Teaching is both a gift and a learned skill; it is an art that improves with experience. It is unrealistic to expect new teachers to exercise their gift with the same quality as those who have more experience. To some extent, it is not possible to train new teachers without sacrificing some measure of quality. There are practical steps, however, that a pastor can take to ensure accuracy and improve quality as new teachers learn the craft.
It is often effective to ask a new teacher to team up with a more experienced teacher, who can serve as a mentor, provide feedback, and perhaps even “bail them out” in a moment of difficulty.
A teaching cohort can also be an effective way to ensure quality while improving skill. In a teaching cohort, an experienced teacher works through the lesson with a team of teachers. This assumes that everyone is using the same curriculum or teaching from the same book. This method is often used in the context of small groups and provides both practical help and a learning community for those who participate.
It is also helpful to provide a context for meaningful feedback, especially from those who are being taught. Learners use a simple rubric or evaluation form to “rate” the teacher’s performance. However, in most cases an evaluation form alone will not be enough and may lead to discouragement for the new teacher. Any evaluation should be reviewed and discussed with a mentor. Consider carefully who will be asked to evaluate; some listeners can be overly harsh, while others are unwilling to offer needed criticism. Additionally, a more detailed rubric can help evaluators to know what they should be listening for during the lesson.
More than anything else, it is important to allow new teachers the liberty to be on the learning curve. Assume that new teachers will have awkward moments and make mistakes. Be quick to praise and careful in criticism. Remember that failure was one of Jesus’ primary training tools. If he was not afraid to entrust the truth to “babes,” neither should we (Luke 10:21). And remember that learning does not depend entirely upon the teacher; the student bears a large portion of the responsibility. Best of all, remember that both the teacher and the student are aided by the ministry of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27).
