One of the most rewarding activities I have been involved in over the past few months has been teaching the pre-teens during Saturday service at my church. I’ve found a decent approach where I’m strict enough to get their respect, but I can still find constructive ways to build fun into the experience.
One way has been to finish off teaching times with a game-show style review of recent lessons. Usually doing a boys versus girls structure adds to the fun. Sure, I don’t offer prizes like tooth-rotting candy or tonneau covers for vehicles they’re too young to own. But the bragging rights for a week seem to be enough to generate excitement.
The great thing about a game-show style review is that it gets them back into the material in a way that they feel is fun. It gets them to pay attention, and that’s the goal.