Rotating Teaching Teams

About 2 years ago we created "Teaching Teams" that rotate in and out of our Sunday School throughout the year.  I have 3 teams (Team A, Team B and Team C) which rotate throughout the year. That means each team will do 3 different four-week Bible story "rotations" a year  -- a 12 Sunday commitment.  (In our Rotation Model, we teach one story for four weeks in a row.)

We've found that 12 weeks is harder to say "no" to, and makes our volunteers more likely to say "yes" the next time we ask them. Most, in fact, sign up for more than one team per year!

FYI: Rotating Teaching Teams are also a tried-and-true idea
for traditionally organized Sunday Schools too!

In some cases, the Teams teach for just one four-week rotation. Others prefer back to back or doing an entire fall or winter season. Some teachers still want a longer commitment and that's fine. I'll sign them up for several teams. The flexibility is part of the attraction of recruiting Teams, as is recruiting them for specific stories (some teachers prefer certain stories, especially those less familiar with the Bible or teaching).

In our Rotation Sunday School, the Teams I recruit include the lead teachers for each workshop, their assistants (if they don't want to recruit their own, such as a family member), plus a "travel agent" (who go with each group of kids to each workshop, aka. "shepherds"). While there are some vacancies within the teams, they seem to be working quite well. And many of the teams recruit their own helpers/teachers --which often includes a teen or spouse. That's really a plus!

The Team gets together with me each time their Bible story rotation is about to come up. We go over the lessons and supply list. In many cases, each workshop team member makes sure they have the supplies they need.  This also creates a sense of comradery.  

And can I say it? ...there's even a little bit of competition BETWEEN the teams to really have super lessons in each workshop.

Safety in Numbers!

People love the idea of being on a team.  And it's human nature to say "yes I'll help" if the date is far enough into the future, and not immediately pending!  

Working with Rotation Teaching Teams also makes sure we're not just getting "last minute warm bodies" to fill the lead teacher positions. And those unsure about teaching can get their feet wet as assistants, learning the ropes from their lead teachers.  In many cases, the team teachers are reaching out to spouses and friends to help them.