Orthopedists have set countless bones broken by the careless steps - or missteps - of persons who tried to hurry when climbing stairs. Climbing two or three steps at a time may lead to stumbling, and a painful landing that often leads to a visit with an orthopedic physician.
Skipping steps can lead to painful experiences for teachers, too, who can pay an even higher price: discouraging learners who leave the session having gotten nothing out of the lesson. Many people will not give teachers a second chance to make a good first impression.
Painful teaching experiences can be avoided by taking several good planning steps.
1. Place value on preparation
If James 3:1 does not motivate us enough to get us to prepare, recognize that effective preparation makes teaching a much more comfortable process. Effective teaching helps us build lives and expands our classes as adults join and come regularly.
2. Accept the cost of preparing
Preparing a teaching plan and thoroughly familiarizing yourself with the lesson content frankly takes time. Good lesson preparation requires that teachers customize the lesson content to the needs of individuals who attend. Discovering needs requires time. Just as other things require a time commitment, lesson preparation requires that we pay the time price.
3. Make a study appointment
Identify a time each day for lesson preparation, place that time on your personal calendar, and treat that appointment with the same priority status as other important appointments. Guard this time because it is vital to effective planning and teaching.
4. Isolate yourself
Find a place where you can get away from distractions, particularly from your cell phone and email alarm. Find a place where the two of you - you and the Holy Spirit - are along and can communicate about content and learners effectively.
5. Be prepared to get started
Have all materials you need in that location so you don’t waste time trying to find what you need. Make sure you have your Bible - preferably the one you use to teach from - as well as additional translations and paraphrases, pencil and paper, Leader and Learner Guides, resource kits, and other Bible study resources at your fingertips.
6. Have a plan
Approach preparation the same way each week so that the planning process in part becomes a habit.
7. Ask questions
Ask yourself how the content applies to you. Ask what words and passages mean and how these connect with learners’ lives. Write down interpretation questions and discuss these with your pastor.
Remember that lesson preparation is not a replacement for personal worship. Get ready to teach by setting aside time for you and the Holy Spirit to prepare. It’s worth the effort.