Coordinating A Program For The Size Of Your School

Not all churches have enough children to allow for separate grades in the church school. Several grades must now be combined into the same classroom and it often helps for us to think of those small schools as a small family – living and learning about God together.

The open classroom concept is hardly new and has been developed in the public schools over the last several years. A basic lesson can be taught to the whole group which is then divided up into smaller groups or individually – according to age, work abilities, and interests.

Projects all play a great part in such situations and these activities must be worked out in advance and be student-oriented. Older students need more challenging activities in order to understand and study the theme or concept on their own level and at their own speed. Younger students require more teacher guidance and involvement.

Here are some suggestions to help you organize for your particular parish’s situation:

One Classroom School

Although a one class scenario is possible, it is strongly recommended that schools divide up into at least two groups for lessons. Where this is not possible, the home study book Way of Life: Introducing Your Child to the Orthodox Faith can be used as an umbrella program for all ages. The materials can be divided to cover two years using the section headings from the book as themes. The books listed are OCEC manuals that can be used.

1st Year:
Church: New Life in Jesus/New Life in the Church
Advent-Nativity: In the Beginning
Lent-Pascha: Making Things Right/Jesus, the Promise of God

2nd Year:
Feast:Together with God
Home:The Wonder of it All/God, My Friends, & Me
Major Saints: God Loves Us/Our Life in the Church

The following is a suggested grade level breakdown for various classroom schools:

Two Classroom School

1. Kindergarten – Grade 2
2. Grades 3-6

Three Classroom School

1. Pre-School – Grade 1
2. Grades 2-3
3. Grades 4-6

Four Classroom School

1. Pre-School – Grade 1
2. Grades 2-3
3. Grades 4-5
4. Grades 6-7

Teens

Separate programs and classes should be arranged. Where numbers are very low, youth could serve as junior teachers with the responsibility of helping and mastering the content.

For information, contact your parish liaison, or:

Consistory of the UOC of the USA
P.O. Box 495
South Bound Brook, NJ 08880
Tel.: (732) 356-0090
Fax: (732) 356-5556
consistory@verizon.net