When is the best time to memorize something? The best time to memorize anything is when you are young! (Proverbs 22:6). Have you ever heard the adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?" The truth behind that saying is that it is usually difficult for an older person to learn new things. Is it impossible for someone of age to learn something new? Definitely not! Perhaps the reason adults have a harder time with memorization is because they have more on their minds and seem to have very little time to focus on one thing at a time. Yes, it is much easier to learn or memorize anything when you are young!
With that in mind, how is the memory work in your Bible classroom coming along? The Old Testament books may be a little difficult for children to learn to pronounce them, but they can manage, especially with a song. The New Testament books may be a little easier with fewer books to remember, but it still may be a job for some of the very young. The Bible verses that are suggested in each lesson are just that--suggestions! If you believe the assigned Bible verse is too difficult for your students, simply choose another verse or shorten the one recommended.
Encouraging young students to memorize Bible books and Bible verses and motivating them to remember can be a hard task without parental support. Here is another adage that you may have heard before, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." All the Bible teacher can do is encourage, encourage, encourage! Occasionally, peer pressure can help in a good way if all the students are excelling in memory work, but a few. The Bible teacher's mission: to encourage, to motivate, and provide a method in memorizing, i.e. songs, an opportunity and the time to learn, Bible verse projects (see June - Lesson - 12 Stones To Remember on this blog), etc. With every student, there is a way to motivate. We, as Bible teachers, just need to be patient and kind--just like we teach the children (see the song in April - Lesson - Joseph Meets His Brothers Who Hated Him) (Ephesians 4:32)!
MEMORY VERSE IDEA: Fishing For A Verse
Materials needed: Orange construction paper, paper clips, 10" string, magnet, long stick, large bowl, water-based marker like Crayola brand.
- Cut simple fat fish out of the construction paper, 5" long.
- Draw an eye and a memory verse on both sides with a water-based marker. If you use a permanent marker like Sharpie, the marker will bleed to the other side of the fish.
- Place a paper clip on the tail of each fish.
- Tie the string on one end of the stick.
- Tie the magnet on the other end of the string.