R.E.A.L. Learning

Ever heard of R.E.A.L. Learning?  One of the best, most effective ways to teach kids is to have them take an active role, rather than a passive role, in the learning process. Instead of the teacher talking and the kids passively listening, the kids are part of the learning process.

Have you heard the Chinese proverb that says something like “Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I’ll understand”?  Much of R.E.A.L. learning is based on that type of thinking. Let’s jump in and see what R.E.A.L. Learning is all about.

Relational:

Relationships is the first key to unlock kids’ understanding of faith. At Awana Training and during the year, we strive to focus on that very important thinking. Awana highlights the Belong, Believe, Become model for discipleship. Unless children feel seen, loved, known—how will they ever really pay attention to the words that come from the mouth of a teacher?  Providing time for faith formation would be opportunities for kids to answer questions, share their thoughts, and build friendships—not just with the teacher, but with their peers. Less time lecturing, more time building relationships. That means, the “no one talking except for teacher” rule is laid aside more times than it is used.  Open-ended questions used throughout the lesson, opportunities to pray for and with someone else, group discussions—these are all used to build up relationships!

Experiential:

Experiences are a powerful key to unlocking kids’ faith. Think big. Use experiences that evoke emotion, use multiple senses, and involves everyone in the room. But don’t forget the debriefing process after each experience. While the experience is the memorable, the debriefing is the learning.

Take for example the story of Jesus healing the blind man in John 9. Jesus actually makes mud from spit and dirt and puts it on the blind man’s eyes. Because he believes, the blind man’s eyes were opened.  If teaching this lesson to a group of children, why not make this an experiential moment. To experience blindness, have the kids blindfolded. To experience the mud on eyes, smear some gooey oatmeal on their foreheads. Guaranteed they won’t forget that story. But the learning comes after—when they share about what they experienced—how they think the blind man felt, when they think and share about a time when they could have helped someone in need, but didn’t, and giving them opportunities to think about how they could help others in need.  That debriefing would be asking the questions, “What was that experience like for you?”, “How was that experience like something you are facing currently?” and “How can you apply what you have learned?”

Applicable:

God’s Word is so much more than a textbook or lecture that should be memorized and then quickly forgotten. Our role as teachers is to equip kids to know when and how to apply the power of God’s Word to their own lives. Growth comes when they can take away from the verse they memorized in Awana or the Sunday School lesson on Sunday morning, the truth of knowing how to apply those lessons to the scars of a broken home, the stress of homework, the loss of a pet or friend, or the moments of bullying at school.

In every lesson that is taught, there must be an application to their lives. Help them to be “doers of the Word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)

Lifelong:

Make learning lifelong—past the walls of church and into their everyday life for years to come. Part of R.E.A.L. Learning is including experiences that allow choice—perhaps discovering truths in a way that uniquely makes the most sense to them according to their own learning methods. Some kids learn better when there is music involved or tactical, hands-on learning;  some learn better when there is physical activity, or creatively with art. Engaging kids in various ways will help you connect to them in the manner that they can best learn in the world around them.

To be honest, using these R.E.A.L. Learning strategies aren’t just for kids—they are helpful to remember when teaching any age, young and old alike. When learners are surprised and make discoveries on their own, you make memories together, friendships bloom, and their faith grows. And so does yours!

Because Kids Matter to God,

Your Children’s Ministry Director

Shari Coelho