Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

TIPS FOR SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERSMrs. Kathryn WuthnowPrepareKnow your class members. If they are children, whatappeals to children of that age, what are their characteristics,abilities? If older students, what aboutbackground, education, interests, occupations? Pray foreach member of the class during the week. Encouragethem to pray for each other.Carefully plan each lesson keeping in mind makingthe best use of the limited time that you have in which topresent it. A professional teacher makes written lessonplans which include aims, materials, and procedure. Firststudy your lesson material until you know it, then planhow you will present it to make it come alive for the class.Plan how to get the response you want in order todevelop the theme, idea, truth you wish to bring out of thelesson. Think through your questions, write them down,watch the wording. Is the meaning clear? Does it provokethought and discussion that will lead to the goal of thelesson or the application of it? Anticipate questions thatmay arise and be prepared with an answer.Study ways to be tactful in asking questions and inacknowledging responses in class discussion. Withoutembarrassing individuals with personal remarks try tobring out truths that would be helpful in meeting theirneeds.Have any teaching aids, such as maps, pictures,charts, filmstrips, at hand, ready to be used.TeachGear the lesson presentation to the age of yourlisteners. The vocabulary used should be on their level ofcomprehension. Be enthusiastic. Look them in the eye, asyou talk, to hold their attention. Be sincere and reverentas you present the Holy Word of God in His house andexpect the Holy Spirit to apply it.Small children have a short attention span and needaction. Use words they understand and speak slowlyenough that they comprehend. Be dramatic. Let themdramatize a part of the story. Even in a small classroomthey can walk around a table or run in one spot as theyhold a card bearing the name of the character theyrepresent. You may wish to retell the story letting themMrs. Kathryn Huey Wuthnow is an elementary teacherin the Lyons, Kansas public school system. She is amember of the Sterling R. P. Church and chairman of thecongregation's Christian Education Committee.supply words or action. Even clapping by the class forright answers as questions are answered, will satisfy theirneed for movement.Cultivate the habit of carrying a Bible to class bymaking use of it in class. Little children who cannot readlike to carry a Bible to church school. Those learning toread are quite eager to find words they know in verses theteacher finds for them. The use of the Bible for "sworddrill" is enjoyed by older children as they look up versesquickly and stand to read them.In children's classes part of the hour may be used inmaking something to take home.Bulletin boards that grow with each lesson may holdinterest for any class in the children's department.Involve Your PupilsThink of suitable ways to motivate students toprepare their lessons. Giving stars may appeal to the littleones. Individual check lists or notebooks may motivateolder students. Some means of recognition or reward maybe used as a motivation for memorizing Scripture verses,Psalms, and catechism.The old adage, "You must put something into it ifyou hope to get something out of it," should be applied.Encourage each one to make some contribution to theclass lesson and to feel that his contribution was important.Brief special reports, panel discussions, contestsmay be used as a means of motivating young people.Special projects such as programs for rally day orpromotion day may involve all classes. Other specialprojects might be planned for Thanksgiving, Christmas, orNew Years. A clean-up day or work-night at the churchcould enlist the cooperative effort of all. Helping orcontributing to the support of some mission, ormissionary, might be another means of involvement. Planto give everyone an opportunity for taking someresponsibility at one time or another and give recognitionfor it.Visitation is a very important means of involvingmembers of adult classes. Opportunity for class membersto get acquainted and to have Christian fellowship asidefrom the Sabbath services is needed by all classes.As a Sabbath School teacher remember that you arenot only teaching a Bible truth by teaching this day'slesson but you are helping to develop Christian character,church leaders, congenial family members, witnesses forChrist.•••MAY i9, i97i 5