I learned this extremely versatile teaching technique from Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov. Basically, you assign a writing prompt. Everyone writes the answer. Then, as many people as you choose are invited to share. Sometimes I have each person share their written response. Other times, when there's a big group, I assign a […]

Invite all students to read a passage silently. Have a couple of students come to the front of the class. Tell them they will be acting out the events in the story, but with a twist -- they are mimes, and must act out silently. OPTIONAL: Ask other students in the class to follow along […]

Write the main topic of a scripture passage or quote on a piece of paper. Cut each letter out. Let students look at the scripture passage or quote while they race to unscramble the word. This can be done for each individual in the classroom, or it can be done in groups, or even on […]

This is a simple tip that will help you leverage media in the classroom and get better discussion. Determine before class what the main discussion points are in the material you will cover. Instruct students before you watch or listen to your media which main points to watch for as the media plays. You might […]

Items needed: a picture cut into 20 pieces to create a puzzle. (The picture can be any picture of Christ, but a picture of his birth would work great.) Lesson: Cut a picture into 20 pieces to create a puzzle. (The picture can be any picture of Christ, but a picture of his birth would […]

Items needed a small bag of sugar (or other sweet treat) for each member of the class another, better treat Begin the lesson by giving each student a bag of sugar as a present just for coming to church. I told them just like they received a present from me for coming to church, everyone […]