Top 3 Reasons for Choosing Published Curriculum
For varied reasons, some children’s ministry leaders choose to write their own curriculum. While this may allow for deeply customized content, choosing a published curriculum offers you more bang for your buck! Mull over these considerations from our curriculum experts at Group before launching into the lengthy process of DIY curriculum.
Top 3 Reasons for Choosing Published Curriculum
1. Time
How much time does it take to create a life-changing curriculum based on a two- or three-year strategy? We’ve heard of some people saying they spend up to 40 hours writing their own curriculum. That’s the equivalent of working a week at a full-time job! So if you didn’t have to spend a significant chunk of your whole week writing, what other things do you think you could do for your ministry? You could plan special events, visit your kids at their schools and have lunch with them, talk with families—and the list goes on and on.
2. Money
Do you save money writing your own curriculum? It’s actually not likely. Consider this example. Let’s say a children’s minister has a $40,000 salary. If that person devotes 10 hours per week to writing curriculum, that’s like spending $10,000 per year on curriculum. Chances are, you’ll probably spend more time than 10 hours writing and prepping. Now, while a published curriculum isn’t free, just think about what $10,000 could get you—or where you could use that money or time in other areas!
3. Kid-Focused
When you write your own curriculum, it’s difficult to be an expert on all age groups and know where kids are in their spiritual development. And do you know without a doubt you’re writing a lesson that’s going to address all the learning styles? Is what you write inclusive of the tactile, kinesthetic, and rhythmic learners in your ministry? (We’ve found that most homemade curriculum writers tend to focus on the auditory and visual learners—typically the two learning styles they’re comfortable with.)
Not every ministry is the same, and different solutions work better for different churches. Writing your own curriculum may work for you; and if so, let us know about your process! But if you are looking for amazing, life-changing curriculum, please check out what Group has to offer. You can choose to customize your lesson plans each week with the built-in flexibility of our DIG IN curriculum. Or if you want to keep it extra simple, check out Simply Loved. We’ll help you find the perfect curriculum for your ministry and help you out every step of the way!
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