Teacher Tips 10 "Make It Spiritual"

Lots of what we teach the kids is not from the "stage" but in our conversations "off stage." By that I mean, lessons taught when you're not in presentation mode are sometimes the most important.  So make it spiritual.  When a kid comes to you feeling sick, don't just get them water; heal them in the name of Jesus.  When a child tells you of trouble they're having with a bully, don't just give them advice; ask them how they can love and minister to the bully.  When they are misbehaving, don't just correct the behavior; direct them toward a desire to please God with their decisions.  Every part of life is spiritual.  We need to remember that.  We especially need to remember that when talking with the kids of stage.

Teacher Tips 9 "The Dreaded Paper"

Ooh.  Few things tell the children that you are nervous or unprepared more than "the dreaded paper." But the pastor gave you a lesson and you've got to do everything it says or you might mess it up or forget something.  you think You need the organized thoughts of "the paper" to stay on track.  But the truth is, "the paper" is holding you back.  Sure, you might hit more details if you read it, but you'll lose the kids' attention.  It's okay to have it with you, but don't use it to teach.  Reading from a page cuts off your audience because you lose eye contact.  When you worry about missing details, you'll start hesitating, pausing, and checking the paper.  All that does is give little minds time to wander.  The key is to simply understand the basic point and how it applies to your object or character.  The paper is nothing more than a starting point.  Kids would rather listen to what YOU think than what the paper says.  I suggest simply reading your lesson through a few times at the beginning of the week and then put it away and digest it for a while.  Then when you get in front of the kids, it's YOUR lesson.  You won't remember every detail from the paper, but you'll be connecting with the kids.

Teacher Tip #8 "You Can Fake Energy"

You can’t fake the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  You can’t fake a heart of worship. You can’t fake love.  Don’t ever try.  But you CAN fake energy!  There have been countless times I’ve gotten up in front of the kids to lead worship or teach and I’m tired, sick, sad, or flat out don’t want to do whatever it is I’m doing.  Although you cannot manufacture something spiritual to give the kids, you are allowed to manufacture enthusiasm for their sake.  They learn by your example, so whether you feel like it or not raise your hands and dance.  They are drawn to your energy when you preach and teach, so suck it up, smile, and pretend you’re excited.  It’s not okay to fake who you are or what you believe, but it’s almost essential to fake the get-up-and-go liveliness and enthusiasm kids need to connect with you or the subject mater.  We can manage it for the 10 minutes we’re on the stage. 

Teacher Tip #7 "Punctuality"

Ten amazing things you communicate through punctuality if you're 30 minutes early:
  1. You can have activities or fellowship ready for the kids before they arrive.
  2. It ensures there are no kids waiting in rooms unsupervised.
  3. It allows you to be prepared before kids start coming in.
  4. It gives the best first impression to visitors that we're ready for their kids.
  5. It tells parents that your church cares about their families.
  6. It tells children that they are important to us and God, because their teacher 
       is already waiting for them with activities.
  7. It tells non-believers that Christians are committed in their service to God.
  8. It tells God that His work and children deserve our best efforts.
  9. It allows parents to get to their various ministries and responsibilities on time.
10. Also keep in mind some kids arrive as early as 30 minutes before church, so 
       they're sometimes already waiting for you before you come in.
To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. To be late is to be left behind.
(bonus for my blog readers):
(11) It allows you to focus your attention on the kids instead of your classroom preparations, telling them that they are the priority.
(12) It helps your ministry director who has better things to worry about than replacing a late teacher or monitoring a room before you arrive.
(13) It allows you first choice of the donut flavors before everyone else arrives.
(14) It makes your church and children's ministries look good.
(15) Chances are you've been requested to arrive early so it's an act of obedience and therefore an act of worship.

Teacher Tip #6 "Showing Your Love"

Showing your love to kids is far more important than anything you teach in the room. They quickly forget your words, but remember for a lifetime how they felt when they were with you.  When we get old, we don’t remember games and lessons, but the people who loved us.  So here are 5 things to remember when you enter the room. 

1. You are there for the kids.  Not for pastors, teaching, or setting up.  The kids are the number one priority. Act like it.

2. Smile all the time.  Kids trust happy adults.  You might be surprised how this improves your discipline as well.

3. Touch the children.  I know in a paranoid world it seems taboo, but it’s okay to give a hug or a pat on the back.  It makes a huge impact.

4. Talk to the kids.  Show interest in what they have to say. If you hear what they have to say, you’ll be a friend for life.

5. Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray.  Pray that God will give you opportunities and wisdom to share His love.

Teacher Tip #5 "Church Attendance"

A vessel can only pour out as much as it has received.  For those of you that help in ministry it can be difficult to stay full enough to have something to give every time you volunteer.  As you should already know, Bible reading and prayer is crucial to any Christian life or ministry.  But an additional need is Church Attendance.  Your pastor wants you in Kids Church, and the nursery, and Wednesday night clubs.  I even think it’s wonderful when you volunteer outside of children’s ministries.  But however important your efforts are, it is of greater importance that you attend church for your own spiritual growth.  Don’t get so caught up with ministry that you don’t give yourself opportunity to worship for your own benefit.  If you come to the children (or any ministry) without having spent time that week in a worship service, you very well may be trying to pour out of an empty vessel.  You need the fellowship, the preaching of the word, the worship, and the chance to be ministered to.  If you are not yet allowing yourself to do this, please talk to your pastor so you can rearrange your schedule to fill up your vessel.

Teacher Tip #4 "Discipline"

Discipline.  The word every teacher craves to understand.  Rambunctious children send shivers down most adults’ spine.  There are 2 key elements to discipline in a Church. 

1. Kid’s act out most often because they are bored.  You cannot be upset with a child for acting like a child!  If they are bored, it’s not their fault.  If you don’t have something dynamic prepared they are going to release their energy in natural and creative ways.  The NUMBER ONE key to discipline in church is to have something fun and interesting WELL PREPARED!

2.  Smile.  Our goal in church is to introduce children to a loving relationship with God.  If they are constantly yelled at and frowned at, they probably don’t want to come back.  They probably get enough yelling at home and school.  Church should be a safe place where they WANT to come.  A good measure of whether you are disciplining in a loving way is to always discipline with a smile.  The only time you need to shout is if you are having fun or it’s an emergency.  “Shh” gestures with a smile can stop talking. A gentle hand on the shoulder with a smile can stop horseplay.  Just smile.

Teacher Tip #3 "Keep Things Moving"

When it comes to teaching kids in a large group, the key is to use multiple presenters and keep things moving! The more fast-paced variety we have, the more effective we will hold their attention. If you doubt it, watch 30 min of Nickelodeon. It moves fast. There are two keys to making this happen. First, break up your lessons into 5 to 10 minute segments and minimize the transition time between those segments.  This means that everyone needs to know what they're teaching and when.  When one lesson is finishing, the next one should be waiting in the wings. There should be no more than 2 seconds of transition between any two segments. Dead time just gives little minds time to wander.  Just go up as soon as the previous segment is finished. Second, keep your lesson moving. Don’t allow dead time while you are speaking. Know what you are going to do and say, do and say it with energy, then let the next person up.  Keep things moving.

Teacher Tip #2 "Always Use Scripture"

Always use Scripture when you are teaching.  If we are not feeding them the Word, we are feeding them our own beliefs and opinions.  When we teach Scripture it gives authority to what we are preaching.  Also, include a Bible among the objects you use for every lesson.  When you share a Scripture with your audience, reading it straight out of the Holy Book gives it a lot of weight and visual authority.  It subconsciously confirms that you’re not making this stuff up.  Don’t just teach; teach the Word of God!

Teacher Tip #1 "Single Point"

Always state the day’s single point sometime during every teaching.  It forces every teaching to be an extension of a single message.  This repetition further solidifies the idea in the kids’ memories.  Including it in every lesson also gives them better understanding of the point as they hear it clearly from several different directions.  It also forces every teacher to relate their lesson to a single unified theme.  Without the single point, we are merely relating a number of segmented lessons and hoping the kids get where we’re coming from.  Children's classes & services differ from the adult service in that the sermon/teaching is not brought by a single person, but by many.  That is why we need the unity of that single point to help us all preach this single truth that we want the kids to bring home.