Rotation.org Newsfrom www.rotation.org
July 2014
5 Great Reasons Why the Rotation Model is Superior to the Traditional Model
1. Great Bible stories deserve more than one Sunday.
Traditional curriculum gives one Sunday to important stories. Rotation believes important stories deserve several weeks.
2. Great kids need to learn the story more than once and in different ways to really understand and remember it.
"One and done" is no way to really learn. Pencils, worksheets and construction paper every week is not great teaching.
3. Great lessons and activities deserve to be shared with more than one grade.
Traditional curriculum publishers made us believe that 3rd and 5th graders need different activities, even different stories, when in reality, we just need great lessons and to make age-adjustments.
4. Great teachers should be shared with more than one grade.
Why should just the ____ graders benefit from your best teacher? (And conversely, why should one grade be exposed to your new or least talented teacher every single week?)
5. Even great lessons get better when you repeat, -and so do the teachers and children. Repetition is the cornerstone of all learning. And allowing a teacher to repeating their lesson for another grade reduces their preparation time and improves their delivery.
You may also enjoy reading the new article, "Rotation's Dirty Little Secrets." (How the Rotation Model accepts and works around the limitations of our volunteers.)
New Lessons and Resource Highlights
A few recent posts at Rotation.org
- Video suggestion for "Sinai Stories", including Manna, Marah, Water from Rock, Tabernacle link
- New 30 minute drama video on Peter link.
- Jesus Prays in Gethsemane - bible study ideas and storytelling demonstration link.
- Baby Jesus Rocks link.
- Important Supporting Member Renewal Info link.
- Game ideas to teach the Exodus story link.
- Interactive music (story) idea for the Ten Plagues link.
Answer to our Rotation.org Pop Quiz!
Here are the TOP FIVE Rotation.org Member States:
TX, OH, PA, NC, MI
Read why most people got the answer wrong, and why Wisconsin may ACTUALLY be the #1 Rotation.org state.
No matter what State, Province, or Country you live in, thank you for being part of our community.
Focus on "Video" Workshop in Rotation
Sunday Schools have been showing videos for decades, but in the Rotation Model most of us create a special movie theater-themed space, -complete with comfy seating, popcorn, big screen and big sound.
In Rotation we don't just show video in an impressive way, we intentionally teach with it as part of a lesson plan. It's not a break in the schedule, or occasional event, the Video Workshop is a much-looked-forward-to part of our regular "rotation" of workshops for each story.
Need ideas for designing your Video Workshop?
Need Video Lesson Planning ideas?
Here's our free manual!
Did you know that the original Rotation Model church also CREATED audio-visuals in their Video Workshop? Many still do. That's why we call it the "A-V/Video Workshop here at Rotation.org. The manual has a list of A-V ideas to make in your workshop.
The Manual also discusses:
- Video Debriefing Strategies and Questions
- How to Hook Up Amplified Computer Speakers to Your DVD Player
- Room Design Tips: Types of seating, where to get posters, etc.
- Copyright Issues: Did you know you have tremendous rights to use any video in a "face to face teaching situation" without the need to purchase a license?? The manual explains that.
All Our Lesson Forums are full of video suggestions. And we invite you to continue to add your video suggestions and teaching ideas.
Join Our "Lesson Holes Strike Team" Project
We're putting together a "Lesson Strike Team" to fill in some lesson holes on our site. The team will descend upon two Bible story forums a month to post some creative teaching ideas and resources.
Join us by posting your "YES" in the Lesson Strike Team forum.
It's a great way to get involved and share with thousands of other churches at Rotation.org. Your "yes" is for as much and as long as you want to help.
