Developing teacher training plans months in advance gives time to adequately prepare. Perhaps, however, you’re heading into a new church calendar year or are already in the midst of Bible classes. It’s never too late to reevaluate and strengthen what you’re doing to train Bible teachers. Start with a plan.
How to Develop an Effective Teacher Training Plan
The following acrostic provides basic elements that will enable you to develop a plan that encourages and equips your teachers to effectively teach God’s Word.
P – Pursue
Effective training doesn’t automatically happen. We need to pursue it, intentionally and actively putting time and effort into it. Throughout the process we must also wholeheartedly seek after God, remembering his promise that “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all …” (James 1:5).
L – Listen
We need to listen to God for the direction He promises to those who trust Him (Prov. 3:5-6). We also need to listen to our teachers to “know the condition of your flocks” (Prov. 27:23). When we hear their concerns and what they perceive to be their needs, we’re better able to plan the topics and means of training that will be most helpful.
A – Assess
Having pursued God’s help and having listened to, observed, and perhaps surveyed teachers, we’re ready to determine priority needs for training. We’re in a better place to “consider how we may spur one another on” (Heb. 10:24) in their teaching.
N – Navigate
An effective teacher training plan finds the best route to meet priority needs in terms of subject matter and teachers’ preferred means of learning. We make it an ongoing journey, knowing that no one has arrived (Phil. 3:12). We must remain at the steering wheel, knowing there may be obstacles along the way. We mustn’t assume everything will just fall into place and that teachers will follow through.
Resource to Help in Planning
The Teacher Training Module of the Christian Education Files Download from Ministry Tools Resource Center can help you develop an effective training plan.
First, a one page assessment will help you look at your approach to teacher training. Are you pursuing it in ways that will be most effective?
Second, a two page teacher training survey will help you listen to teachers and assess their priority needs.
Third, a twenty-nine page document will help you navigate through 23 different means of training teachers.
(Please Note: This module is part of the Christian Education Files Download but can be ordered separately.)
For more on having a teacher training plan read the following: