We know that God can work in any setting, by His Spirit, as we faithfully teach His Word (Rom. 10:17). So, why do teachers need to pay attention to the classroom? Does the classroom really matter?
In Titus 2:10, slaves were told to be respectful and honest with their masters “so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (Titus 2:10). While this verse doesn’t speak directly to us as Bible teachers, albeit our classrooms, the principle does. It’s about building an environment that supports the very essence of what we’re teaching, that’s conducive to learning and not distracting or detracting from the message.
An Acrostic About What Makes a Classroom a Conducive Learning Environment
The Greek word for “attractive” in Titus 2:10, kosmeo, primarily means to arrange or put in order. Slaves were being asked to align their lives with Truth so their unbelieving masters would find a consistency that pulled them toward Christ and not away from Him.
Similarly, we can do some things to arrange our classrooms, or put order into them, so as to promote the message in every way, to keep the focus on God and His Word. The following acrostic, using the word CLASSROOM, suggests how to use our classroom in ways that complement our teaching rather than detract from it.
Make the classroom . . .
C – Comfortable
good lighting (glare-free), adequate ventilation, and a comfortable temperature
L – Luring
appealing and attractive, drawing people in; well decorated, creative use of walls, doors, floor, furniture, etc.
A – Accessible
everyone and any one can get into the classroom and is able to get around and participate without difficulty, making all feel welcomed and included
S – Safe & Sanitary
eliminate hazards, keep the room and everything in it clean
S – Supplied
equipment and materials available and ready
R – Relevant
old and outdated visuals removed; furniture and decor appropriate to age being taught
O – Organized & Orderly
clutter-free, everything in its place and easy to find when needed, minimizing distractions
O – Optimized
chairs and other furniture strategically arranged to best accomplish goals, set up to be most conducive to learning
M – Mood-Setting
when possible decorated to set the stage for what is to come, gives the idea that something good or interesting is about to happen here
You can also find help about effectively using the classroom in the Keys to Unlocking the Door for Good First Impressions Worksheet. Please note that this training resource does not include this acrostic but many of the suggestions are included in it plus more.
What are the potential challenges of applying the principle of Titus 2:10 in a modern classroom, and how can teachers overcome these challenges to create a more effective learning environment?
One of the biggest challenges of applying this principle in a modern classroom is falling into the trap of thinking technology is the only way to engage students. Low-tech methods and visualization can still be used. With that mindset, it’s easier to stray from our real purpose, or objective, in teaching. We might use technology for mere entertainment or because students like it, rather than because it best fits our purpose. One of the best ways to overcome these challenges is to keep our real purpose in teaching ever before us. Leaders can provide teachers with repeated reminders of that in a variety of ways. Teachers can incorporate some strategic questions in their lesson preparation. As this post suggests, teachers also need to look at the overall learning environment. Teaching isn’t just about the kind of methods and visuals used. Let me refer you to some posts that address this: