CLASS ASSIGNMENT:  TEACH US HOW TO TEACH

Tell us HOW you teach / how you get a point across.

 

1.      What methods do you use to help someone learn?
 

2.      Do you have props?  If so what?  Are some of these are not tangible props, but instead putting mental images like telling stories or examples?

3.      What of the 5 senses do you use to help the person learn?  The five senses are sight, sound, touch, smell, taste.  What senses do you use and what are your examples?
 

4.      Do you use positive reinforcement?  If so, what do you use for positive feedback?
 

5.      Do you use negative reinforcement?  If so, what do you use for negative feedback?  Do you use your own life’s mistakes as a warning?

6.      Do you use questions and answers?  If so, what kind of an environment does this happen?  After school, at the family table, at a family pow wow?  Praying for someone?

7.      Do you use experience where they are learning by doing?  If so, what?

8.      What qualities in a student do you think is most important in being able to learn?  What helps you, and what hinders you?  Another way of saying this is what gives you a green light and what gives you a red light!

CLASS RESPONSES TO THE ASSIGNMENT

A couple of years ago a prophet stopped in the middle of his message and pointed at me and said 'You should be teaching' I was not teaching at all, didn't even think I could. He also said organize your thoughts or paper. That helped me a lot, because I was in a church environment where it felt like those who could just get up and share a message were the spiritual ones, and those who have their messages typed out weren't as spiritual. (Just my wrong thinking) He also said start with children and the door will eventually open to you.

So I started with children - and with children you have to simplify. Get your focus points, what you want to get across, connect Bible stories, use props. Don't know if it is a gift, but I can sift through facts or information and find what is important and bring across that which is important.

I personally share a lot from my life when I teach. It will depend on the audience. If I feel there is an openness to receive I share more, if I sense people are spiritually maybe not in a place to receive from some of the examples I will not share as much personal stuff. The Holy Spirit is the one who knows so I follow Him.

Since I have taught children I like to use props, although with adults I don't use as much. Diagrams - like explaining body soul and spirit. If there is something that can be explained through a diagram or a picture I use it. Talking about Is 40:12 “Who has held the oceans in His hand? Who has measured off the heavens with His fingers?" For the kids lesson I held a globe in my hand. For the adult teaching I had a picture of someone holding a globe in the hands with the Scripture on power point.

Stories, dreams, life experiences all add to open up the point that you want to bring across. Mark 4:2 "He taught them many things by parables." Dreams, visions, life experiences are parables we can use, it illustrates a point, open it up to bring understanding. What I have found that the life stories that I share will more often connect with people's hearts than just to give the Scripture verse. Something opens up to them when I share the experience what they wouldn't have received if I only shared the Scripture.

The Attributes of God class from Tozer's book. I was asked to do it in questions answers format. What I have found is that people didn't participate a lot. When I asked my kids some of the questions they said Mom, I know what you mean, but I don't know the answer. So most of the time I asked the question and answered it, but from time to time people did respond and participated. I think it did open the way for more participation in the class, than just teaching.

If it is something that can be practiced, like hearing God's voice, or a prophetic class. Streams classes and Patricia King's prophetic classes had an activation after every 1 hour session. So for a weekend training of maybe 7 sessions we did about 7 activations which although it stretched me, was good to do and helped me to grow.

I had a small class with the second Attributes of God class, but the ladies were so hungry for the Word. It blessed me so much. It was such a positive experience for me and I loved teaching them. It is so much easier to teach if people are open and hungry, than a group that have these invisible shields up, whether it is judgments, or doctrinal beliefs around the gifts, it can really hinder the teacher and make it difficult to teach.

The group that I teach will also depend on how much I share. For example although our church is open to the gifts and we operate in the gifts many of the students that come are in Campus Crusade and have not been introduced to the gifts, so I will share what the Holy Spirit is doing, but try not to overwhelm them. Where when I teach at the House of Prayer I can teach more freely, because the people who come there most of the time have been introduced to the Holy Spirit.

I think positive reinforcement works better. For example in training in the prophetic if someone gets a negative word to teach them from the beginning how to prophesy the opposite of what they are hearing. Not to prophesy the enemy's plan, but prophesy the solution.

I am still learning, now that I am suddenly teaching more and then my husband sometimes will say you have too much Word, the pastor said it's too many power point slides etc. Sometimes difficult with different opinions and then I say "PLease God, help, teach me and teach me quickly!!!"

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Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. Pv 2:3-5

I am homeschooling my younger two. I am still praying for the Lord to teach me how to teach. I can easily see when I am NOT reaching them, and I can easily see when they become frustrated with my teaching method. So, I have adapted some things as I have seen a better way. And I trust the Lord as He provides all things. But overall, I truly am blessed to share the school time with my children and they really are learning and growing and improving well.

One of the ways that the Lord has helped me. He led me to a Charlotte Mason Mom's group. Charlotte Mason advocated having the children learn for themselves through living books, creating good habits, learning science through nature study and observation, etc. What this means is instead of lecturing on the important names, dates, and people you let the child experience the time through a good book which though may be fictional, introduces the names, dates and people through the story. Then let them tell you about what happened as it was experienced in the book. They begin to experience the time as if they were there. Then I may add to this with more information that now they have a context for. In this way they understand the history and what led up to it and what resulted from it. In addition, I will bring home biographies and books about what was happening during the time period in literature, art, science, mathematics, inventions. Then we also keep things hands on through art and working through written grammer, math and writing.

What I can offer through my example is that the more the student experiences for themselves the material being taught, the more mastery they will have of it. I have also led a ladies Bible study where I was teaching relatively new believers. I have to say teaching a whole room of adults is easier than teaching my two children! But I really felt like when we opened up to the Lord, the Holy Spirit took over and taught us all more than I knew about the scripture we were studying.

Both experiences taught me that keeping the lecture to a minimum and the experience for the student to a maximum leads to the deepest understanding and acquisition of knowledge.

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This is an exciting assignment to me. I am 74 years old and have six children so I am anxious to share and learn from others too. I have taught my kids and kids at church and both adults and kids through skits and puppet shows and discussion groups and bible studies.

 

1. What methods do you use to help someone learn something?

 

I can tell you a lot of ways that don't work very well. One of them is repetition. I remember trying to teach my oldest son a prayer (which I now know is not helpful!) and having him repeat it over and over until we both were frustrated.
Another way that does not work for me is the lecture. In my few college days, I could only learn from taking voluminous notes and then going over them, hopefully with someone else. I learn best by interacting with the teacher and talking to others about it.

One of the ways that does seem to work for me is letting myself be humble and vulnerable so the student can identify with me. I remember one time throwing a see-through scarf over my head and using my church mouse puppet to teach kids how to pray and I said don't pay any attention to the old lady under the scarf!! But don't become so humble that you don't use a big vocabulary. This was a mistake I made with my own family. I tried to simplify and use little words and consequently they didn't have a very big vocabulary.

I remember a pastor preaching one time that the biggest job of a pastor was to enable people. It is always a teacher's job to enable others to be what God has called them to be and to help them find their gifts and talents.

Discussion is also a good way to teach as each one adds to the overall view with the teacher leading the discussion into the right path and drawing out each one to speak.

2. Do you have props? If so what? Are some of these not tangible props, but instead putting mental images like telling stories or examples?

 

I have used props like many kinds and sizes of puppets. Also I have given talks comparing the attributes of a cowboy compared to the armour of God mentioned in Ephesians 6. Ex. the cowboy hat compared to the helmet of salvation..the rifle as the sword of the Spirt..word of God. Also I have used my own stories as examples, particularly in gardening or raising kids or other of my own interests.

3.What of the five senses do you use to help the person learn? The five senses are sight,sound, touch, smell, taste. What senses do you use and what are your examples?
 

sight: Telling the story of God talking to me about seeing a sunset in my own unique way and so He did make it just for me and from my vantage point.

sound: Music, marching, praising Learning scripture by putting it to music.
 

touch: Giving the nursing home residents kisses and hugs from the puppets
 

smell: Telling about sensing the presence of demonic activity by a foul smell
 

taste: I wrote a story called "Chocolate Covered Ants" to teach that things are not always what they seem to be.

4.& 5 Do you use positive reinforcement? If so, what do you use for negative feedback: Do you use your own life's mistakes as a warning?

Sometimes I did use positive reinforcement...praise to the individual, singing choruses and I have shared mistakes I have made.

6.Do you use questions and answers? If so what kind of an environment does this happen? After school, at the family table, at a family pow wow? Praying for someone?

Questions are always good at small groups, in Sunday school or bible studies or the dinner table (nowadays it might be different because families don't eat together as often as we did.) If I don't think everyone particularly understands something I ask a question.

7. Do you use experiences where they are learning by doing? If so what?

I have volunteered to have a group pray for my healing by laying hands and anointing with oil. Letting someone else lead the discussion...

8.What qualities in a student do you think is most important in being able to learn? What helps you and what hinders you? Another way of saying this is what gives you a green light and what gives you a red light!

 

interest, hunger for deeper knowledge, perseverance One thing that helps me to teach something, is finding an area of common interest or comparing it to something else he already knows like Jesus did when he spoke about farming to people who farmed.
 

As for the green light, I always count on the Holy Spirit to help me by praying beforehand that He would close or open my mouth. The red light is sometimes a hot feeling that comes over me when there is opposition. When that happens, I pray silently in tongues. (yes that is possible)

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Why do we spend so much time listening to messages Sunday after Sunday if it seems to have so little fruit, that it is not the way we learn. Sounds like a small group situation would work better, but often I have found small group leaders don't have the spiritual maturity to really make a difference. Probably where I have learned the most was from mature intercessors and Holy Spirit led teachers. Those who have the experience in the Spirit and can share it.

I know at our church in South Africa I enjoyed the pastor's wife's messages more, because she always shared experiences she had with her children, what God was teaching her through it, she shared a lot around her experiences. Others might have enjoyed the Pastor's Spirit filled Bible teaching more. If I can learn from others experiences it can help me from going through situations myself, having to learn from experience.

I learned a lot from reading spirit filled books, but my hubby don't read. So I guess personally I learned the most from practical experience in intercession groups watching and participating as the Holy Spirit moved. Then from Spirit filled preachers and teachers and the messages they shared. I have never had the opportunity to have a mentor, although many different people had an influence and imparted into my life.

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I don't consider myself a teacher, except to my children and grandchildren. My method is straight out information. My children and I had butterfly and sea shell collections, and they learned the names of all by sight and touch, guess you could smell those sea shells too. God's creation is one of the best props for teaching His greatness. No one can look at a butterfly or a sea shell without being convicted that there is a creator. It was a fun time of life for us, and we continue this type of teaching with the grandchildren.

We also had family night with our children every week. We let them pick the meal (usually pizza), the activity (we usually went to the ORU aerobic center where they could play all sorts of sports activities), and then we had a lesson based on the Navigator Series for discipleship. We went through the whole series with them and they each had a book to study and fill in the answers. We discussed their lessons with them every week with my husband (who is a teacher by profession and by gifting) as leader. The Navigator series for discipleship is excellent and a great way to help baby Christians. It utilizes the question and answer method.

My best negative and positive reinforcement was the method I used to have my teenagers clean their rooms. They were all messy, so I would close the door to their rooms during the week. I told them that if they wanted to go out on the weekend with their friends, then their room must be cleaned by Friday night and if it wasn't, they would be staying home for the weekend. Every Friday, their rooms were straightened, vacuumed, and dusted, they learned how to clean house this way. They are all neat today with their families. I must say, they didn't stay at home on the weekends either.

Family night, youth activities at church, and sports activities, helped our children stay out of trouble in their lives. The Navigator series was a good foundation of Biblical Principles. Oral Robert's Holy Spirit in the Now was a good course that we and our children took at ORU. Prayer and God's grace are perfect keeping powers in our lives. Role modeling as parents is also being a teacher without words. Great things are wrought through God's love.

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How do I teach? Firstly, I am a speech therapist working with adult brain injured/stroke patients. Early in my education I realized how important making the correct diagnosis was most important and the way to get that was to be a good listener. I use, and encourage use of, all the senses when I teach people who have lost their speech, language, or cognitive skills. What I mean is, I encourage them to listen, watch my mouth, look at objects/pictures, the object function, have them write the word if they can, and imitate my speech. My patients usually have poor self esteem and think people think they are crazy, so I always give them praise, hope, and encouragement. (I understand Moses' reluctance to speak because of what I do. He may have had poor self esteem) In the past several years I have ended our sessions with a prayer. I believe I am teaching as I pray, as some of them have not ever been prayed with before.
Early in prayer ministry the scripture from Isaiah where he says "the bruised reed He does not break" was deeply impressed on me as important.

 

About 5 years ago I was asked to facilitate a small group in a bible study at our church. Well for a former Roman Catholic that was pretty scarey. Fortunately, the facilitators don't do the bible teaching. It turns out, I have been told I am good at facilitating because I am transparent and humble, enabling people to share, that previously didn't. So, I am teaching by my revealing my own life as an overcomer of poor self esteem.
 

When praying in inner healing ministry, listening again is most important, listening to what the person is saying and to what they are not saying, and to what the Lord is saying., listening to timing for what I should or shouldn't say.

 

I pray that I will continue to be a good listener and that my life will teach others by how I live. I hope this is what you are looking for. It's what I think the Lord is impressing me to say.

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I believe that in the natural I have a teaching gift and that perhaps it’s also a motivational gift. I have no idea if this gift is a spiritual gift at this stage because the Lord has never said anything to me about it being so.

I have worked in a hospital since I was nineteen years old (almost 50 years) and many people tell me I’m a good teacher or that they can only remember what I taught them. One person said she would only take the job if I trained her! I’m not blowing my bags here honest, these are my only recommendations from the world. smile.

The subject which I will later teach on, first I am taken through a fiery and very often painful baptism. I am not exaggerating, I teach best what has cost me most. The teaching part of teaching is only the tip of the iceberg I feel, more of teaching is preparatory in yourself before you have the student placed beside you. At the time of the Lord appointing me, I have no idea that it will later become a teaching assignment. All I know is that I’m in the midst of a huge trial. Huge in proportions to my tender and fearful heart! I find myself in the midst of this trial because the Lord moved me there. There will be no doubt in my mind about that. I’ll dispense with too many details but it is a difficult trial and to keep one foot moving in front of the other requires close relationship with the Lord, much prayer and many tears. If I run from this trial I know it will be disobedience.

Each day I journal what I learn except this is working in the world so I call it a manual rather than a journal. A manual which I’m preparing for others to read. Its not a private journal. I have other “teachers” assigned to teach me this project at first, but their instructions often conflict or are incomplete or they my teachers are non existent, harsh or loud which doesn’t help my sensitive heart. There will be occasions when my own lack of experience and skill will raise the ire of others and my desire to run, to avoid pain, to move back to my comfort zone, to return back along the path I’ve been walking is extremely tempting. The Lord fixes my face like flint. Much grace. Seriously ! I’m not kidding, this is what I feel “makes” or molds a good teacher.

This hot house trial lasts for years or months. I write up my manual during this time. Mostly for my own sake so that I can remember the experience and how I dealt with it. The manual is rough at first, written in haste and will contain some errors and conflicts. There will be a lot of revelation from the Lord during this period. The revelation will be about Kingdom Life, not so much about the mechanics of the project.

 

Relationship with the Lord deepens during this period. The pain factor in the trial (project) still remains but there will be days of joyful triumph as some aspects begin to gel. The main pain factor is the spiritual battle; the opposition to the progress you are making. Mostly the opposition is dealt through flesh and blood around you and in your mind. The Lord is very close and tender in the battle as we cling to Him in obedience. Much forgiving and blessing of others is required. Smile.

 

As time goes by, gradually you come to grips with this new assignment and the manual grows thicker and you begin the editing process. You add new information, remove conflicting information and re-write the truth as you learned it through experience and God’s grace. During this period, your eyes are opened to your heart and the darkness there in which you had no idea was there before. The tares and roots of soul giants have to go. (Thanks Sandy for the teaching on soul giants, revelation!!) Openness to the Lord, quickness to repent, a contrite spirit... very necessary parts of breaking through the opposition to your progress in the subject you will later teach. You begin to see how you can assist others in your team ( those who are in your sphere of influence). You find the Lord softening the hearts of the flesh and blood who were being agents of opposition. You are daily growing in confidence in the Lord and in joy although you can never drop your guard from the opposition to breaking through. A contrite spirit, seeking forgiveness for your own ways that aren’t God’s ways and forgiveness for others, blessing others and relationship to the Lord are foundational forever as He teaches you how to “do this thing”

One day, it may be years ahead or months ahead, its time to train someone else up to take your place. I feel there is an attitude of letting go and cutting off and throwing the mantle but I might be wrong about this. Oh the gentleness, the tenderness, the patience, the desire to protect them from the pitfalls you fell in, the care you take with this new student. The Manual is now edited down into its simplest form. To teach in simplicity is a fine thing in deed! Not easy. You take them with you one small baby step at a time in the beginning. You furnish them with non-conflicting instructions. You give them a copy of your manual. You encourage them to translate your manual into their own language. You stay with them, hovering in the background. Keeping them in front, you let them do the job but you stay close at hand for advice. Let them do it. Experience is the best teacher and helps them to absorb the new processes.

 

Share your own pitfalls and struggles. Speak well of everyone, warn with the greatest of care of any potential problems with other people in your area of influence, to the best of your ability, promote a sense of peaceful interactions with your other team members so that you avoid ingraining in your student a negative bias. Sadly this is necessary. Some hearts are very hard in the team and we need to teach our student to adapt to this with kindness and humility. Encourage your students progress. Sincerely do this, not empty encouragement. Choose real progress and encourage that. Encourage your student to show you a better way. Appreciate your student. Give sincere and proud reports of them to supervisors. Protect them from the errors you made. Your heart towards your student and your team seems to build the attitude in your student. If you have a humble and honest heart it promotes bonding and team work in the heart of the one learning.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Obedience to the Lord in the assignment (your own obedience) The Lord authorized this assignment (with out doubt in your own heart) Commitment and Perseverance until the Lord moves you out.

TOOLS:
You walk through first, clearing the boulders and the stones. Make a manual of your journey. Editing it as you get more experience and revelation. Walk in a contrite spirit, seeking and giving forgiveness and blessing others in your sphere of influence (those who connect with you in this project) Some time will pass before you get your student assigned to you.

Once the student is assigned to you (could take a while before this happens); Listen, pastor, protect, love. Prepare to let go of the project once the student is ready. Focus totally on equipping the student with the best of your (much edited) manual and experience and anecdotal information. Stand back, but hover close behind. Let the student feel the force of the opposition but watch over them, encourage them, furnish them with the skills to deal with the opposition. This is true in the world as well as in the Spirit.

Give good report of your other team members to your student. Build dynamics of peace up in your students attitude. Give good report of them to supervisors. If they aren’t doing well yet, give them time with great patience and humility. Ask for help from your student. The person you train will have unique views and understanding which you need.Now when to take your hands off.

The Student:
I believe, that if the Lord is in this, He will choose the student for you. Your own attitude and heart influences your student. If they are quite a challenge, which is going to be a possibility because this isn’t just about you teaching them, it’s also about the Lord teaching you about yourself and transforming you into His image.

Be transparent with your student. If they hurt you, show it but forgive and bless them in prayer. With your whole heart, this is very important, forgive and release in prayer, pray for blessing on them and return unconditional kindness and fairness to any who hurts you but if you need to cry then cry. A student who the Lord placed beside you who causes you pain needs to know that they hurt you.

Make it your goal to impart as though they were your child. If you feel a negative attitude towards your student this needs to be taken to the Lord in prayer. Some students will be challenges but they will also be instrumental to great gain in godliness and growth in grace to yourself. Remember the Lord has placed them beside you. This is why it is very important at the outset that you know with out doubt that the Lord placed you in this assignment.

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I find that the Lord use my past trials and experiences too to teach others. It is probably like I have heard that often God will use alcoholics to minister to those addicted to alcohol etc. What we have been through and learned in life is experience we can share and others can learn from it.

What I have also experienced is I cannot teach and God won't allow me to teach something if I am not walking in it, not applying to my life.

I have been through a very tough 3-4 weeks. Stuff came to the surface that I didn't even know was still there after all the years of inner healing and receiving ministry. The Holy Spirit did a very deep, painful job, but the end result is good. I read in the Priestly Bride that before every advancement in our lives we go through a cleansing process. I experienced something like that. One day I just felt I do not have the strength to deal with everything coming up. I had to be at a group at church that evening and we prayed for each other and the one girl had the word 'footsteps' that Jesus is carrying me when it feels like life is too hard. I asked Jesus to carry me and I literally felt how my feet in the spirit touched the ground the next day when He put me down and I could walk again. After this experience I will definitely ask Jesus to carry me again when I go through a difficult time. Have a blessed day!

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1. What methods do you use to help someone learn?
I think most of all I use those "teachable moments." And of course, it all depends on the person I'm teaching! Ever since my husband and I met, I've been teaching him about the Lord (he met the Lord only a year before and was quite young in Him and not very knowledgeable, so I've had the huge blessing of watching him grow!). Sometimes I teach him in the moments when he's reading something, and like when Phillip ministered to the Ethiopian Eunuch, I say, "Do you understand what you're reading?" and then I explain it. Or he asks questions and I answer. He learns super quickly and he has such a great memory! Sometimes I teach him by example-- like with evangelism. But like I said, he's a quick learner.

But when I teach my 13 year old brother about the Lord, I definitely don't explain everything about the passage to him. Instead I ask him, "What do you think that means?" and try to get him to explore what he's reading. If it's clear he just doesn't get it, then I step in and explain the scene, or give him a personal example from something that happened in my life. It's so much fun!

2. Do you have props? If so what? Are some of these are not tangible props, but instead putting mental images like telling stories or examples? Definitely not tangible props most of the time, although when I led a Bible Study at church, I had everyone use playdoh :) I love to use stories, mostly when telling someone about how God speaks or how He heals today. People value personal stories a lot, especially in evangelism.


3. What of the 5 senses do you use to help the person learn? The five senses are sight, sound, touch, smell, taste. What senses do you use and what are your examples? Um...none? Touch probably, if anything. I would like to read about an example of using the 5 senses.

4. Do you use positive reinforcement? If so, what do you use for positive feedback? Yes! Whenever someone describes back to me what they learned or if I see them use the knowledge, I cheer "yay! You got it! That's right! Exactly!"

5. Do you use negative reinforcement? If so, what do you use for negative feedback? Do you use your own life’s mistakes as a warning? Negative feedback is tough, but I do think it's necessary~how else can someone know they're wrong? I really have trouble doing this without sounding mean...but I try to say something like, "well, that was almost the right thing to do" or "you almost got it", if they were trying to do what they learned. But if they aren't trying, the feedback is more like, "Well, why aren't you trying?" Like, I'm mentoring a girl right now, about my age, who agrees to read her Bible but then doesn't do it! It's so frustrating and I think, how do you just not do it! But...yeah, I don't know what to do about that example. Yes, I always use my own mistakes as a warning. For example, I'm in the process of writing a book about tongues, and I explained that I assumed it would feel like pop rocks in my mouth--but it didn't! So I always use that to let people know it doesn't happen that way!

6. Do you use questions and answers? If so, what kind of an environment does this happen? After school, at the family table, at a family pow wow? Praying for someone?

7. Do you use experience where they are learning by doing? If so, what? < I don't know what you mean here...sorry, I guess that means the answer is no! haha.>

8. What qualities in a student do you think is most important in being able to learn? What helps you, and what hinders you? Another way of saying this is what gives you a green light and what gives you a red light! Well, the attitude is everything. Students who want to learn WILL learn, students who are annoyed and don't want to learn, they won't learn. When I taught English to kids age 3-12 in South Korea, the worst students were the 12 year olds who just did not want to learn! They never learned a thing. But the 3 year olds didn't realize they were learning, and the 7 year olds really wanted to learn! In my experience, the excited ones who see rewards from their learning have the most fun and desire the most to learn.

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My conviction--which I'm sure is shared by others-- is we teach by example, through our lives--as we follow the Lord..Both adults & children who are in our sphere of influence are always learning from us..I know I will be in the School of the Holy Spirit as long as I live--so He being my Teacher--I try to be sensitive to Him & take my cues from Him..

The manner the Lord teaches through me seems to be mostly spontaneous more than any kind of structure, so I know I must always be ready in season & out of season, whether the time is convenient or inconvenient & aim to stay in tune with the ways He is moving in any given situation..

I seriously consider it a privilege & an honor to be able to impart into those who I am in contact with at any given moment……I try to LISTEN to whoever is in front of me--whether children or adults--be they family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, whoever--& trust the Holy Spirit to speak through me…Frequently I pray silently in tongues as I am listening & interacting with the person & am able to then share what the Holy Spirit is downloading into me….

I definitely try to use positive reinforcement no matter who I am talking to, as there is always something good that can be built upon! Looking for a strength or quality or some kind act or deed they have done & give a sincere compliment..People respond to kindness & praise..If correction is called for, it should be sandwiched in between positive comments…

The most positive qualities in someone being able to learn are they are asking questions or otherwise seem to be open, NOT defensive or argumentative..Someone can be opinionated & still be open to instruction..It just takes the finesse of the Holy Spirit to not bring an offense, thereby losing them….I try to hang loose & keep in mind it doesn't matter what my opinion is..It only matters what HIS opinion & objective is & I don't want to be more narrow than HE is! I like 1 Corinthians 9:19-23--meet people right where they are! It is more important that one feels loved & accepted than for me to prove a point!

Often When I am reading the Scriptures or a book or hearing or reading a teaching or testimony-- the Holy Spirit will quicken to me something that would be perfect for a particular person & then I do write it down, so as to be able to share it when the door opens…

I have tried here to express my understanding of how the Lord leads me in teaching of all kinds….Often it begins to flow into prophecy & decreeing & that is exciting! Even more so when the person is not even aware that is what is happening…Then, the Lord & I know that particular Word will accomplish what HE wants it to do...

When my children & grandchildren were young, I did read Bible stories to them & had various activity books that I used to work with them, doing crafts, painting, drawings, etc. to help them to learn the Bible, as well as to be a part of instilling the right values into them…Also would watch the videos of Bible songs & Bible stories with them….Around 15 years ago, I bought some mustard seeds & my granddaughter & I glued one into a half walnut shell, along with some tiny dried sheaves of wheat.. Faith as a grain of mustard!

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At first, I didn't think that I would qualify for this assignment, because I am not a "teacher" per se of anything. I taught lab classes in college and grad school, but that wasn't teaching as much as riding herd on the class as they worked. But then, I realized that I teach nearly every time I'm at work...

I am an occupational therapist. I mainly work in a hospital setting where people have been injured or have had a stroke or something. In occupational therapy, we define "Occupation" as anything that gives meaning to your day/life...much broader than what most people think of. I work with people who have lost their independence with doing the basic things...getting dressed, bathing, brushing hair and teeth, etc. We have various pieces of equipment and different techniques that people can learn so that they can regain independence even if they can't do something the same way they always have.

When I'm teaching someone a new way to get dressed or something, I usually explain with a pantomime of sorts (I just have to talk with my hands!!) first, and then let the person do it on their own offering further instruction or physical assistance as needed. My preference is to do all of this in as real-life a setting as possible in the hospital...when they are getting ready for the day ahead. We will also practice with a "dry-run" in therapy if they need more practice. Sometimes, we'll give a hand-out that has pictures. If the person can get dressed by themselves, then we know that they have learned well! (Or sometimes figured out a more creative way on their own. Ha!) That's kind of a simplified version of the process, no two people are the same, so often there's quite a bit of trial and error and listening on my part. I am working with the person to find something that will work for them, not the expert who knows exactly how it will work. Hopefully that makes sense......

For most things, I think that the multi-sensory approach is the best...hearing, seeing, doing. If I do something, I will remember much better than if I just watch you do it. My favorite Bible teachers do something similar...they tell, and then use a picture or a demonstration or a story and then a direct application. I enjoy the "rabbit trails" of delving into obscure history and facts, as long as they aren't so long that I lose track of what they were talking about in the first place.......and as long as it doesn't seem to be a way for the teacher to puff themselves up. I'm a simple girl at heart...you can put all the condiments you like on the burger, but there had better be a good quantity of beef there! ;o)

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I only work PRN. I was an OT in the schools full-time when God told me to quit and wait for what was next...that was almost 5.5 years ago now (I turned 33 a few days before I left). OT is my first career, being an artist and waiting on God is my second...of sorts! I'm still not sure what's next...or if this is it. No, I'm pretty sure there's something more for me.........we'll see I guess. In His timing, obviously! Clearly His and mine are totally different things! But He has been faithful! I would never have had the time to learn so much about Him had I not been right here.

The cap is a problem for sure...I'm doing the evals for a friend who is a COTA and just started his own therapy business (out patient and home health). We're affiliated with a friend of his who is a PTA and so they take care of the PT side...he's been in it longer and was talking about how the caps have effected things. However, they are both Christians as well, and it has been amazing to see how God has worked and blessed this new venture. Too bad you don't live here, we need an SLP as well!

My first year out of OT school, I worked in in-patient rehab on a brain and spinal cord injury team. It is so fascinating how people can recover so much from such devastating events! They had an out-pt day program for people with TBI, so I was able to see how my patients kept on progressing after they left rehab.

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I have two boys (men now) and they were a school for me and my wife not only on how to teach, but on what to teach. I am also an English teacher (English as a second language). I know all about methods and approaches to teaching (bunch of them out there).

I believe discipleship has more to do with how we taught our kids than how I teach English. You see, in the Kingdom it's more about relationship than just head knowledge. In todays world you can learn a lot about anything and everything without ever having to leave your home. But even though we have all this information laying around, we're still none the wiser. It's through observation and example that we learn the most. It's the personal contact and informal teaching that really gets across.

I remember once at a retreat a young lady became demon possessed. As she layed on the floor grawling and hissing no one wanted to get near her. I was one of the speakers and the only leader present that night, so I had no choice but to face the beast (not the girl, but what was inside of her). My eldest son was entering his teens and was watching me as I tried to cast out the demon. It was not a pretty scene. That devil was putting on a show and though I didn't show it, I was scared out of my wits. After what seemed an eternity of commanding the demon to come out I was ready to give up. That's when my son came up long beside me and started to mimic what he had seen me doing. There was no fear in his eyes ... only determination. That night father and son cast out a demon.

There has never been a better teacher than rabbi Jesus himself. The Bible records that he "appointed twelve that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach." (Mc.3: 14). The "to be with him" part starts here in verse 14, but the "send them forth" only happens one year later in Mark 6:7, when he called "unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth two by two.". So you see, Jesus's method of teaching was made up of two stages: first, his disciples should spend time with him to watch and learn (Acts 4:13); second, they should be sent out to practice what they had seen and learned (I Jo.1: 3).

Now, Sandy Mom, when you say "teach us how to teach" your talking about cyber teaching or online learning (also known as E-learning) and that's a totally new ball game. How does one apply Jesus's method of teaching in this virtual context? That's a question I've been asking myself ever since I realized the potential that the World Wide Web is for sharing information. For now, it seems to me that audio-visual methods in teaching are the best suited for the virtual environment we have to work with on the internet. I wish I could help you more, but I myself am seeking the same answers. But I want to encourage you by saying that your on the right track and as your student it is working for me (smile).

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I realise now that for a long time i have loved to teach others. i would read a book or a passage and immediately the thought in my mind would be how to communicate to others. i also like to look for ways to help others learn. some methods i use are: Direct approach: people want to know what you are teaching them. so if i want to teach on righteousness, first what is it? they want to know the definition of the word. Examples: after explaining the word, i use examples to bring the definition and explanation home to them. Relating my own experience: i find that most time people learn when they know what you have gone through and how you coped with it so i tell them how i went throught the same experience. Helping out: apart from teaching from a pulpit or podium, i find that when you help others out you can teach them. maybe a friend is stuck and has no nanny , if i stay with her and help her out then i can talk with her or pray with her and she will learn faster. pictures and words: i find that most times people will learn when they see pictures and written bold words so whether they are kids or adults, these work. physical illustrations: involving using people to illustrate physically to the rest of the audience about a point.

Trying not to peek but i guess props refer to what i call learnning aids? if so i find that learning aids are quite useful. i use pictures, and words printed out boldly pointing to the facts. i use objects. once i was preaching about being the aroma of christ in this world and i brought a bottle of perfume and it broke and the aroma just drifted out. telling stories or giving examples are also tangible props and all play their own role. i normally use the senses of sight, sound, touch, smell more. when teaching, it is vital that you are seen, your words are heard and when i used a perfume to teach, the sense of smell was employed and sometimes while teaching, you touch the people as you teach and move around.

i use positive reinforcement. i try to speak with authority and sometimes i ask the crowd while lesson is going on to find out how they are following. most times when it is a class i have time for questions and answers so that everyone is involved. yes i use my own life's mistakes as a warning. people want to identify with you when they know you have gone through the same stuff so i find that i tell them what i went through or what i am going through. talking about being pure to God, i find that i own up and tell them that i also have urges as a woman and i tell them instances i have been tempted and how i avoided it and the level i fell prey to it. sometimes using negative reinforcements and negative bible passages showing how people suffered when they disregarded the Lord can also work well. yes i do use questions and answers. i used to belong to a group called young ladies. we have a fellowship once a month and when we gather, it is a teaching session. after teaching, we normally pray for ourselves. in a fellowship too that i belong to, we meet once a week and when it is my turn, i teach. i talk but find that afterwards people say i really teach. at the end i normally have questions and answers.

not really. there is no opportunity for learning by doing. A humble heart, a discerning heart, an obedient mind are qualities that are vital for a student to be able to learn. i am motivated or helped when students respond, have an open heart to learn and follow up. i am hindered when people dont follow or refuse to pay attention. i am hindered by not having enough time to speak, sometimes i find i quote too many scriptures trying to make a point and i tend to talk for long and even pray for long so i am learning how to use short periods of time and get my point across.

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I was thinking about how we learn in the Spirit. I do think teaching is important to learn about the things of the Spirit. For example. When I came out of the traditional church, if someone immediately put me into a room with the intercessors that I met years later, I would have taken off. Instead God led me to an interdenominational Bible study, the first Holy Spirit series that I heard was from a pastor who didn't speak in tongues, but he was obviously Spirit led and he shared all the Holy Spirit Scriptures and opened a lot to me to bring understanding on how the Holy Spirit works. Then I came across a 6 part series of Holy Spirit teaching by a spirit filled woman teacher. Gradually I was introduced to more, until I could embrace even the more wild things in the spirit, travail, shaking, laughing etc. So for me it would not have worked to just to expose me to the experience. I needed to learn from the Bible first Who is the Holy Spirit? That He is still working on earth. How He works, before I could embrace the experiences in the Spirit.

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Although it is one of my heart's desires to teach effectively, I don't feel very confident when I'm called on to do so. Nevertheless, I teach...and am often quite surprised by the response and reception. One of the main things I've learned is to know the material and to always be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance. I always try to outline a lesson plan into three main points. When I do this on paper I try to refrain from filling in too much in order to lean more on the Holy Spirit for the parables, examples, life experiences that will dress a point that He wants to make clear. However, I often find myself penciling in little jog thoughts that I believe are quickened.

 

Depending on the group, I will use props, examples, role play or anything that will bring the point across. My husband and I directed a Couples' Ministry for seven years. One of the most effective tools I implemented was role play. With a few ground rules in place we would have one of the men perform the role of the wife on a specific topic, and vice versa. It brought much laughter, but also clarity of understanding to both genders.

In teaching Sunday School or other class venues I attempt to have the class experience a degree of a thing such as giving a brief history lesson on the period in regard to ... say perfume ... Alabaster Box ... place of women in that society ... and I can present the fragrances to pass around the class just to handle and bring a type of convergence with touch, experience and association. With adults I find they need just as much positive reinforcement as children. I am often "humorous" in pulling out their top of the head answers. This lightens the atmosphere and cause people to be more free and forthcoming in participating.

I often take an on-point principle and choose an individual from the class and place him into the setting in a practical current way to bring home the point. I love it when I see a light come on in the face of the class member. I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but recently I started to sing when I got to a point burst into my spirit in the form of joy bubbles. "Glory to... glory to ...glory to God!" I sang. Pretty soon, everyone in the class was understanding and beginning to praise. I'm still not clear why. I don't see myself as a proficient and accomplished teacher, but I hope this is helpful in some way.

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What a novel idea to role play! That must be very effective. One thing for sure, no one would be bored and you would have everyone's attention.
 

Perhaps that's what we do in the stirring gifts class when prophesying over one another. I woud love to figure our how to adopt role playing to our internet class, it sounds like so much fun!

My preferred method of teaching is where you split the classes up into groups of 5 or 6 members each, and then assign the group a small section of the topic. It's neat to allow the members to choose how to present the material from their group to the class as a whole. So, if I had a class of 30, I would divide them into six groups of five people each. I really enjoy this method because it gives each person a chance to share their experiences with the topic at hand.