Choosing Curriculum

by Meg Elliott Rift
Editor for Children’s Curriculum

There are many metaphors for curriculum, from the secret ingredient in the cake mix to the titanium club in the golf bag or the Swiss Army knife in the tool box. No matter what we call it, we want our curriculum to be the tastiest, go the farthest, and do it all! Of course no one curriculum is any or all of these. The goal in choosing curriculum is choosing the tool that works best in your setting and with your congregation.

Similarly, there are many ways to evaluate curriculum and no one right or wrong way. Being informed about how and why you make your choices is the most important aspect of evaluating curriculum.

An important consideration for any Presbyterian church is to select curriculum that reflects Reformed theological beliefs in its teaching and learning activities:

• The sovereign God is the subject of the curriculum. All persons of the Trinity are included: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• Both the Old and New Testaments are studied.
• God is shown to be a God of grace.
• Both the humanity and divinity of Jesus are portrayed.
• The concept of serving God through serving others is evident throughout.
• Illustrations, examples and language treat all persons with respect and show the diversity of humankind.
• A Reformed understanding of worship and the sacraments is articulated.

These considerations are not expected to be found in a single lesson, but in the body of work of a curriculum. Therefore, it is important to take the time to review more than one lesson and more than one age level when evaluating curriculum. Depending on the type of curriculum you are evaluating, several units or quarters of material will indicate its breadth
and depth.

Educational considerations are also important to assess when evaluating curriculum. Be sure that the curriculum:

• Allows for the diversity of learners by incorporating multiple ways of being intelligent and learning.
• Incorporates age-appropriate lessons and activities.
• Encourages cooperative learning among the students.
• Makes connections with the worship life of the congregation.
• Creates a bridge to daily life, allowing the students to apply the learning to their own experiences.
• Provides clear directions for the teachers.

Years ago there was just one type of curriculum, usually available quarterly with a teacher’s guide, a student leaflet and a classroom resource kit. This model of curriculum is still very popular and meets the needs of many Sunday school classrooms across the country.

However, today, educational ministries have other practical concerns to address when considering which curriculum will meet their needs. Five practical considerations to examine when evaluating a curriculum are:

• Teacher preparation — Is the lesson plan easy to follow and does it have a purpose, providing substance and activities for engaging both the teacher and the student? What does it take for a teacher to get ready for class? How long does the preparation take, and are the instructions clear? How easy is the curriculum to give to a substitute teacher? Are the supplemental materials or resources easy to find and readily available? How well does this curriculum work with a team of teachers?
• Adaptability — How adaptable is the curriculum for a particular class? All curricula are written for the broad spectrum of the church and users vary in experience and approach. Therefore, adaptability and flexibility are important considerations. Look for curriculum with suggestions for variations according to class size and budgetary concerns.
• Format and design — Are the format and design attractive, easy to follow and engaging to you as a teacher? Do the student pieces engage the students? Are all types of people represented in the pictures? Does the artwork vary, lending itself to more than just one look, helping students understand that there are many ways to imagine the biblical stories?
• Ordering and delivery — How easy or complex is the ordering process? How efficient is the delivery? What are the delivery methods, and do they suit your needs? How are returns or problems handled? Is there a person to talk with if you have questions or problems?
• Affordability — What is the price breakdown, and how does it compare with other curricula of a similar nature and format? Are there ways to save costs? Be certain to compare costs as you consider how you would use the curriculum.

Evaluating and choosing curriculum is an important process, but it does not have to be complex. Get samples. Determine your priorities. Ask your questions. Make decisions. And remember that it is but one tool in our toolbox of educational ministry in the church. The most important resource you have is not made of paper and ink but of flesh and blood; it is you, the educator, the teacher, the pastor, the parent, the church member, the friend. It is the personal relationships that you build, the stories you tell and the faith that you share that will make a difference in another person’s life. All curricula have their strengths and their drawbacks. The question is which curriculum is right for your congregation, allowing you to use it as a guide, providing a method for sharing those stories and that faith, for engaging learners in faith development and spiritual growth.