunity, and am excited to keep this momentum and energy going in my classroom by getting kids excited to learn about our Lord.
Last Updated on December 18, 2018