Techniques for Christian Education
One of the most difficult challenges that all Sunday School teachers face is meeting the needs of all of their students when each of their students brings a different personality and tendencies to the table. I am the proud father of a scientific anomaly in the form of identical triplet boys. My three sons look exactly alike except for a few well-placed freckles that allow me to tell them apart quickly. While they're genetic copies of one another, their personalities, as well as their learning styles, are entirely different. Owen needs to take things apart and understand how they are built, while his brother Elijah is content to observe and absorb the information. On the other hand, Andrew is a listener who can take instructions audibly and arrive at his destination. It's fascinating and a complete challenge to parent, especially when you get one mixed up with the other.
““Those who direct the classroom or small group have a great responsibility as well. It is their job to make sure the learning experience stays on track, that all people who wish to learn have an opportunity to learn, and to make the journey as beneficial as possible.””
Dr. Clancy Hayes, the College of Bible and Church Ministries Dean at Southwestern Assemblies of God University and author of the book Reach All Your Students, which is an excellent resource for teachers to understand the students in their classroom better. In this blog, we will examine each type of student that Dr. Hayes has identified and how we can better reach our students. Dr. Hayes writes, "Those who direct the classroom or small group have a great responsibility as well. It is their job to make sure the learning experience stays on track, that all people who wish to learn have an opportunity to learn, and to make the journey as beneficial as possible."[1]
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners like my little Andrew thrive in the presence of a teacher who has come prepared with a good lesson plan. He gains a wealth of knowledge by listening to the teacher and then by discussing the contents of the lecture with detailed and prepared discussion questions. At Park West Youth, we make room for auditory learners in small groups after service on a typical Wednesday night. One requirement for any of our speakers is to develop at least five good discussion questions for each teacher to unpack. I can honestly say that I am not an auditory learner by nature, but I am by discipline. I hated small groups as a teenager, but as a youth pastor, I am continually astounded when I hear how much our students love the discussion in their groups.
Visual Learners
Elijah is my little buddy that needs to see something to learn it. Fortunately for him, modern culture seems to have adapted to visual learning very well. Our student ministry incorporates many visual elements for our student's benefit. We utilize digital media on a large screen behind our worship team that includes the lyrics to all the songs. We offer handouts with all the information in our weekly Sunday School classrooms, and scattered throughout the halls are visual reminders of the core values of our student ministry: "Every Student, Living Biblically, In Community, Raising Sons and Daughters." We communicate those pillars audibly in every message we teach, but we also paint them everywhere as a visible reminder of who we are and what we're about.
Tactile Learners
Owen is the one I worry about in school. Not because he's a bad kid but because his learning style trends toward getting him in trouble. He must take something apart and rebuild it to understand the intricate details that make things work. He also wants to participate in whatever activity we have going on. If paint is involved, expect Owen to be the first one with his hands dirty. When we read books together, he is the one flipping the pages. Owen comes across as aggressive and perhaps even disrespectful to people unfamiliar with this learning style. But to know Owen is to know a strong young man who enjoys participating in the learning process. Tactile learners can be challenging, but they're also rewarding. One element we lean into in our youth ministry is using different elements for worship. We do our best to help our students identify gifts and talents that God has given them, and then we invest in those talents. We have students who excel in music, art, dance, photography, and many more categories. Our job as leaders is to forge paths for our students to use those gifts in their youth ministry.
Kinesthetic Learners
While none of my boys seem to fall into the Kinesthetic category, my little girl does. She is all about movement. As a first-time parent, I was all about trying to help my kids find things they enjoyed doing. Like many parents, I hoped that I shared some of those interests. When it came to Brooklyn, my daughter, I knew quickly that gymnastics would be something she would excel at, and I wasn't disappointed. She is on her way to becoming an accomplished gymnast. Her interest in movement-based learning follows her in the church classroom as well. She is attracted to things like dance and drama, both offered as ministry outlets in our church. I am thankful to attend a church that sees the value in this type of worship and provides an outlet for students like my daughter to engage. In the classroom, we can apply interactive Bible teaching, skits, and drama for our kinesthetic learners to prosper.
I couldn't begin to capture the details of Dr. Hayes' book Reach All Your Students in just one short blog, but I can and would recommend that you purchase this book. The principles found in this book will make you a more effective Sunday School teacher, therefore expanding the kingdom in ways we can't begin to imagine!
[1] Clancy P. Hayes, Reach All Your Students: Strategies for the Learning Journey (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 2015).
