Teaching Tip of the Week

Before interrupting the club or class with a verbal correction of children breaking rules (such as talking) during the Bible lesson, try a few of what might be called “hints.” Try one of these without interrupting the flow of your teaching:

• Direct all of your eye contact towards the child doing the talking. Eventually they will see that you are noticing what is going on.
• Walk towards the child and stand next to them as you teach. Be sure to smile as you look down at them.
• Ask a question about something you just said, calling on the child who is talking after you state the question. Example: “How many stones were they to take out of the Jordan river to set up as a memorial?...John?” All the students are sure to pay better attention once they see that they may not get any warning when you are going to ask them a question.

When done well, these methods can help control the class (to a certain degree) without even interrupting the teaching that is taking place. Of course, the best way to teach is to have a helper who can head off discipline problems before or as they start.