MAY 2007

Welcome to WWM Talk, the e-newsletter for Walk With Me coordinators and teachers. If you have any questions about information in this issue (or anything else), give us a call at 1-800-333-8300 or e-mail us.

In This Issue

Celebrating teachers!
This month we thank God for Sunday school teachers whose paint-smudged faces beam joy. We salute the loving leaders who juggle paper cuts, potty brakes, and Play-Doh to nurture kids’ faith!

Thoughtful Thank Yous

Summer is on its way! The kids in your Sunday school program are starting to wiggle and giggle a little more these days…and so are the teachers! They know freedom is coming: time off from school or work, fun with the family, and even a little rest and relaxation. Before teachers head for the beach, let them know how much you appreciate them!

• Last year, Rosewood Church in Bellflower thanked leaders by serving pizza, salad, soda, and cookies in a room decorated pizzeria style with checkered tablecloths. During the party they had a thank-you ceremony that included a gift for each leader. The pizzeria that catered donated the entire meal for more than fifty people!
• Hope Church in Clifton photographs all of the children’s ministry groups and uses decorative paper and stickers along with magnetic plastic frames to make a keepsake portrait for each leader to display on the fridge.
• Shawnee Park CRC in Grand Rapids thanks volunteers by hosting an annual family picnic. It’s a fun afternoon of appreciation, fellowship, and outdoor games, making it easy to thank everyone at once.
• First Reformed Church in Grandville invites volunteers and their families to indulge in a Fiesta appreciation lunch including a taco bar complete with choco tacos for dessert!

Kids are great at expressing love! Involving kids in the process gives them a chance to think about the special ways their teachers have encouraged them and cultivates hearts of gratitude. Consider these ideas for involving kids and families:

• Create thank-you books for teachers by giving a page to each child and his or her parents to decorate. This personalized page may include whatever best expresses the child’s (and parent’s) gratitude: a drawing, photo, note, prayer, or list of favorite Sunday school activities. Your book can be as simple as hole-punched construction paper tied together with yarn, or as elaborate as a scrapbook. Either way, these expressions of sincere love and appreciation will touch the heart of teachers.

Tip: Enlist the help of a parent for each classroom who can help you distribute, collect, and assemble the pages for this book.

• Design a thank you mural by lining a bulletin board or wall with paper and using pictures from Sunday school to form a border. Write the words, “Thank you for all that you’ve taught us this year!” across the top and make crayons available for kids to write or draw pictures of things they’ve learned in Sunday school. Move this board to the location of your thank you event and read some of the quotes as you acknowledge teachers.

Tip: Begin this project a few weeks before your teacher appreciation celebration. Announce in Sunday school that the mural wall will be “open” 15 minutes before and after Sunday school or church. Choose volunteers (perhaps older kids) to stand near the paper-covered wall with crayons and provide helping hands as needed.

• Put together a “Rest & Revive” basket for each teacher to enjoy at the end of the Sunday school season. Baskets may include items with a specific teacher in mind (one who likes coffee, tea, books, etc.), or general summer fun items like a devotional, sunscreen, flip-flops, a beach hat, sand bucket, and goggles!

Tip: Involve families by assigning each student an item to bring. Be sensitive to families who have many children, or whose family may not be able to afford extra expenses. Give these students the task of assembling the gift baskets in an attractive way

While blessing teachers, set aside time to honor the source of their strength. Thank God for the large and small miracles you’ve seen this year, and for God’s Spirit working through teachers to do great things! As you thank teachers in personal and memorable ways you’ll be spurring them on toward love and good deeds. And as you express gratitude to God you’ll be celebrating all that Sunday school has meant in the past year!

Books That Bless
	If you’re looking for a small gift for leaders, Trail Mix is full of inspiration, ideas, and wisdom for Walk With Me teachers. Read a sample chapter.
	The newly revised Sunday School that Really Works dedicates a whole section to training and supporting teachers. It’s full of ideas and resources like reproducible “Words of Encouragement” pages you can use to help your teachers keep smiling as they serve! Available June 8 - pre-order today!.

Team Training

Providing teacher training lets leaders know you value their ministry. Click here for details about the Faith Alive conference in Grand Rapids and mini-conferences in California, New Jersey, and British Columbia!

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