When beginning a new cm leadership position – how to evaluate or establish the cm curriculum

Your Question:

“I am directing a CM that hasn’t had a CM director before me.  How do I establish, or evaluate, the CM curriculum?”

The Issues:

Beginning a new CM leadership position means that you must deal with what those volunteering have been “used to” doing.  It is much like entering an expressway or freeway. You drive on an on-ramp carefully to “blend into” the flow of traffic. Use current CM team members to assist in choosing a new curriculum or in establishing adjustments to the current curriculum.

Scripture Foundation:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  Colossians 3:12

Short Answer:

The “current curriculum” may not exist at all, or it may include something that you know needs to be changed. Make changes slowly. You don’t want to disturb what is currently happening too quickly.

 

Spend some “covert” time observing the teaching techniques and the use of the curriculum in the classrooms. Ask God to help you “see” aspects of the current curriculum that need to be improved, or the teaching techniques that could benefit from a new curriculum.  If you feel the current curriculum needs to be replaced, do so carefully.

 

When you have earned the current CM team’s respect (through your supportive interactions and direct compliments to what is currently being done), invite one or two of the current team to review a few curriculum options (ones that you would like to use). Guide their evaluation of the new curricula with the criteria that you create. When you announce the changes, let the current CM team members, who have worked with you, announce the changes.

 

If your “covert” observations reveal that the current curriculum is good, but the current team needs training in using it more effectively, schedule some short training meetings to give them ideas for improving the effectiveness of their ministry.  If there are team members who practice these improved teaching techniques, invite them to demonstrate those techniques to the rest of the CM team during these short training meetings. 

 

Important Note: There are two basic ways to hold CM team trainings: 1) All-team training sessions (evenings or Sunday after church with a meal), 2) Periodically during a Sunday service (if you have more than one service on Sunday mornings). Make the trainings short (unless you are sharing a meal together), and focus on one or two aspects of training, rather than a long meeting that covers everything.  You may also utilize emails, or online training, but in-person training is always more effective and interesting.  For more help, click on the links below.

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