• Can you give me a brief summary of the features in the FaithSteps on CD Teaching Guide?

• The Teaching Guide provides so many options. What is the best way to take advantage of all the material?

• I am not very familiar with the CEV Bible. Can you tell me a little about it?

• We really like FaithSteps on CD, but our Sunday school groups vary slightly from the age breakdowns of the curriculum. Can you recommend the preferred way to use FaithSteps on CD in this situation?

• Does FaithSteps on CD follow the same scope and sequence as your adult curriculum?

• Why does the Infant-Twos scope & sequence only cover 12 months while the other age groups cover 44 months?

• What music does FaithSteps on CD reference?

• What are the benefits of the original artwork that has been created for FaithSteps on CD?

• What is the benefit of having one memory verse per unit rather than a new one for each session?

• Why don’t the Bible skills exercises used in some lessons correspond with that session’s Bible story?

• How was the scope and sequence chosen for FaithSteps on CD?

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Can you give me a brief summary of the features in the FaithSteps on CD Teaching Guide?
Click here to see an overview of how the FaithSteps on CD Teaching Guide works.

The Teaching Guide provides so many options. What is the best way to take advantage of all the material?
Based on the individual needs of your class, the Teaching Guide is structured to provide you with an array of options from which to choose. Simply select the options that complement your teaching style and, more importantly, the learning methods of your children.

I am not very familiar with the CEV Bible. Can you tell me a little about it?
Written on a fourth-grade reading level, the Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible is ideal for early readers with young vocabularies, and it is also helpful for older children who struggle with reading comprehension. Compare these translations of Romans 4:19:

New International Version (NIV)
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Contemporary English Version (CEV)
We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith.

Published by the American Bible Society, the CEV Bible is recommended for teachers and children using FaithSteps.

We really like FaithSteps on CD, but our Sunday school groups vary slightly from the age breakdowns of the curriculum. Can you recommend the preferred way to use FaithSteps on CD in this situation?
Curriculum needs vary greatly from church to church, which makes it necessary to adapt any curriculum to fit the needs of your group. This may be as simple as modifying an activity to fit a larger or smaller group.

In the case where your age groups vary from those used by FaithSteps on CD, we offer these suggestions:

• Examine curriculum from the two age groups that overlap with yours. For instance, if your group consists of Grades 2–3, inspect both the Grades 1–2 curriculum and the Grades 3–4 curriculum. Note the features, and think about your children. What approach do you think will work best for them? Which material offers activities more likely to work with your children? Which activities can be adapted most easily to fit your group? Is your class made up of more second-graders or third-graders?

• When in doubt about which age group to select, choose the curriculum designed for younger children. In general, this material will be easier to adapt.

Does FaithSteps on CD follow the same scope and sequence as your adult curriculum?
FaithSteps on CD is designed with children in mind. Some texts that adults study may not yet be suitable for children, so the scope and sequence for FaithSteps on CD is constructed to meet their developmental needs as they grow and mature.
Click here to read how the FaithSteps on CD scope and sequence is developed.

Why does the Infant-Twos scope & sequence only cover 12 months while the other age groups cover 44 months?
FaithSteps on CD reinforces core themes during formative years to prepare the youngest learners with skills they’ll need in the older age groups. The Infant-Twos Teaching Guide even offers separate age-appropriate lesson plans for Infants-Ones and for Twos. Once they enter the Threes-Kindergarten class, they begin the longer scope and sequence.

What music does FaithSteps on CD reference?
Smyth & Helwys formerly offered FaithSongs (Abingdon Press) as a complement to the FaithSteps curriculum. FaithSteps also references the tape sets Sing for Joy (Abingdon Press) and Sing a New Song (Abingdon Press) as alternatives to the FaithSongs CD. Unfortunately, we no longer distribute any of these music options. However, you might be able to purchase at least FaithSongs directly through the publisher, Abingdon Press (www.abingdonpress.com).

What are the benefits of the original artwork that is created for FaithSteps on CD?
These richly detailed works are professionally illustrated in vibrant colors, animating the Bible stories and bringing the characters to life in ways that spark the imagination of children and deepen their understanding of the lesson. The pictures’ consistent, ethnically accurate portrayals also promote character recognition and help children connect related stories throughout the trimester and year, further enhancing the learning experience. Editors research the setting and elements used in each picture, helping ensure a high level of accuracy. Even though no one knows exactly how certain biblical characters appeared, FaithSteps on CD is consistent in how characters are drawn—meaning that Jesus, Moses, or other major characters will be recognizable across teaching pictures created for FaithSteps on CD. Original pieces are produced each trimester, making them a vast and invaluable treasure for your classroom.

What is the benefit of having one memory verse per unit rather than a new one for each session?
Our intent is to focus on Scripture retention, and not just Scripture memory. Children can memorize a Bible verse, but they don’t always know what the words mean or how they can apply them to their lives. With FaithSteps on CD, not only do they memorize the passage, but they also learn more about it throughout the unit exercises and activities. By the end of the unit, we hope children will be able to say the verse from memory, locate the verse in their Bibles, paraphrase the verse, and ultimately, apply the verse in their own lives.

Why don’t the Bible skills exercises used in some lessons correspond with that session’s Bible story?
Because we think it is important for children to possess certain Bible skill proficiencies before they finish a given grade, FaithSteps on CD has adopted Bible skills goals for each age group. To accomplish these goals, the Bible skills exercises may not always correspond with the lesson in which they are located. Nonetheless, as children gain greater skill using their Bibles and Bible reference works, they will benefit more from each session’s particular focus.

How was the scope and sequence chosen for FaithSteps on CD?
The FaithSteps on CD team believes that the Bible should be the foundation for developing scope and sequence. The method for developing scope and sequence evolved with the curriculum itself. FaithSteps on CD was built with the following calendar in scope and sequence development: