This course serves as a modified version of the Early Childhood Curriculum for Lutheran Teachers which grew out of needs expressed by congregations of the Pacific Southwest District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to inform and acculturate early childhood teachers with answers to the following questions: What is a Lutheran school, specifically, early childhood center? How are Lutheran schools unique? What do Lutherans believe? What is the heritage of the Lutheran schools? What are the characteristics of the Lutheran teacher?  With the goal of training and equipping early childhood educators for careers in Lutheran early childhood centers this course will focus on the following critical areas:  1) Lutheran thought and teaching (theology); 2) Nurturing the faith (faith development); 3) A distinctively Lutheran education (history of Lutheran education); 4) Methods and materials for teaching the faith to the young child.  We pray that our new version will accomplish these goals in a way that is accessible, attractive, affordable, applicable and authentic. 

​

Administrators, if you would like to lead your staff through the full series of sessions as a day long staff retreat we have created this guide to help you plan out that day.  We do pray this is a useful tool! 

​

We invite participants to keep the discussions going with our new Facebook group called “Making Jesus Real.”  As this is a closed group, please contact mary.wolfinbarger@psd-lcms.org to request an invite.  We hope that you will join the group and share ideas, ask questions, and post videos/pictures.  Our goal is to equip you and encourage you as you share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the children and their families.