Seven Tips for Teaching Improvement

Written by Richard E. Dodge

Teaching God’s Word gives us great potential to positively impact others. Therefore improving our skills in leading Bible study is critical. Our students deserve our best, and we cannot be our best if we don't make improvement a priority. Following are seven simple tips on becoming better Bible teachers.

1. Choose methods that encourage personal discovery of biblical truths.
The methods we choose when leading people in Bible study should encourage that “A-ha!” moment, that experience when a learner discovers personally what the Bible says or how the passage applies to life. Methods are tools by which teachers stimulate learning. Learning is a personal process, one determined in part by the attitude of the learner. If the learner is not interested, getting the message across can be difficult.

2. The more methods, the better.
Granted, too many methods and approaches that are “off the wall” can lead learners to focus only on the method. Blending methods may help teachers get more learners involved individually in the learning experience.

3. Cover all bases.
Missing a learning style can mean that some people miss the point. Despite planning the lesson to focus on the needs of each participant, sometimes the point is missed because the teacher missed the target. Procedures in teaching suggestions are chosen to take into account the different interest and learning levels of members.

4. The more senses, the more experiences.
Using only a lecture or only a monologue means only one sense is used. If you are teaching a lesson on the geography of a Bible land, with an emphasis on dates and olives, bring some dates and olives to class - yes, even adult classes. Using more than one sense makes the lesson come alive more in the learner’s mind.

5. Use the ordinary in unusual ways.
All around you are resources that can be used to communicate. Do you have an oak tree? Use acorns as a way of illustrating how a small seed can grow into a great tree. Use newspaper to write on as if it were a marker board. Just use a large felt-tip marker. Water and food coloring can illustrate how the Holy Spirit permeates our lives. If you are use Explore the Bible, consider using ETB QuickSource. This resources provides ideas for using objects when teaching the lesson.

6. Keep the session moving.
Caution: This is a learned habit. The ability to keep the session moving comes from trying different activities and approaches and evaluating the results. Learn to read the faces of your members. Yawns are not a sign of boredom; just lack of sleep. Closed eyes, slouched bodies, and fidgiting are indications of the need for a change of pace or activity. When you create a teaching plan, include optional activities that can be substituted if the pace of the lesson slows to a crawl.

7. Variety is essential.
Skillful teachers can create a sense of anticipation for attending Bible study because the session is always exciting and creative. Teachers who create this kind of anticipation will have more personal involvement from individual members as well as a higher level of member attendance. Members also will bring their friends if the classes are exciting.

Remember that improvement is not automatic. One of the essentials for improvement is the ability to see what is happening and make adjustments. Effective teachers can observe what is happening in class, make adjustments, and improve what happens next week when members walk into the room.

Richard E. Dodge teaches adults in Sunday School and is Sunday School director at Una Baptist Church, Nashville.

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