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Planning Checklist

Early Planning

• Recruit teachers.
• Determine the number of teachers and helpers needed. Try to have two adult teachers in each classroom, plus helpers as needed at the lower age levels. Consider breaking larger groups into two or more smaller groups when the number of learners exceeds a 6:1 learner-teacher ratio at the lower levels and a 10:1 learner-teacher ratio at the upper levels.
• Plan the number of classroom spaces needed.
• Estimate enrollment for the Sunday school year by obtaining current numbers on present enrollment. Will you plan for potential increases in enrollment? Will you set goals for growth?
• Survey the church facilities to identify the need for learning spaces, room dividers, and furniture. Order additional equipment, or ask the congregation for donations.
• Make sure that each learning space is free from health and safety hazards.
• Check the church budget for the amount of Sunday school funds available. What do you plan to spend on curriculum, classroom supplies, food, fellowship, teacher training, music, videos, and/or books?
• Prepare a written Sunday school schedule for teachers, students, and parents. Note the date Sunday school will begin each new semester, and dates when Sunday school will not be held because of holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and Easter.
• Decide whether you will have an opening or closing gathering each week, and who will plan and lead these large-group times.
• Plan for group service projects and fellowship activities.
• Explore ways to welcome and fully include learners with disabilities and other special needs.
• Maintain a library of books, videos, CDs, and other resources that kids, families, and teachers can easily access.
• Work with your pastor or worship committee to plan an installation service for teachers, helpers, and other church school volunteers.
• Recruit others to help with the Sunday school ministry: Some members may not wish to teach Sunday school on a regular basis, but are willing to serve as a substitute teacher, registrar, secretary, treasurer, Web site designer, cook, musician, workshop leader, coordinator for large-group events, or facilitator for intergenerational gatherings.

• Use a blank calendar to plan out the entire year's 30 core and 10 bonus sessions so teachers are on the same lesson each week and you are covering seasonal sessions at the right times.
• Order teacher guides, learner resources, and teacher class kits from the Witness curriculum.
• Conduct a teacher-training session for all teachers and helpers.
• Plan a meeting for families and teachers with time to introduce them to the program, the resources, and each other.
• Create a registration form for each learner that contains necessary information, including health- and safety-related concerns such as allergies and custody arrangements.
• Give each teacher a packet that includes: class lists and room assignments; names and phone numbers of all teachers, staff, helpers, and substitute teachers; schedule of the Sunday school year, including holidays with no Sunday school; information about the location and types of supplies and equipment; important safety information, including emergency procedures; discipline guidelines and tips for classroom management; teacher-training schedule; procedures for reimbursement if teachers purchase additional materials for class.
• Promote Witness through your church newsletter, Sunday bulletin, bulletin boards, church Web site, local newspaper, and other community gathering places.

• Hold the informational meeting for parents and teachers. Remind families to register their children for Sunday school at this time so you have accurate head counts.
• Give teachers an updated class list.
• Make final room assignments.
• Check available supplies to make sure teachers have what they need to start the year fully stocked.

• Plan a filing system for the reproducible bonus-session learner pages and sheets, the teacher guides, and the teacher class kits that can be reused.
• Keep accurate records of attendance and financial transactions.
• Maintain an ongoing inventory of supplies and equipment. Keep supply areas organized and neat.
• Help teachers with supplies, schedule adjustments, discipline problems, and personal needs.
• Check in periodically with people planning all-group events, worship, and service projects to offer support and encouragement and suggest ways to involve children.
• Look at your education program in terms of how it connects with your congregation's overall mission.
• Create a simple evaluation form asking kids, families, and teachers three things they like and three things they would like to change about the program. Add your own comments and observations.
• Keep a notebook for future reference that contains evaluation information, publicity, schedules, and rosters.
• Maintain regular communication with families through a regular feature in the church newsletter or a special mailing for families.
• Designate a bulletin board as the central information area for the Sunday school.
• Look for ways to involve kids in worship. Explore how "Ways to Witness" and "Witnesses in the World" ideas from the sessions can be incorporated into congregational life.
• Thank the teachers throughout the year.

Reproducible Page, Witness Planning Guide © 2003 Augsburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use.

Make sure each classroom has the basics:

• Bibles
• CD player
• Chalkboard and chalk or chart paper and markers
• Watercolor markers, crayons, and pencils
• Scissors
• Glue sticks
• Masking and transparent tape
• Paper: construction, drawing, tracing, writing, colored

These supplies will keep your Sunday school program well stocked:

• Rulers
• Stapler
• Yarn
• Chenille craft stems
• Paper bags: lunch and grocery size
• Mural paper, borders, and lettering for bulletin boards
• Index cards
• Chart paper
• Paper plates
• Poster board
• Paper punch
• Waxed paper
• Rubber bands
• Paint: finger, watercolor, acrylic
• Modeling clay
• Fabric markers and glue
• Permanent markers
• Posters
• Camera: instamatic is good for immediate results
• Wiggly eyes, pom poms, and other craft items
• Candles
• Balloons
• Drinking straws
• Dowels
• Common household objects to collect

Ask members to contribute the following items to the Sunday school program. They can be used in a variety of ways for many kinds of activities!

• CD-ROMs that accompany Internet service promotions
• Keys
• Cardboard tubes: short and long
• Newspapers
• Magazines: current event, family, nature
• Fabric scraps
• Empty plastic yogurt containers: with and without lids
• Ribbon
• Egg cartons
• Empty cans: coffee, soup, etc.