Here are 5 simple tips that worked for me!
After 10+ years of being a teacher and tutor in Sunday schools, junior church, VBS, ESL classes, or even at home, I have had a lot of triumphant and defeating experiences!
My teaching styles and methods have had to change and morph based on the age group of my students, their level of interest, and the time I had to teach. However, there are five things that I have learned really hold true no matter who you are teaching, what you are teaching them, and how long you have!
1. Prayer
To be a good Sunday school teacher, you are going to need God’s help and patience! This is where prayer comes in.
I always like to say a quick prayer before I prepare my lessons, then before the children come into the classroom – this helps prepare my heart and mind as well as calm my nerves (yes, I still get nervous even after 11 years of teaching!)
I also like to have prayer time during class – this is a great way to introduce younger students to prayer, lead by example, and ask God’s help in the moment.
And, finally, always thank God after! Even if your lesson time was chaotic or difficult or different from what you expected, you still made it through, and can find something to thank God for or ask Him to change for you next time!
2. Preparation
Preparation is one of the most important parts of teaching. I was only 13 when I was first asked to take over a junior church in rural village as a missionary kid (MK) in Eastern Europe, and I had NO idea what I was stepping into and how much time it would take to prepare a lesson that literally lasted only five minutes hahaha!
My motto, though, is that the more organized you are, the smoother your lesson will go. Children of all ages thrive on schedules, order, and clear expectations. You can make every minute count by preparing ahead of time – this will keep you confident as a teacher, too, without having those panicky moments where you’re looking at those eager, young eyes, thinking, “What do I do next?!”
(Check out THIS article about how to plan out each minute of class time and some ideas of how to fill that time!)
Being prepared often includes having a written timetable, a completed lesson and objective, as well as craft materials ready, visual aids prepared, games in mind (with instructions), and a snack to bring along! Prizes like candy, snacks, or even dollar-store items to incentivize games, attention, and group participation are always a great idea, too.
My favorite tip for planning out a lesson is to create my own checklist a few days before my class time that I can continue to review so that I don’t miss anything!
Check out some Classroom Checklist free downloadable templates in our free shop.
3. Pride – Beware!
One of the worst things you can do as a teacher, though, is be timid and prideful. I know, I know, we’re all afraid of making a mistake or looking dumb in front of a group of humans. However, if your kiddos sense that you are scared, shy, annoyed, or stuck up, then you will lose their respect and attention right from the start.
You have to put away your pride – kids will only be as enthusiastic or eager to learn as you are. Most likely, those kids are going to be more shy and afraid of making a mistake than you are. So, talk loudly, smile brightly, and don’t be afraid to look silly. This will bring out a wonderful side of you, and will encourage your students to be confident and involved, too.
For me, this was singing loudly and making goofy faces at my students, calling up different helpers to assist with anything I could think of, wearing funny-looking costumes, and even jumping up on a table, howling like a monkey! 🙂 The important thing is to have fun and leave those nerves at the door!
4. Persevere
If you have never taught anyone before, you will soon find that you will have frustrating moments. Sometimes, it feels as though no one is listening, learning, or having fun.
But remember, teaching anything, whether it be a Sunday school class, VBS, junior church, or even homeschool course is all about learning: not just the students learning, but you learning, too.
If something didn’t seem to work once, try something different next time! Did you feel rushed during your lesson? Try allowing yourself more time, or cut down on your content. The kids weren’t involved in the craft? Try a game next time instead. No one sat still during what was supposed to be a quiet moment? Try a prize or incentive!
The main thing to remember is to keep adapting and changing – find what works best for you and your students.
5. Repetition! Repetition! Repetition!
Now, what were those first four tips? That’s right, pray, prepare, pride-beware, and persevere! 🙂 Our last point, now, is don’t forget to REPEAT EVERYTHING. The three R’s of teaching are: repeat, repeat, repeat!
With attention spans shortening in our society every single day, you will only find success as a teacher in repeatedly repeating haha. This doesn’t mean you have to be boring or redundant, but it does mean that you need to keep instructions or learning objectives right in the forefront of your student’s minds through repetition.
My favorite way of incorporating repetition is by giving an instruction or stating a fact, then asking my students, “Now, what was that?” “What are you supposed to do?” “What are we doing next?” These types of questions put your students on the spot and encourage them to verbally repeat what they have just heard — causing them not only to keep paying close attention to what you say next, but also solidifying that fact or instruction in their memory!
Another great tool is review games — whether you are memorizing something as a class or just trying to help them learn a story or concept, gamifying is a great way to keep students involved and interested.
Check out some of my free classroom games here!
I hope that you are able to use these 5 tools as you begin your journey as a teacher. Always remember, no matter who or what you are teaching, pray, prepare, beware of pride, persevere, and (repeat this out loud with me!) repeat, repeat, repeat!!!
Here’s a cute printable poster that you can print and hang up anywhere to remember these tips!
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