You Can Get There from Here:
Understanding Curriculum’s Scope and Sequence
The question of what content to teach and in what order to present the material has always been a challenge for Christian education teachers and leaders. "Scope and sequence" is a subject that may not trigger immediate inspiration or emotional response, but few ideas are more important to effective teaching. It is a fundamental consideration that builds a solid foundation for Christian education in churches, schools, and homes. Prioritizing content establishes a structure in which to implement a dynamic teaching plan.
Christian teaching is a cooperative effort at many levels: Holy Spirit and teacher; teacher and student; student and student; theory and practice; and much more. These collaborative participants add the "how and why" which make the "what and when" come alive in the actual experience of teaching and learning. Throughout my years in Christian education ministry, I have noted the guidance, guardianship, gentle reminding, and guarantee that a proper understanding of scope and sequence can afford the teacher.
Scope and Sequence Guides
Scope and sequence guides the writers of Christian curricular materials to present the gospel completely, with appropriate repetition of significant truths throughout the life cycle from the earliest of learning experiences and all along the pathways of life. Well-designed curricular materials capture the essence of the earliest meanings of the term curriculum by providing a "race course" in which to journey. There are many lines of direction and varying rates of speed to be considered when traveling a racecourse, but the general route is established within identifiable boundaries.
This understanding frees the teacher to direct full energy to the needs of students and the ministry of the Word. The teacher guides learners on the pathway of discovery with confidence that individual needs are being addressed and met.
Scope and Sequence Guards
Scope and sequence guards against individual preference or bias in determining appropriate biblical content to present to a particular class or group of learners. We all have favorite portions of Scripture to which we easily digress when preparation time is limited. There are also difficult passages that we may tend to ignore or gloss over because we do not have the time or energy to develop quality lesson materials concerning the content. Well-designed curricular materials keep us on course. It is helpful to see scope and sequence as an umbrella under which units and lessons can be arranged to help students make positive changes in their lives because of Bible learning.
Scope and Sequence Gently Reminds
Scope and sequence is a gentle reminder that we need not reinvent the wheel every time we are called upon to teach. It is easy to be convinced that we can produce better material than that provided by publishing houses because we know our students better than do people who live in a far-off place and write curriculum for a general audience.
Wise teachers will evaluate curricular material and personalize the printed aims to meet the needs of their own learners. They will develop their own aims for each session, to touch the total person–body, soul, mind, and spirit.
I have discovered that the desire to develop one’s own curriculum can dominate the thinking of teachers or leaders and distract them from a strong learner-centered focus. This results in a content or teacher-centered focus. It seems that teachers who wish to replace a church or school wide scope and sequence with their own schedule of content fulfill Pike’s Second Law that states, "People don’t argue with their own data." In the case of a Christian education teacher, the insight and counsel of other godly people who are their partners in developing quality Bible instructional materials is a valuable asset.
Scope and Sequence Guarantees
Scope and sequence guarantees direction and purpose in teacher preparation and training. Christian education leaders can tailor-make training experiences to meet the needs of teachers in a timely and appropriate fashion based on a generally accepted scope and sequence. Training for an entire teaching staff, individual department, or individual teacher is focused and maximized when scope and sequence are integrated into the process. It is also valuable for a teacher to establish expectations for students with knowledge of prior learning and anticipation of future learning.
The ministry of Christian education is one of the greatest cooperative efforts of God’s people. The relationship of teacher and student is filled with wonder and excitement. Included in the strong foundations that support the great work of Christian education is the concept of scope and sequence. Be a wise teacher and consider what to teach and when to teach, and you will meet needs in the classroom and see lives changed.
