Does your classroom say to your pre-primaries, “Come in and learn about God”? Of course, the four walls of your classroom do not literally talk, but your teaching behavior can communicate that invitation. As a teacher, you have the power to influence the extent to which your pre-primaries learn the Word of God. What an awesome responsibility!
How can a teacher enhance students’ learning? No formula exists. However, by practicing a few teaching basics, you can begin to create an inviting learning environment for your students. Make sure you are ready for effective teaching by using the following checklist to create an inviting learning environment.
Make your classroom ready.
Have tables, chairs, teaching materials, craft supplies, and snacks ready at the beginning of every Sunday School session. By organizing your classroom, you can concentrate fully on your preprimaries from the moment they enter the door. More learning will take place!
Smile and greet each student by name as he or she enters.
Your smile creates a positive environment and says to your pre-primaries, “Don’t be afraid; I’m here to help you.” When you address the child by name, you are telling the child that you view him or her as important. A child loves to hear his or her name spoken by a caring adult.
Establish routines.
When you set routines, you spend less time giving directions, and students have more time to learn and to participate in activities. Routines are comforting to preprimaries; they know what is going to happen next. They take great pride in telling peers and visiting adults, “We do it this way!”
Set high expectations.
Expect the best from your students in their attentiveness, behavior, memory work, singing and praying, and hand work. Pre-primaries can surprise you with their abilities! (Note of caution: make sure your expectations are appropriate for each student’s age and abilities. Asking a student to perform at a level beyond his or her capabilities will make the child feel stressed and will result in decreased learning.)
Use affirming words in conversation.
Generously include phrases such as “Good job!” “Thanks for helping!” “What do you think?” “Good idea!” and “May I help you?” Your words have the power to give your preprimaries confidence in the way God made them. They will be willing to exert more effort in learning if they know you believe in their abilities.
Limit the number of choices.
Offering pre-primaries too many choices is frustrating for the students and time consuming for you. In an effort to develop students’ decision-making abilities and to build their confidence, you may actually be offering them too many choices. Students will spend more time learning and less time quarreling if you limit their options.
Stand your ground.
From a very early age, children seek to get their own way by manipulating adults. As their teacher, you have to act like you are in charge. Think before you speak to your pre-primaries; don’t make a demand that you don’t intend to see them obey. If you get into the habit of changing your mind after making requests, the children will believe that they can get you to do what they want by whining or negotiating. When they draw you into debates, you lose valuable learning time in class. To be or not to be an inviting learning environment: that is the question. Are you shaping your pre-primary class to be productive in student learning? As a teacher, you have great power to affect change. Pray that the Lord will use you in leading young lives to know more about the Savior. Don’t get discouraged; every time you meet with your Sunday School students, you’ll learn more about working effectively with pre-primaries and you’ll grow in your teaching skills.
Keep teaching! Make your preprimary classroom one in which students are learning God’s Word and singing His praises!
