What joys and challenges do your volunteers face as they meet with children each week? This is the central question addressed in this section of Online Training for Sunday School Teachers.

1. Ask volunteers to share their concerns about student behavior in your Sunday school. Which of these concerns are related to:

• Energy?
• Space?
• Time?
• Movement?
• Lack of emotional involvement?

2. Talk about overall ministry changes that may address common concerns. What flexibility do you have in terms of time and space issues? How are learning spaces assigned? What ages need the most freedom of movement — and therefore the most space?

3. How does the learning ministry in your congregation support volunteer teachers in their classroom management needs? Do they know who to turn to when problems arise? Make a plan — formal or informal — to help the child, volunteers, and the families.

4. Ask volunteers to share their views of the potential benefit or detriment of reward programs.

5. Compile the response to the question about realistic expectations in Online Reflection: More than Discipline Create congregational learning expectations for learners, leaders, families, and the church community. Your church council or education committee may wish be included in the process and formally adopt them. Publish the expectations in a newsletter, talk about them with kids, post a copy in learning areas, or create brochures to give to families.