Description
Today’s classrooms are packed full of diverse learners. Children who learn by doing, ones who need to talk in order to process and others who learn by reading and processing internally. Churches often have to combine grade levels into one class widening the range of social and intellectual development. So why do we still rely so heavily on whole group instruction? Because it is the way we were taught and it is the way most church curriculums are designed.
But church isn’t school. Church is a place where all children should experience God’s love and grow in faith. To make that happen, Sunday School must evolve to meet the diverse learning needs of today’s kids.
Originally developed in special education, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides a flexible framework to ensure all children can access and engage with learning. By providing choice and options, typical learners will become more engaged. When given the opportunity, children learn how they learn best and they will gravitate towards the activities that fit their learning style, interests and mood. What better way to show the love of Jesus then by teaching in a way that validates the strengths and interests of each child. Join me for a hands-on session where you’ll learn practical strategies to transform your Sunday School lessons—so every child feels valued, included, and excited to learn!
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Participants will:
-understand the guiding principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
-learn practical strategies to make any curriculum more engaging and accessible
-have an opportunity to apply UDL principles by adapting a lesson or creating a new one
Workshop Leader: Allison McQueen
A special education teacher by training and a Christian educator by God’s calling, Allison—guided by the wisdom of her pastors—translates Jesus’ words into kid-friendly, meaningful lessons at Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado.
She holds a master’s degree in special education and studied Universal Design for Learning (UDL) at Harvard’s Summer Institute. With 15 years of experience as a public school teacher, coach, and consultant, she has led numerous seminars on UDL for the Denver Public School System and across the state of Colorado.
Now in her third year of service at Wellshire, she has created three original Vacation Bible School experiences, written numerous Sunday School lessons and children’s sermons, and successfully adapted several store-bought curricula to better meet the unique needs of her students. With a heart for inclusion, she ensures every child can experience God’s unbreakable love in a way that truly resonates with them.
She is the proud mother of three grown children and loves doting on her two dogs, two cats, two goats, and six chickens.
Co-Leader: