Apprentice Faith Shops

The Apprentice Faith Shops Sunday School at First Baptist Church offers children (Kindergarten - Grade 5) the opportunity to learn in a setting designed for involvement, discovery, and creativity. This format is known as the rotation model for Sunday School. Each week children rotate from room to room and experience the stories of our faith.

Our room, called "shops," provide an engaging environment for our children and teachers.

How it Works

• Units of Study extend for a 5 or 6 week period
• We have 7 rooms (or shops) which used in some combination for each unit of study
• 1 teacher or a teacher team is assigned to each room which we call a “shop"
• Children are grouped according to age/grade
• Each group rotates to each room week by week
• Each teacher will teach each group during the rotational period
• 2 shepherds are assigned to each grade for the entire year
• Shepherds will “rotate" with the children each week

Teachers

• Teachers in the Apprentice Faith Shops are assigned to one “shop" or room for the length of the unit and will teach the same lesson each week
• Commitment is for the length of the unit, or one “rotation" on Sunday mornings from 9:45 – 10:45 AM
• Teachers may commit to teach for one or more units during the year
• Teachers can teach from their strengths, interests, and particular gifts

Shepherds

• Shepherds provide community and personal connection for children
• Shepherds “rotate" with one group each week for the entire year
• Shepherds form relationships with one group of children, providing care, nurture, and continuity
• Shepherds remain with their group for the entire year

Our Name

• Apprentice: One who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers a trade, art, or calling.
• Faith: “A biblical word that refers both to intellectual belief and to relational trust or commitment."
• Shops: Simply a place where the apprentices work, learn, and experience the stories of our faith.