Teaching middle schoolers can be intimidating! The larger the group, the harder it can be to gain and keep their attention. They just might pull out their smart phones and start texting a friend or fiddle with an app if you don’t engage them and capture their attention. So how do you hold the attention of these busy bodies and minds?

The good news is, middle schoolers provide the best of both worlds. They still enjoy the fun of stuff from the world of kids (they aren’t ‘too cool’ to have fun), and yet they are ready to get serious and be challenged, if you are willing to take them there. They don’t want to be treated like children. So you have to walk the line between fun and seriousness – it’s an exciting line to walk!

Check out my article: Tips for Teaching Preteens or even a video or two of how I lead games with this age.

Because Jesus Loves Preteens,

Pastor Karl Bastian

a.k.a. The Kidologist

PS: Check out the Preteen Zone!

sal•vi•fi•co•lo•gy (sal-VIH-ful-KALL-uh-GEE) noun 1. It's much more than going to heaven when you die. 2. The panoramic sweep of God's grand design for the cosmos has a theme, a movie score ... Salvation. 3. A word your friends don't know and you do.

Alan Root's Salvificology Workbook and Study Guide is a study of what makes God tick, what God thinks about and why he does what he does.

What's in this book?

• Introduction
• 5 Chapters
• APPENDIXES
  • Daily Readings
  • Black Boxes
  • Q&A
  • Activities
  • Digging deeper

»  You can download a sample chapter on Kidology.org!

»  Check out Alan's other 6 available book titles for preteens.

If you are still searching for resources to use this weekend for your patriotic service, you have found all you need...on Kidology.org!

We have resources that you can download in moments and start planning your service today!

»  Ultimate Freedom Curriculum

»  Ultimate America Trivia PowerPoint Game

»  PowerPoint Projection Images

»  ...and more!

Also check out our Patriotic Zone for more ideas!

Nick Dilberto from preteenministry.com gives advice on how to take your preteen ministry to the next level and begin making an even bigger impact.

"How much time do you spend on creating programming content? The first preteen ministry I launched grew quite rapidly from a small to large group in a few short years. In the early days, I had time for relationships with preteens. I could grab a leader or two and invite a small group of preteens to eat some pizza together.

However, as we grew, more time was dedicated to putting together programming for our weekend services, which was up to 8 at one point, as well as small groups, events, camps and the list goes on.

What suffered most? Building and maintaining strong relationships is what suffered, which brings us to the key of going from a good preteen ministry to a great preteen ministry."

»  Continue reading to find out the key to taking your ministry from good to great!

The GOD's TEAM series is a collection of lessons on the Spiritual Disciplines that uses Baseball as a metaphor for living for God. It features the ever-popular NoDuh the Wise One teaching videos as well.

This series contains details on how to set up your room, costumes, game rules, a review game, 10 complete lessons, and even a theme song. And the best part: it's FREE to download for Kidology Premium Members!

»  Access this perfect summer lesson series now!

»  Not a Premium Member? Sign up today!

Your Kidology Premium Membership grants you the ability to sell your previously-owned resources in the Kidology Garage Sale. Now is a great time to clean out your cabinets, sell your old stuff, and make room for your new fall resources!

Also don't miss out on your chance to snag some great savings on gently used curriculum and resources. Keep your budget happy by shopping the Kidology Garage Sale!

»  Sell Your Stuff!

»  Buy New-To-You Resources!

There are many training opportunities today that are offered that use the term "coaching" that would be better described as "training." 

• Watching online training videos about various skills and aspects of children's ministry can be very helpful - but it is not coaching. 
• Joining into a group call to hear from an expert in children's ministry can also be a great learning experience - but it also is not coaching. 
• Having a kit that gives you some area of leadership to focus on each week can be a useful resource - but it also is not coaching. 
• Even talking with an expert regularly for advice is not necessarily coaching if they have not been trained in how to coach. 

If they are just telling you what they think you should do, they are consulting or advising, not coaching. All of these things, and other helpful tools, can be a helpful supplement to your leadership development, but they should not be confused with genuine coaching.

»  Find out more about Kidology Coaching and how it can and will benefit your ministry!