Attitudes and Perspectives Not Just Skills

When new teachers acquire the attitudes and perspectives about teaching used in the following acrostic, it tends to guide their skills in the right direction as they aim at what matters most. Keep this in mind as you recruit, train, encourage, and support new teachers.

Acrostic with Attitudes and Perspectives New Teachers Need to Guide the Use of Their Teaching Skills

T – Truth (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12)

• Always remember that you’re teaching the inspired, infallible Word of God.
• Aim for accurate representation of God’s Truth, keeping the Bible central.
• This will provide focus, guiding you in the content you teach.

E – Engagement (Deut. 6:5-9; Acts 17:11; Phil. 4:9)

• Always remember that students learn best when involved in the process — doing and talking, not merely listening.
• Aim for active, not passive, students.
• This will affect learning and retention, guiding you in the methods you use in teaching.

A – Accountability (James 3:1; 2 Tim. 2:15)

• Always remember that you are ultimately account to God for how you teach His Word and treat students.
• Aim at being faithful in all you do.
• This will spur you on to adequately prepare and effectively present the lesson, guiding your level of commitment.

C – Cooperation & Collaboration (1 Cor. 3:6-11)

• Always remember the rippling effects in teaching. You’re building on top of what others have imparted and they reap the benefits of what you have planted with God as the One who ultimately brings the growth.
• Aim at leaving a long-term, positive impact for others to build upon.
• This will give you a big picture perspective, guiding your goals in teaching.

H – Help (Jn. 14:26; 15:5; Matt. 28:19-20)

• Always remember to ask for help, not just from your leaders but most importantly from the Lord who is with you always.
• Aim at making prayer a vital part of your teaching.
• This will remind you that it’s not about what you do but what He does, guiding your heart toward humility as you depend on the grace and power of God not your own abilities.

I – Investment (Matt. 28:18-20; Phil. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:8)

• Always remember that you teach people not merely a lesson.
• Aim at investing not just your time but also your heart into your students.
• This will help you approach teaching as discipleship not merely dispensing knowledge, guiding the kind of relationships you build with students.

N – Non-Negotiables vs Negotiables (Matt. 6:33; Eph. 5:15-17; Col. 3:1-2)

• Always remember what’s most important in light of eternity.
• Aim at setting goals for your own growth as well as that of your students and taking the steps to get there.
• This will affect how you spend your time both in and out of the classroom, guiding you in maintaining the priorities needed to adequately prepare and present lessons.

G – Gratitude (1 Cor. 1:4; Col. 1:13; 3:16-17; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:3)

• Always remember to give thanks.
• Aim at finding the positives in your students and in teaching rather than focusing on the negatives.
• This will affect your passion for teaching, guiding you to give God the glory not just for the results of your teaching but also for the opportunity to serve in this way.