Lesson 8: Total Time Teaching
“Total Time Teaching” is a phrase we use in the Discovery Land program to describe how we aim to intentionally use every moment of time with kids to foster spiritual growth and development.
Why is Total Time Teaching important?
We all know that children need the hope and salvation that is found in knowing and following Jesus Christ. The spiritual needs of children today are immense, but the time we have with them at church for discipleship is limited. Even if we have children in our program for one hour each week, that is only 60 minutes out of 10,080 minutes in a week. We shouldn’t be discouraged by this! Instead, we should recognize that we can have a big impact in just that one hour, and we need to be wise stewards of the minutes that we are given!
You will notice quite a bit of repetition throughout the Discovery Land program. This is intentional! This is because:
- God wired elementary-aged children and younger for memorization!
- Elementary-aged children are concrete thinkers. They learn best through clear, repeated truths, familiar phrases, and consistent patterns rather than abstract discussion or reflection.
- When children have heard something many times, they not only know and understand it, but can also communicate it to others.
- The concepts and information that are focused on and repeated become a solid foundation that will be built on as children move into middle school ministry and beyond.
- In most weekend ministries, children often attend only 50% of the time.
What does this look like in practice?
From preschool through 6th grade, there is no “free play” time during the morning. All components of the curriculum are used to teach. Learning begins as soon as kids walk in the door and doesn’t stop until they leave!
To be good stewards, we strongly encourage all leaders to be well-prepared and intentional about the time spent with kids in Discovery Land. We work together to create an environment where kids are constantly engaged in learning about Jesus, God’s Word, and the lesson of the week.
Top tips for Total Time Teaching as you begin:
- Have all props, DT supplies, and other materials ready before kids arrive at church.
- Know the order of events for the morning and stick to the schedule.
- Work as a team – all leaders have clear responsibilities and participate in all parts of the morning.
BONUS: This lesson has been adapted from the “Toolbox III – Total Time Teaching” training. The PowerPoint and speaker notes for this training can be downloaded from the members’ area of the website.