Topic(s): Teaching

Your class should be exciting enough for the children to want to come back on their own. But you can make it even more fun by offering incentives.

If you have a little wall space to spare for each child, build a picture of a lesson-related object, adding a piece for each day attending. It could be a picture of a single object or a group of objects. Here are some examples:

• If teaching on the armor of God or spiritual warfare, build a soldier wearing armor, or add an arrow sticking in a shield.
• Add an animal going into the ark when teaching on Genesis.
• For the prophets, you can add scrolls.
• While studying the life of Christ, put objects such as a manger, boat, cross, or an empty tomb.
• Add a church building during lessons on Paul.

Be creative and make it exciting for the children to eventually complete their picture!

Make It a BIG Deal

Topic(s): Teaching

You can establish an even better rapport with the children in your class by making a big deal out of special events. Birthdays, holidays, and end-of-the-year celebrations can all be fun and good teaching opportunities. Give an event-specific Bible lesson, have special refreshments, or even give out certificates or mementos. This can add to the excitement and enthusiasm for God’s Word.

Object Lesson on God’s Love

Topic(s): Teaching

When teaching children, adults must be careful to use a vocabulary that the children understand. When using words that might not be commonly used by children, be sure to explain them. Here is an example:

“God made everything in the world, but of all the things in the world that God made, the thing that is in this box is what He loves the most.”

Teacher holds up a nicely decorated box. One by one, take each student aside. Let him/her look into the box as you open it to reveal each face being reflected by a mirror attached to the bottom.

“God is love” —1 John 4:8

Getting Them to Behave

Topic(s): Teaching

It is said that 85 percent of discipline problems are the fault of the teacher. You want to do whatever you can to help your students pay attention, thus reducing the need to take time for discipline.

One easy step is to make sure that the seats or the students (if they are seated on the floor) are facing away from doors and windows. Next time you go into your classroom, check to see if distracting windows and doors are in full view from where the children are sitting. Seating them away from this view should help draw more attention to you and the lesson you are teaching.

For a strong-willed child, a key phrase that will help is “in charge of.” Put the strong-willed child “in charge of” something in your class like in charge of holding the song sheets and handing them to you when you are about to sing. Or let him take attendance or even listen to memory verses if you think he is mature enough. This not only helps keep order, but it also helps the child develop both a leadership and servant a attitude.

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

Erase-a-Word

Topic(s): Teaching

When teaching Scripture memory verses during class, you will want to let the children repeat the verse seven or eight times (after you teach the meaning and application of the verse) to help them remember it. But you will want to do it in a fun, exciting way. Here is a favorite method.

Write the verse on a whiteboard. Each time the verse is repeated choose a child to erase another word until all are gone and the children can say the verse without seeing it. If it is a long verse, try letting the first child erase one word, the second two, the third three, and so on.

You will find that if you use a method like this that the children will have the verses memorized before you are even finished teaching! Don’t forget to send them home with verses printed out so they can review them during the week.

A Lot of Mistakes

Topic(s): Humor

One teacher, after correcting class papers, remarked to her student. “I don’t see how one person can make so many mistakes on his homework.” The student considered for a moment, then replied, “It wasn’t just one person; my dad helped” (The Lion Magazine).

Three Concerns of a Teacher

Topic(s): Teaching

Teaching is serious business, especially when the subject is religion. That doesn’t mean that teaching must be dry or severe, but it does mean that teachers of God’s way must realize the urgency and importance of their task, and so discharge their duties with a view to standing before God with a clean conscience.

Some people are gifted by God with talents that make them exceptional teachers almost from the start; others seem to struggle, but the fact remains, whether gifted or not, all teachers must grow and develop. Quality teacher training will aid teachers to excel in three basic areas of concern:

1. the content of their lessons,
2. the personality or spirit in which the lesson is presented, and
3. the teacher’s relationship with the students.

Most teachers will find excelling in one of these three areas easy, doing well in a second as not too difficult, but will deal with weakness in regard to their third concern.

Teachers must seek excellence by focusing on what comes most naturally (your strength), persevering in the challenging (this will support your strength), and growing in the ability to accomplish the difficult (here you will find the most personal growth).

The students are what matters. A teacher is reflected in his or her students. The students are the measurement of a teacher’s success.

Teachers, devote yourselves to prayer, study, and lesson preparation. An unprepared teacher does not deserve time with God’s students. Strive to be excited and emphatic in your presentation. If it is worth saying, it is worth saying well. Love your students and get to know them. If you hope to have a lasting impact, you simply must have a relationship. May God bless our teachers! —Joshua Pappas