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Engage Conference: Workshop Notes

Kathie Phillips

Yesterday, I posted notes from the three main sessions that Sue Miller led at the Engage Conference, which took place this past weekend in Mechanicsburg, PA.  You can read about that here.

Today I wanted to share a little bit about one of the workshops that I attended.  It was fantastic and very hands on!

Instructing Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Children’s Ministry

This workshop was led by a Messiah College Professor and three of her students.  I took this workshop because I wanted to equip my volunteers to better serve children in our ministry with ASD.  This workshop had two objectives:

  1. Help us classify 3 types of learners
  2. Demonstrate multiple instructional strategies through the use of “make and takes”
When we arrived, there were goodie bags for each participant in the center of each table.

Our schedule for the workshop

The young women began our workshop by defining autism and identifying three (3) types of learners:  auditory, kinesthetic/tactile and visual.  We learned how each learner learns best and strategies to use in helping each type of learner learn.

Auditory learners learn best through verbal input.  One strategy you can try is classroom positioning.  Have the child sit or stand close to the teacher.

Kinesthetic/tactile learners learn best through their body, hands and sense of touch.  One strategy you can try is by bringing in sensory manipulatives.  We made one in class by filling an uninflated balloon with rice and tying off the balloon.  (The balloon and rice were provided for us in our goodie bag.)

Visual learners learn best through written word or pictures.  There are two strategies that you can try:

  1. Use picture cards (laminated on a ring) to flash to the children when you need them to get refocused.  You could also flash a card to let them know what’s coming up without having to say it aloud.  I thought this idea was brilliant.
Reminder cards

2. The “First/Then” strategy shows an expectation followed by something preferred.  “First we’ll…then we’ll…”  Keep in mind that you must follow through with what you say.  Otherwise, this strategy will become ineffective.

First/Then laminated card

The great news is that many strategies shared in this workshop were not only geared toward children with ASD–they could be used for every child!

Have you found a particular strategy that has helped you have success in the classroom?   If so, share here!

The Engage Conference Did Not Disappoint!

Kathie Phillips

I love being with fellow kidmin leaders.  I always seem to walk away feeling more energized and more convinced that this is indeed what God as called me to do.  This past weekend, I attended the Engage Conference in Mechanicsburg, PA.  While this was my first time attending the conference, I looked forward to all that I would learn and experience.  I was not disappointed.

The conference’s main speaker was Sue Miller, formerly of Willow Creek Community Church and currently on staff at ReThink (who publishes First Look and 252 Basics curriculum).  Sue led three main sessions, highlighting (1) what’s new in children’s ministry, (2) having difficult conversations, and (3) sustaining yourself health as a leader.  Here are some highlights of each session:

Session 1:  What’s New Now

  • 25% of people think Sundays are for church, while 75% think Sundays are for other things.
  • We need to think differently in how we plan to reach these families.  How will we reach them if they’re not in church?  1 Peter 3:15 calls us to show love first.  Consider doing a focus group from the non-traditional families at your church to find out how we can better reach them and serve them.
  • Kids today are growing up in a smart phone world.  Smart phones have made it possible for us to take the world with us everywhere we go.  How are we using social media?  How can high school and/or college students help us think of new ways to use social media?
  • We should brainstorm how we can use social media to (1) cue parents–help them disciple their kids; (2) inspire kids; and (3) rally volunteers.

Session 2:  Difficult Conversations

  • People want to be led by a new breed of leaders, leaders who are caring, authentic, willing to respect others’ ideas, able to lead change and able to navigate conflict.
  • We are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
  • Speak–Don’t avoid difficult conversations.  Decide to resolve the problem, remembering to attack the problem, not the person.  Confront the problem.  Take the time to do the process right.
  • The Truth–Remember HOW you communicate makes all the difference.  Lose the defensiveness.  Say what you need to say and own what you need to own.  The most loving thing you can do for your volunteers is to help them be equipped for what God has called them to.
  • In Love–Go to the right person.  Keep in mind that reconciliation is the goal–it’s not about winning.  Honor the process.

Session 3:  In It For the Long Haul

Say “no” to things graciously so that you can say “yes” to things purposefully.

Non-negotiables for you and your team:

  • Rest (allow an emotional margin to decompress).
  • Recreation
  • Friends who are life-giving
  • Refill your spiritual tank

The biggest challenge comes in leading yourself.

In addition to the main sessions, the conference offers an assortment of workshops that you can take advantage of.  I’ll share highlights from the ones I attended tomorrow.

If you live in the mid-Atlantic region, this is a conference that you and your team should attend together next year.  You won’t regret it!

Did you attend the Engage Conference?  What did you take away from it?

You Can Have Effective Meetings!

Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

Are you a fan of meetings?  Many people are not.  Many times meetings are perceived as cold, impersonal and pointless.  In our time-crunched world, no one wants to waste their time sitting in meetings.  But did you know that you can have effective meetings?  Here are the essentials to keep in mind:

PURPOSE:  Why are you calling the meeting?  If you don’t have a goal in mind, cancel the meeting.  Your attendees will thank you for it.

AGENDA:  Create an agenda and if possible, get it attendees ahead of time.  This will help them know what will be discussed, come prepared with information and ideas and allow for focused discussions.  Keep your agenda concise so that you stay within your allotted time.

COME PREPARED:  What supplies will you need?  Computer? Projector? Wi-fi access?Dry erase markers?  Make sure that any audio/visual equipment is working properly.  Have extra copies of your agenda, writing paper and pens on hand.

APPOINT A RECORDER:  You can jot down notes here and there, but appoint someone else to record the notes.  This will allow you to focus on what is being said and keep the group on track.

BRING A CREATIVE ELEMENT TO YOUR MEETING:  Are you holding a brainstorming meeting?  Cover the table with paper and provide markers or crayons for attendees to doodle or jot down ideas.  Do you want your attendees to “think outside of the box”?  Provide a tactile object such as play dough or an Etch-A-Sketch(C) to channel creativity.

HONOR THEIR TIME:  Nothing turns a meeting attendee into a meeting skipper more than starting late or holding them longer than they expected.  Honor people by beginning and ending on time.  Ending five or ten minutes earlier than expected is even better.

SUMMARIZE WHAT’S BEEN DISCUSSED:  Review action points and what you need to follow-up on.  Make sure that everyone leaves knowing what has been accomplished and what they are responsible for.  If you plan a follow-up meeting, this information should be first on the agenda before tackling new tasks.

What would you add to the list?

Personal touches that make a difference

Kathie Phillips

I’m sure you’ve heard this popular quote:  “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

As children’s ministry leaders, we depend on volunteers to do ministry alongside us.  Therefore, it is vitally important that we care about them and show them regularly.  I mean genuinely care.  How?  Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Engage them in conversation–about ministry.  What role do they see themselves in?  How can you equip and support them?  How can you work together to make the ministry all that God intended it to be?  Take an interest in them as a valued ministry partner.
  2. Engage them in conversation–about something other than ministry.  Learn about their family, their job, their hobbies/interests.  Take an interest in them as a person.
  3. Ask how you can pray for them–and do it.  You can do this by calling  or emailing them or having them fill out a prayer request card when they serve.
  4. Follow up with prayer requests.  This not only lets them know that you have covered them in prayer but that you are genuinely interested about what is happening in their lives.
  5. Acknowledge special days.  Send a card (via snail mail or electronically) acknowledging birthdays, anniversaries, the birth of a new baby, get well wishes, etc.  I have done both and my volunteers love it!
  6. Surprise them every now and then.  Mid-way through our summer programming a few weeks ago, I surprised my volunteers with donuts and juice one Sunday morning with a sign that said, “We love our Summer Serve volunteers!”  We don’t have food on Sundays very often, so these are special treats for them.  It was so refreshing to see them sit down and enjoy a light breakfast and conversation with one another.  You could also surprise them with candy, a handwritten thank-you or balloon bouquets.

What would you add to the list?  

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