Monday, August 26, 2013

HAVE YOU EVER...been a teacher?



Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. 
Proverbs 22:6

I am a teacher.  I have been a teacher since I was a kid.  I had many opportunities to help in the nursery, babysit, teach vacation Bible school, and even help in children’s choir.  I have always known that I would be a teacher.  My parents were teachers.  I’m a teacher. 

When I was in school, there were two buzz phrases that my professors were using.  They were “establishing set” and “with-it-ness”.   We practiced them over and over.  All teachers were to have these traits. 

When writing a lesson plan, you were too first “establish set”.  This was a way of beginning your lesson with flare.  Grabbing the student’s attention!  Getting them really ready to learn what you were about to teach.  The more creative the better. 

“With-it-ness” is a little harder.  I believe you are born with it or NOT.  “With-it-ness” can be found in any profession.  This is the ability to do your job well and other people know it without you having to tell them.  THEY SEE IT!  You are always prepared.  You have eyes in the back of your head.  You know what is next.  A teacher with “with-it-ness” is the best kind of teacher.  He or she is not just good with kids, but a good teacher.  I still strive for “with-it-ness” each day I teach. 

I am telling you this, because I am so excited that our church is allowing our youth to help teach preschool Sunday school.  They have always helped with VBS, but now they are really stepping up to teach.  I believe these opportunities are so important for our youth.  We want to build leaders in our church.  Teaching is where it starts. 

I believe that I know how to “establish set” and have “with-it-ness” because of the opportunities I had as a teen to teach.  God gives us those chances for a reason. 

HAVE YOU EVER given a teen a chance?


Deuteronomy 32:2; Ephesians 2:10

1 comment:

  1. My introverted teen LOVES helping with VBS and what we call 'extended session' on Sunday mornings.
    Love that it teaches them (and us) to serve while tapping an ability he might not have known he had!

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