✩ RELATIONSHIPS Get to know the school staff and do your best to work with them for the benefit of the children. Some school staff feel uneasy around 'religious people' and may appear standoffish or unsupportive. Do your best to break down barriers by an open friendly attitude, interesting lessons, sticking to time and seeking their advice .
✩ PROCEDURES Ask about school procedures for signing in, name tags, using resources, cancelling a program in unforeseen circumstances, individual children leaving the classroom, fire drill, first aid policy, advertising and any other matters you're unsure of. Talk with your classroom teacher about the system used for behaviour management and ask if you can tap into it in your lessons.
✩ BE PROFESSIONAL in your outlook - dress appropriately, be on time, be well prepared, make your program materials available to parents and school staff.
✩ WELCOME children of all faiths and persuasions and those who acknowledge none.
✩ ACKNOWLEDGE beliefs as your own and ground statements in their source (The Bible says...Christians believe...etc) Your program should encourage honesty and provide opportunity to discuss, not argue differing views. Always avoid communicating denominational biases.
✩ INVOLVE Take every opportunity to involve every child . When someone gives a good answer say 'Who else was going to say that?' Include yes/no questions of opinion by asking for a show of hands for each. Always give a 'don't know' or 'still deciding' option when appropriate.
✩ KEEP LESSONS VISUAL AND ACTIVE Most kids have no problem listening, watching and doing at the same time as long as they know what's expected of them.
✩ PACE YOUR LESSON so that the group feels they need to pay attention and focus or they'll miss something. Group management is likely to be a problem if you move too slowly and don't have enough happening to be interesting.
✩ DO YOUR BEST TO ADD VALUE to the school by exposing your students to things the staff may not be in a position to, in a way that's as fascinating as you can possibly make it.
✩ ASK FOR A CLASS LIST Get to know names and pray for them regularly. Ask others to pray for you and your class.