Posts Tagged ‘Volunteers’

Sunday School Teacher Burnout

It happens to even the best of us. It is called burnout. Burnout is when you have reached your limits and feel like you cannot go on in any particular activity. You may feel that you have spent hours upon hours volunteering, organizing and doing things for others, and while this is certainly not a bad thing, you also need to remember to take time for yourself. Here are some things that you can do to help you feel ready to face the classroom again.

There are many signs that you are facing teacher burnout. One of the biggest signs that you have spent too many hours in the classroom is that you feel a sense of detachment from what you are doing. You may feel like you are not excited about teaching each week, or you may feel like you just don’t have fresh ideas to share with your students. Burnout is also characterized as a loss of creative thinking, motivation, and even a detachment on the emotional level.

Many people who have taught for years and years will tell you that one of the biggest things that you can do to help teacher burnout is to make sure that you are taking enough time for yourself. This is so true when it comes to people who volunteer their time to teach Sunday School. Many times, volunteers not only spend their daytime hours working a regular job, but they are also pulled in many different directions, as far as their home life, family and their volunteer activities. If you feel like you are facing burnout when it comes to teaching Sunday School, take some time for yourself.

Next on the list is to find help. You should not have to do anything alone. There are many people in your church family that would love to step in and help you when you need it. Find a person who is willing to be a partner in your classroom and divide responsibilities between the two of you. This can really help you when it comes to avoiding burnout. The more hands in a project, the less work it is for one person. Even if you don’t have somebody who can come in and help each week in the classroom, ask the parents to take things home to help you. These can be simple task such as cutting out shapes or gathering ingredients for a recipe or even sending in supplies. Get the help were you need it and avoid teacher burnout.

You should also remember that you do have the power to say no. Once you learn that you can say no when it comes to your volunteer work then you can avoid the feelings of Sunday School teacher burnout. Know your limitations and know what you can and cannot complete without feeling stressed. If you are being asked to complete a project that you feel that you cannot put your effort and time into, then it is okay to simply say no. Backing away from projects that you really feel like you do not want to do can help you avoid burnout.

You know that being a Sunday School teacher is a rewarding chance to work in the lives of young children. Take the necessary steps to make sure that you are continually enjoying your service. Remember your work is ultimately for the Lord.

Kids Bible Lessons – Is Someone There to Teach Them?

Yeah, it happens all too often. People are just way over booked and stretched to the limit. They’ve worked all week and they’re spent. The reality is that there isn’t much you can do about it. Volunteers are the heart of the church. These aren’t paid workers and you have to live with that fact.

You Are Spoken For

Here is another reality. The majority of children’s directors do not have the luxury to “float” during a church service. You are either on the schedule already or are functioning in some other capacity. You just can’t step in to fill the need. You can’t call someone else at this late hour, that wouldn’t be fair. It’s time for a deep breath and a quick prayer. Yeah, I’ve been there many times and I have a couple suggestions that might help you out in the future.

Be Proactive

The problem won’t disappear. Plan ahead and take steps now! I used these suggestions in my ministry and that just might be what you need to ease that sinking feeling too. Prepare a kids Bible lesson for each of the different age groups in your kids ministry. Choose a good general purpose lesson that will work anytime. Keep all the supplies of the Bible lesson in a box at church with a copy of the lesson. This may include object lessons, craft supplies for plenty of kids, music, even juice boxes, fruit snacks (things that have a long shelf life). Make it a simple, easy to follow lesson. When that dreaded call comes, you can contact a replacement without feeling like you’re hanging them out to dry! The Bible lesson is prepared and ready to go.

Go One Better

Enlist a few trusted volunteers to be on call. Don’t abuse this! If you call them every other week, it gets old and will backfire. Give a copy of the lesson to your “on call” volunteers. They can read it over and be familiar with the flow of the Bible lesson. Keep the supplies at the church and they’re ready to rock. Keeping the supplies at the church is a good way to guard against your “on call” volunteer not being able to make it at the last minute! This could happen due to an illness or bad weather.

Being proactive has saved me time and time again! Hey, stuff will always happen and you can’t be prepared for everything. But, putting in a little extra effort up front is a win/win for you and your kids!