You love God. You love kids. You’re devoted to helping children grow in Christ-likeness. But are there ways you can become even more effective? Here are ten teaching tips that can help you become more efficient and effective.
1. Teach the Bible.
God’s Word matters most, so make sure that the Scriptures remain your lesson centerpiece. As you instruct the kids, keep your Bible open and refer to it during the lesson. Show your children how to glean insights from their own Bibles.
2. Teach from “known” to “unknown.”
Children are much more likely to grasp a new concept when you show how it compares with something they already know. Explain how new truths relate to established facts. This method helps kids build upon their foundation of knowledge and experiences.
3. Teach with enthusiasm.
When kids see that you are excited, they will be motivated as well. Your energy multiplies student interest and their willingness to actively participate. “It is a sin to bore people with the Bible” (Dr. Howard Hendricks, Dallas Theological Seminary).
4. Teach the whole child.
Make sure that your lesson engages children mentally, emotionally, and physically. Seek specific ways to activate the head, heart, and hands so the principles from the Bible “stick.”
5. Teach with targets.
By planning well and focusing on one overarching goal, every lesson can be a winner. Show students how each part of the lesson contributes to the “big idea” of the Bible passage.
6. Teach for life-change.
Allocate ample time during each lesson for “application to life.” Don’t leave “response time” for the last few minutes. Your primary responsibility is to ensure that Bible truths move from the head—to the heart—to the hands and feet.
7. Teach challenging concepts.
Children are able to comprehend increasingly difficult topics and truths as they mature. Seek to s-t-r-e-t-c-h student abilities instead of allowing their capacities and curiosities to shrivel up. If you set the bar high, kids will try to reach it.
8. Teach with patterns.
Establish daily classroom routines as you direct each aspect of your time together (memory work, prayer requests, offering, Bible story time etc.). A “standard operating procedure” gives children security and builds behavioral boundaries.
9. Teach for relationship.
Make sure to “connect” with each child on a personal level. Stories about your own childhood will help build a bond of trust and personal interest. When kids can relate to you personally and know that you genuinely care about them, they will to do their very best.
10. Teach with expectation.
Believe in God’s earnest desire to empower and enliven each student. Anticipate that the Lord will intervene during every class session to make His presence known. The Holy Spirit wants to enhance your teaching. He is also eager to reinforce the kids’ learning.
Action Step
Implement one of these teaching tips as you prepare your next lesson!
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