AWANA awards

We have completed another year of AWANA.

I love the AWANA program so much!  It has the same feel as Scouts, only without the political turmoil (such as how Girl Scouts is affiliated with Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider---Ew!)  The kids wear AWANA uniforms, usually shirts or vests, to hold all of the patch and pin awards they earn through out the club year.  Each level of the club has a new book to complete each school year.  In those books are various Bible verses to memorize, Bible study activities to complete, and service projects to work on.  It starts with a foundation of Christian faith, and builds toward applying that faith and those principles.  In addition to the scripture knowledge that I find so helpful in our children's education, the AWANA club we attend offers a slew of games and activities.  Each week the kids have a devotion in their classes, they play PE style games, eat snacks, and some make crafts.  There is usually a theme to each club night, so the kids can dress up with crazy hair, or wear their PJs and things like that.  Outside of the weekly meeting, there are occasional weekend activities like the Grand Prix boxcar race, Bible Quizzing competition, and AWANA Games competition.  The club we attend is a very complete program.  The church who hosts it has the amenities to host a large program.  The Commander and his wife who direct the program have an incredible amount of experience and organization to make this particular club a great success each year.  

Our children thrive in this AWANA club.  There are so many themes and activities to get excited about, that it is not all academic for them.  Plus, many of the rewards involve candy, treats, or outings, and the kids like that.  

My requirement for the kids is that they complete the 1 designated book for each club year.  The kids usually complete 2-3 books or extra credit options instead, because they want to keep up with the over-achieving pace of their siblings.  They also want those extra patches and awards that go on their vests.  

Memorization comes easy to them, especially once they learn to read well and can practice on their own.  Jersey #2 really liked the verses set to music, so that helped her forge ahead, when she could memorize scripture with a tune.  I don't mind if they work hard to achieve more, but I do set some parameters for them.  Their work has to be thorough and with a happy heart.  They are to memorize their verses fully, so that they can recite them without assistance.  They cannot set such a high goal for themselves that they become overwhelmed and start crying about it.  Well, they can set such a goal, but I intervene as soon as the crying begins, and set a limit on them for that night until their attitude turns brighter.  I will allow them to choose to take a week or two off from working in their books, if life has gotten tough.  

No matter which way I turn, I am faced with challenge many of the weeks during the AWANA year.  Some of the challenge is over a child pressuring himself/herself to do more, to the point that they become overwhelmed.  Some of the challenge is encouraging a sluggish child to be more thorough in their efforts.  Some of the challenges come from the AWANA leaders themselves, who each have a different opinion of how many verses a child should learn each week.  I have had a few leaders repeatedly suggest that I am pressuring my children to do too much.  I am always amused by this, considering the pressure is not coming from me.  I have also had a leader question why I am "forcing" my kids to memorize the King James Version of the Bible.  (It is written in King's English, at an 8th grade reading level).  Most weeks I am having to explain to someone that the child in question is pushing their own limit.  The King James translation of the Bible is what we use at home and at church, so I am seeking consistency for my children.  The kids do not know any different, and are not bothered by this.  When they hear our Pastor read from his Bible during a sermon, they recognize the verses they have already memorized.  We are seeing benefit to that version, because the higher reading level introduces many more vocabulary words that improves their reading skills.  The sound of the spoken words is stranger than we speak, but it is still very similar to having them memorize Shakespeare.  I find the King's English to better explain the grammar.  Thee and thy let us know which person is being addressed much more accurately than the general "you."  It is certainly not appealing to everyone, but it works for us.  It is a good week at AWANA when all of the children have learned their verses well, are satisfied with their own efforts and accomplishments, and the leaders (and competitive parents) don't mention it!  I especially appreciate the leaders who accept kids as having different personalities and styles.  They seem to "get" the quirks in my kids too, and encourage us all.  

At the end of year awards program, all that hard work pays off as the kids are brought forward to receive the awards they have earned.  Our children are usually so excited to receive these really cool awards.  Even though I am most pleased with the academic awards, that come from finishing a book, my kids get most excited about the Perfect Attendance ribbon.  It is a bright, flashy ribbon.  But, perfect attendance is not my goal.  It usually comes down to whether or not our family caught the flu (or some other highly contagious upper respiratory bug) that year.

This year, no one caught the flu, so the older 3 kids received the perfect attendance ribbon.  Their awards program this year was incredible.  Each of them completed 3 books.  

Jersey #1 completed the 4th and 5th grade books, so that she could be placed in the 5th grade class where she is academically, instead of being in the 4th grade class by age.  (oh yes, that was a new can of worms for the leaders and parents who think I push my kids too far!)  Even at the awards program, I was asked if I was really going to allow Jersey #1 to be in 6th grade next Fall?  Not just in AWANA, but also in the enrichment program we had her in this year?  Yes, and yes.  We let her advance a grade (She completed kindergarten and 1st grade in the same year).  She was ready, and prefers the challenge.  

Jersey #2 has a gift for memorization that is amazing, along with an attitude of assumption that everyone can learn the way she does.  She doesn't see it as any big deal.  I like the way that the director introduced her.  He said that Jersey #2 may be small, but she is mighty!  That is the truth.

Jersey #3 was so proud of himself for the work he did this year.  He tried to tell his sisters that he completed more books than they did, but they quickly shut him down.  That didn't stop him from being super excited to get his awards.

The Referee made it to the awards program, which was really nice.  The kids were excited to have him there to see them receive their awards, and to praise them for their efforts.  It is important that Mom and Dad are proud of you.

               

Our church is not big enough to be able to host an AWANA program of our own, so our kids attend a program at a different church.  As our church grows in children, those children are also joining us for AWANA.  It was really sweet that our Pastor's wife attended the award ceremony to support the kids.  Their own children attended that same AWANA program when they were young too.  (The club we attend meets on Thursdays, not the typical Wednesday or Sunday, so it doesn't conflict with the Wednesday and Sunday evening services at our own church).