How easy it is to get into the rut of doing something a certain way because “we’ve always done it that way.” Teacher training in the church is no exception.
Training as a part of your teacher staff meetings is good.
Special teacher training seminars are good.
Though valid means of training Bible teachers, seminars tend to provide more of a cookie cutter approach. Everyone, regardless of need or teaching experience, receives the same training. Whether pre-service or in-service training, Bible teachers would most benefit from a variety of approaches.
Use Different Means of Teacher Training to Get Out of a Training Rut
This Christian Teacher Training Blog will help you think through different ways of training Bible teachers. Click on the links below to learn about the various means:
- Apprenticeship
- Articles
- Audio Recordings
- Books
- Computer & Internet
- Conference Calls
- Consultations
- Correspondence Courses
- Devotionals
- Evaluations
- Group Training
- Mentoring
- Outside Conferences
- Prayer
- Research
- Round Table Format or Panel
- Social Media
- Teacher Training Seminar
- Testimonials
- Video, DVD Presentations
- Visit & Observe
- Workbooks
- Worksheets
All of these means of teacher training are included in the CE Files Teacher Training Module with additional helps for each means than what you will read in this blog. This module is part of the Christian Education Files Download but can be ordered separately.
Hi, I have been in Christian Education for 50 years and I am always looking for new ideas I just ran across your web and am just looking. thank you, david
You are welcome, David. I am glad you found the site. I hope it is useful to you. — Blessings in our Lord, Phyllis
Interested in sunday school training for teachers and sunday school growth. Any help would be appreciated. thanks.
Hello, Patricia. This site is all about teacher training. If you haven’t already done so, let me suggest you read through the various means of teacher training listed in this post for some ideas of how you might do the training. Once you determine what training your teachers need and how that can best be accomplished, the Training Resources section of the site can provide you with some possible tools you can use for a variety of topics.
Let me also suggest the following pages on the MinTools.com site:
I agree that seminars can feel like a cookie cutter approach, but they don’t have to. When I train, I try to integrate into my seminar as many of the very principles I’m suggesting my teachers use in their own teaching. When you do this, not only is the seminar better, but you “show” teachers what you’re teaching them.
I once went to a seminar on how to teach creatively, and the speaker only integrated one or two of his own principles into his own presentation (for example, he used powerpoint). He could have greatly improved the seminar’s effectiveness by demonstrating the points.
One other point on this topic, be sure what you are saying is worth your teachers’ time. Too many seminars present what I consider to be fluff. For example, the presenter says, “You need to teach creatively,” but then never tells them how. You need to be biblically accurate. Who didn’t already know that?
Thanks, Brad, for sharing how seminars can be more effective. To be sure, when presented as you described, seminars will be more beneficial, even to those who may have mastered the teaching skill being presented. Attending seminars on topics that they may not need as much as others or that might not be relevant to their situation will at least be more enjoyable. We never stop learning so there will undoubtedly be something they can glean. If these seminars, however, are all the training teachers receive, those who have already mastered the skills being presented or for whom the topic is not relevant, will not be taken to the next level in their own teaching. Teachers within a given church are often at different places in their teaching skills and backgrounds. Seminars, even those presented as you described, should accompany other forms of training to avoid the cookie cutter approach so training is tailored to the individual needs of teachers.