Adult Sunday School Teacher Training Workshop EXCELerate EXCELerate Your Teaching Your Teaching Adult Sunday School Teacher Training Workshop

Welcome Four challenges you face in teaching adults? Some things that you would like to take home with you from this conference? Some ideas that you have discovered or that you believe will help you to EXCELerate your teaching and leadership?

EXCELerate Your Teaching ? EXCELerate Your Teaching Question: How do we effectively teach adults in our Sunday School Classes?

We Must Desire To Grow As A Teacher Do you believe you can become a better teacher? Do you desire to be a better teacher? Is there room for growth and change in your teaching and the leadership of your class? Introduce them to the question and ask them to ponder them.

We Must Desire To Grow As A Teacher Great teachers and leaders are life-long learners. (Acts 18:26) (2 Tim. 1:6) (Exodus 18:14-27) Apollos Timothy Moses Great teachers and leaders are life-long learners. Growing in the Word of God -- (Acts 18:26) Pricilla and Aquilla w/ Apollos Growing in their ability to Teach -- (2 Tim. 1:6) Paul instructs Timothy Growing in their ability to Lead -- (Exodus 18:14-27) Jethro and Moses Howard Hendricks tells the story of a professor he had in college. Each day as he would pass by his house early in the morning he would see a light on in his study. Every evening when he would pass by his house he would also see a light on in his study. As a professor he was constantly studying and improving his knowledge and ability to teach. Hendricks stated that when he asked his professor about his study habits, his reply was: “I want my students to drink from a flowing stream not a stagnate pool.” The problem with some teachers is not that they can’t change and grow, but that they won’t change and grow!

We Must Know Where We Want To Take Them As Sunday School Teachers there is a privilege, purpose and power in our teaching.  The privilege of our teaching is partnership with God in His Kingdom. The power in our teaching is the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of our teaching is life transformation. The privilege of our teaching is partnership with God in His Kingdom. As Sunday School Teachers, we have the privilege to be a part of this process as we teach and lead our learners to believe, understand and apply God’s Word to their lives. The power in our teaching is the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. (Hebrews 4:12) “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper that any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joint and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – [Word order in the original text: “Living is the Word of God and Powerful…”] (1 Cor. 4:7) “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” We must also never forget the work of God, The Holy Spirit in this process. (Dan. 2:22) He reveals the deep and secret things of God… (Jn. 16:5-11) He is in the world convicting people of sin, righteousness and judgment. (2 Cor. 3:18) We are being transformed…by the Spirit of the Lord. (1 Cor. 2:6-16; Eph. 1:16-17)) He is given to us to reveal spiritual truth to us. The purpose or our teaching is Spiritual Transformation in our Learners Our goal as Sunday School teachers should be to see Spiritual Transformation in our learners. Transformational teachers desire to make a positive difference in the lives of your learners. Spiritual Transformation is God’s Work of changing a believer into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Spiritual Transformation brings a new identity, a new relationship and a new purpose. Jesus never taught to simply make people smarter, He taught to bring about transformation. As Sunday School Teachers we must also move beyond teaching Bible facts to partnering with the Lord to lead our class members to understand, accept and integrate Biblical truth into their lives. It is a process of leading learners beyond Bible knowledge to life change and life application. It’s a change of belief that affects their behavior. In Romans 12:2 we read – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” We renew our minds with the Word of God. Deuteronomy 31:12 says – “…that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law…” The context of this passage is the reading of the law.

We Must Earn The Right To Teach Them Sunday School is only 1/3 Educational Reaching Teaching Ministry

We Must Earn The Right To Teach Them Love opens the door. A Sunday School Teacher is the shepherd of a small flock. A Sunday School Teacher is a servant leader and fellow traveler on the journey.

We Must Seek To Better Understand How People Learn Not everyone learns or processes information the same way. As a teacher, the better you understand your student(s) the more effectively you can teach to them.

As A Teacher Of Adults We Must Remember … Adults decide for themselves what is important to be learned. Seek to validate the information based on their beliefs and experience. Expect and desire what they are learning to be immediately useful. Have much experience upon which to draw and may have fixed viewpoints. Often have significant ability to serve as a knowledgeable resource to the teacher and fellow learners. Consider these general truths about adults learners. How does that impact the way we teach the Scriptures to them?

We Must Seek To Better Understand How People Learn People learn and process information in different ways. Each of us learn and process information in our own special way. People take in information through our sense How people see, hear, feel and move through their world. People generally learn and process information in different ways. Each of us learn and process information in our own special way, though we all share some learning patterns, preferences, and approaches. There are different approaches, models and classifications in the study of learning styles. A Perceptual Modalities model looks at how we take in information through our senses -- how people see, hear, feel and move through their world.

We Must Seek To Better Understand How People Learn People generally tend to display one of the three following as their dominate learning style: Visual learners rely on pictures. Auditory learners listen carefully to all the sounds associated with learning. Kinesthetic/Tactile learners need to physically do something to understand it. People generally tend to display one of the three following as their dominate learning style: (Use Learning Style Assessment) Visual -- Visual learners rely on pictures. They process information best when it is visually illustrated or demonstrated. They love graphs, diagrams and illustrations. “Show me” is their motto. You can best communicate with them by providing handouts, writing on the board and using phrases like, “Do you see how this works?” Auditory -- Auditory learners listen carefully to all the sounds associated with learning. They process information best when it is spoken. “Tell Me” is their motto. They will actively participate in discussions. You can best communicate with them by speaking clearly, asking questions, and using phrases like, “How does that sound to you?” Kinesthetic/Tactile -- Kinesthetic learners need to physically do something to understand it. They process information best when it can be touched or manipulated. Their motto is “Let me do it.” They trust their feelings and emotions about what they are learning and how you are teaching it. They want to actually touch what they are learning. You can best communicate with them by involving volunteers, allowing them to practice what they are learning, and using phrases like, “How do you feel about that?” Another model has also been developed that identifies and expands learning approaches to include eight approaches through which people learn: Visual, Verbal, Natural, Logical, Musical, Reflective, Relational, and Physical. (Use handout) Similarly, while we all use each of these styles, people generally have one dominate or preferred style. Why is this important to know? Knowing your own personal style of processing information can help you in your own learning process. It helps us to understand and acknowledge that others may approach the same learning situation in a different way from you and others in your class. We have a natural tendency to teach toward the style that we prefer. Varying our teaching methods and strategies can help us to effectively engage all three types of learners in the class.

We Must Seek To Better Understand How People Learn Visual Verbal Natural Logical Musical Reflective Relational Physical Another model has also been developed that identifies and expands learning approaches to include eight approaches through which people learn: Visual, Verbal, Natural, Logical, Musical, Reflective, Relational, and Physical. (Use handout) Similarly, while we all use each of these styles, people generally have one dominate or preferred style. Why is this important to know? Knowing your own personal style of processing information can help you in your own learning process. It helps us to understand and acknowledge that others may approach the same learning situation in a different way from you and others in your class. We have a natural tendency to teach toward the style that we prefer. Varying our teaching methods and strategies can help us to effectively engage all three types of learners in the class.

We Must Seek To Better Understand How People Learn All of your learners will not be at the same level of learning in your class. Levels of Learning Exposure Recall Not everyone in your class will be at the same level of learning As we understand where our learners are, we can tailor our teaching and lesson preparation to help them get the most out of the learning experience. There are several levels of Learning: Exposure, Recall, Recognition, Application, Lifestyle. At the exposure level a learner hears the concept maybe for the first time. At the Recall level a learner remembers the concept and the admonition the goes with it. At the Recognition level a learner will remember the concept and possibly even recognize it in a situation outside of the classroom/teaching environment. At the Application level a learner will actually apply the concept to a situation in their life. At the Lifestyle level a learner has adopted the concept and makes consistent application in his/her life. (Provide a Biblical Example of how this might apply to the learners in your class.) The S.S. Teacher should seek to move the class members through the various levels of learning toward application of the Biblical Truth and a change of lifestyle and belief. Recognition Application Lifestyle

We Must Vary Our Methods And Adopt Strategies That Connect Context: What does it say? What does it mean? Who wrote it? Who was the writer writing to? Why was he writing? What is the overall theme of the book? Bridge the Context: What does it mean for us today? Are there promises to claim? Commands to obey? Truths to believe? Attitudes, behaviors or values to change? Application: How do I apply it to my life and to the lives of my class members? Vary your teaching methods to connect with all of your learners. Practical Skills for teaching Bible truths – Understand and use these as you study and prepare your lesson. Seek to understand the Context – The original message to the first readers. Bridging the Context – What does it mean for me today? Application – How do I actually apply it in my life? When using a curriculum/Bible Study material make sure to look at the Biblical truth, lesson aim, life application and background passages. Vary your teaching methods to connect with all of your learners. Ask questions, use illustrations and visuals, use object lessons, use group activities, assign homework to continue the lesson. Multiple teaching methods help you to involve your students in the learning process and make you a better teacher. Your weakest teaching method is the one you use all the time.

Powerful Tools for Study Study Bible – Provides study notes, cross references, background information etc. Exhaustive Concordance – Provides word meanings in original languages Topical Bible – Arranged by topics, great for cross references. Bible Dictionary – Good for background material. Commentaries Bible Study Software On-line Study Resources

P E C Prepare – Preparing the teacher. Encounter – Preparing the teaching/ministry session. Continue – Continuing the lesson. PEC -- Preparing the teacher and preparing the environment and continuing the lesson. Understand the important distinction between the session and the lesson. The session is the time set aside weekly to expose them to the Word of God and to help them make application to themselves. The Lesson should continue even after the session. Preparing the Teacher through personal Bible study and prayer. “If you haven’t studied and it hasn’t impacted you, you probably do not have very much to share.” Remember that in many ways the teacher is the lesson! Preparing the Ministry Environment. Arrange the chairs, set up the visuals and learning activities. When folks enter the environment they should anticipate the learning session. Continue the lesson beyond the session – Give them a challenge to help the lesson continue after they leave the classroom. Homework, a topic to discuss with others, a question to consider and discuss next week.

Crafting a Strong Teaching Plan Require a time investment Give attention to content and presentation Call for a variety of teaching methods and learning activities. Identify how the session ends. Have time segment estimates. Begin strong and give direction. Strong teaching plans require a time investment to make them strong. The teachers that make the most impact are the teachers that are best prepared. One person has well said: “proper, prior, purposeful preparation prevents pitifully poor, pathetic presentations!” Strong teaching plans give attention not only to the content of the lesson, but also to the presentation of the lesson. Teachers need to give thorough consideration to the presentation and methodology to be used in teaching the lesson. Vary your teaching methods and involve the students in the learning process. It is of little benefit to your class if you can’t connect them to the truth you have studied. Furthermore, Strong teaching plans call for a variety of teaching methods and learning activities to address a variety of learning styles. Select and create teaching activities and methods that capitalize on the learning styles of your learners. Teachers should seek to know and understand the learning styles of their class members. Varying teaching methods will engage a larger number of your learners. Strong teaching plans identify how the session needs to end. Too often the clock, not the teacher, determines how the session ends. Know how to end the session before determining how it will start. Begin with the end in mind. Strong teaching plans have time-segment estimates. Teachers who fail to do this are much more likely to run out of time in the session and lose the opportunity to close the session properly and to challenge the students. Don’t let lack of planning keep you from finishing strong. Consider time needs for the various portions of the less as you structure your teaching plan. Strong teaching plans begin by drawing the learner into the lesson topic and giving direction to the learner. Powerful introductions help the lesson to “take off and take flight.” Strong introductions and introductory exercises draws the learner into the lesson and captures their attention.

EXCELerate Our classes contain people at various levels of biblical understanding, they bring a variety of learning approaches to the class, and they come each week with various needs, struggles and life situations. Let’s capitalize on the privilege to represent our Savior and the challenge to use the gifts, abilities and tools that God has given us to love and lead them into a closer walk with Him!”

The information shared in this conference was compiled and adapted from the following resources: Teaching Adults – A Guide for Transformational Teaching, by Rick Edwards The Six Core Values of Sunday School, by Alan Taylor. Sunday School Leadership Development Course ,by Tim Smith. Training Your Sunday School Leaders, by Steve Parr