Dr. Manuel Salazar, LBS Administrator

“…teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” Colossians 1:28b

Teachers are truly the greatest asset of any Christian school. A master teacher is more valuable than gold and precious stones. As a Christian school administrator and advocate, I have had the honor to observe some of the finest Christian school teachers in our nation. History, educational training, years of research, and these many observations have enabled me to find important common ingredients that make up the most effective ways to teach a lesson and develop wisdom in the hearts and minds of students.

First, the most effective teachers daily pray for their students and for wisdom (for their students and for themselves). Second, the most effective teachers prepare extremely well academically before every class. Third, the most effective teachers proceed to teach their subjects (integrating Scripture with scholastics in every subject) with excellence and passion using an “effective teaching cycle” which contains five main elements. These five areas should be considered with every lesson in virtually every subject. After classroom prayer, the effective teacher would deploy the following five elements:

1. Energetic Introduction – 5 minutes
2. Enthusiastic Review – 7 minutes
3. Engaging Presentation (New Material) – 25 minutes
4. Edifying Classroom Practice – 10 minutes
5. Effective Home Assignment – 3 minutes

Let’s take a brief moment to expand on each of these vital steps necessary to master the art of teaching and to develop true wisdom in the lives of our students. For demonstration purposes let us use United States History and the Declaration of Independence for our example.

Energetic Introductions

This five-minute introduction must be exciting and captivating to draw in the students and motivate them to learn about the topic for the day. Using U.S History for our example, one could bring an object, display a picture, provide a quote, give an illustration, or use countless other items regarding the Declaration. For illustration, one could bring in a copy of the Declaration, pull up the National Archives website and see an original; or one could show the famous portrait of the signing and tell about a few of the fifty-six men who signed this amazing document which forged our nation under God. Many truly lost all they had--they sacrificed their “fortunes and sacred honor.” One can also provide brief personal experiences of trips that he may have made to Mt. Vernon, Monticello, or Independence Hall. The bottom line is that this must be energetic and motivating (and no more than 5 minutes) to gain the students full attention and interest.

Enthusiastic Reviews

Reviews are never to be dry and boring but thoroughly focused and enthusiastic. Don’t read this entire time from a book. Write out key terms, events, and people on the board, and ask thought- provoking questions (remember knowledge, comprehension, and application questions are the foundation to be mastered, but real learning takes place with higher-order questions that require analysis, synthesis, and evaluation). Again using U.S History as our example, review how the Declaration of Independence came into existence, starting with the Great Awakening (without it there would not have been a Declaration), and then tell of other milestone events such as the Boston Tea Party, Patrick Henry’s Speech (“Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death”), Thomas Paine's “Common Sense,” and the first Continental Congress. Yes, students must learn dates, but they also must understand the connections, relationships, and personal aspects of the framers’ lives – make history come alive for your students! It is during this time that various games or competitions should also be employed to help the students review this important material. While it is true that repetition is a major key in learning, it is certainly more effective when reviews are focused and enthusiastic!

Engaging Presentations (New Material)

This is the main course of the meal. Remember a master teacher helps students with small but growing academic teeth by taking the main meal (subject) and breaking it down into smaller, tastier, and more easily digestible morsels. Anything else could cause academic heartburn or even choking. Unfortunately this is why some students do not like to dine at the table (class or subject). Especially during this time, a master teacher will use all learning modes: visual, audio, and kinesthetic. They will teach by engaging students with truths that the students can clearly see, hear, and experience. Continuing with our U.S. History example, a teacher could use a PowerPoint presentation with sound about the Declaration of Independence, show a video on the preservation of the document today, and also have an object (like a copy of a pen that would have been used to write it) that students can hold, pass around the classroom, and examine. This is also the time as one teaches that he assesses whether students are learning--watch their countenances, ask questions, and provide a time for students to ask a few questions. Make this valuable time engaging and interactive (while always keeping the proper pace, spirit, and order in the classroom), again never just reading from a book. The most effective teachers have well prepared, outstanding, and engaging presentations with solid conclusions of the new material being taught each day.

Edifying Classroom Practice

Students need time to have some guided practice in the classroom under the teacher’s direction; this is even more vital in skill subjects like math and grammar. However, continuing with our subject of U.S. History, one can have his students write a brief summary in their own words (should include analysis, synthesis, etc.) or have students pair up with one another and rephrase what they have just learned in their own words. This should include the foundational facts but also include the proper evaluation of the material and events covered in class.

Effective Home Assignments

Homework has been often misused and misunderstood by teachers, parents, and students. First, homework should never be used as a punishment of any kind. Students already have a bad taste in their mouth about homework, so do not make it bitterer; make it sweeter. The truth is that homework is a vital part of a student’s learning process. Homework is to help students achieve greater academic success, develop greater self-discipline, experience a higher level of responsibility, and develop several other important characteristics for life. Thus, teachers are to give the right kind of homework (reinforcement=skill subjects, preparatory=reading subjects, or special=remedial or projects) for the subject (s) they are teaching and the right amount of homework. The rule of thumb for the amount of homework given is 10 minutes times their grade level for elementary (30 minutes for third grade, 50 minutes for fifth grade, etc.) and 1.25 hours for junior high, and 1.5 hours for high school. This is the average amount of time it should take the average student in the class. Be sure the homework assignment is clear and written down by all students. Also require homework to be neat (cursive or typed), complete, and accurate. Check it daily and be sure parents and students see a direct correlation between homework assignment completion and higher academic performance. Always keep parents well informed about current and upcoming assignments and projects. When parents are involved, spiritual and academic success increases, and discipline issues and low academic performance decreases. Build a healthy and positive partnership with parents. Finishing up with our U.S. history example, have students memorize the first part of the Declaration of Independence to recite in class and write (in cursive) a brief paragraph about each of the five founding fathers who served on the drafting committee led by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Explain each of their contributions to this amazing document.

Teachers who implement these five elements of the effective teaching cycle will find that they not only have students that are growing in godly wisdom, but also see students that are academically excelling and learning at their highest God-given potential. May we as Christian educators continuously seek ways to improve and master the art of teaching for the benefit of the students and families we serve and for the glory of our great God, Jesus Christ!