Author: Jeffrey Bush

The Seven Laws of Teaching

by John Milton Gregory

Teaching, and its simplest sense, as the communication of experience.

1. The law of the teacher.

The teacher must know that which you would teach.

The unknowing teacher is like the blind trying to lead the blind with only an empty lamp to light the way.

The power of illustration comes only out of the clear and familiar knowledge.

Truth must be clearly understood before it can be vividly felt.

The well prepared teacher awakens in his people the active desire to study further.

Prepare each lesson by for a study.

Find in the lesson it’s analogies two more familiar facts and principles.

Study lesson until take shape and familiar language.

Find the natural order of the several steps of the lesson.

Find the relation of the lesson to the lives of the learners.

Have a definite time for the study of each lesson, in advance of the teaching.

Have a plan of study, but do not hesitate, when necessary, to study be on the plan.

Did not deny yourself the help of good books on the subject of your lessons.

2. The law of the learner.

The learner must attend with interest to the material to be learned.

Without attention the people cannot learn.

Knowledge cannot be passed like a material substance from one line to another. Ideas must be rethought, experience must be re-experienced.

Unless a pupil puts in their will and interest, we are unable to accomplish maximal effectiveness.

Teach the pupils to concentrate.

Since attention follows interest, it is folly to attempt to gain attention without first stimulating interest.

The two chief hindrances to attention or apathy and distraction.

Never beginning class exercise until the attention of the class has been secured.

Study for a moment the faces of the pupils to see if all are mentally, as well as bodily, present.

Pause whenever the attention is interrupted or lost, and wait until is completely regained.

Never wholly exhaust the attention of your pupils. Stop as soon as signs of fatigue appear.

Adapt the link of the class exercise to the ages of the pupils: the younger the pupils, debris for the lesson.

Arouse attention when necessary by variety in your presentation, but be careful to avoid distractions; keep the real lesson in view.

appeal whenever possible to the interests of your pupils. Find out what their favorite interests are and make use of them.

Look for sources of distraction, such as unusual noises, inside the classroom and out, and reduce them to a minimum.

Prepare beforehand thought-provoking questions.

Make your presentation as attractive as possible, using illustrations and all legitimate devices. Do not, however, let these devices be so prominent as themselves to become sources of distraction.

Maintain an exhibit in yourself the closest attention to and most genuine interest in the lesson. True enthusiasm is contagious.

The teacher should master the art of gaining and keeping attention, and of exciting genuine interest, and he will rejoice at the fruitfulness of his work.

3. The law of the learner

Language as a medium of communication between minds, a necessary instrument of teaching, and having like all of the factors in teaching of art, it’s own law.

The language used in teaching must be common, understood, to both teacher and learner.

The power of thought rests largely upon the five this fabric of speech.

Languages the vehicle of thought.

Not what the speaker expresses from his own mind, but what they hear understands and reproduces in his mind.

That teacher will do the best work who chooses his words wisely, raising the most in the clearest images in the minds of his pupils.

Languages the instrument as well as the vehicle of thought.

Language is also the storehouse of our knowledge. All that we know maybe found laid up in the words concerning it.

Words are not the only medium through which to speak. There are many ways to express thought. The eye, the head, but hand, the foot, the shoulder, are often used in speech in ways that are most intelligible.

Help the meaning of the words by illustrations.

As the acquisition of language is one of the important games in the process of education, do not be content to have your pupils listen in silence very long at a time, the matter how attentive they are. Encourage them to talk freely.

4. The law of the lesson.

The law of the lesson is that truth to be taught must be learned through truth already known.

Find out where your pupils know of the subject you wish to teach them; this is your starting point.

Begin with facts or ideas that line near your pupils, and that can be reached by a single step from what is already familiar.

Relate every lesson as much as possible to former lessons.

Arrange your presentation so that each step of the lesson shall lead easily and naturally to the next.

Teach your pupils that knowledge is power by showing how knowledge really helps to solve problems.

5. The law of teaching.

Excite and direct the self-activities of the pupil, and as a rule tell him nothing that he can learn himself.

Make your pupil a Discoverer of the truth – make him find out for himself.

Wake up your peoples minds. Set the pupils to thinking. Arouse the spirit of inquiry. Get your pupils to work.

We can learn without a teacher. If, then, we can learn without being taught, it follows that the true function of the teacher is to create the most favorable conditions for self-learning.

True teaching, then, is not that which gives knowledge, but that which stimulates pupils to gain it.

Questioning is not, therefore, merely one of the devices of teaching, it is really the whole of teaching.

It is only when the questioning spirit has been fully awakened, in the habit of raising questions has been largely developed, that the teaching process may embody the lecture plan.

Select lessons which relate to the environment and needs of the pupils.

Consider carefully the subject and the lessons to be taught, and find its point of contact with the lives of your pupils.

Excite the peoples interest in the lesson when it is assigned, buy some question or buy some statement which will awaken inquiry.

Place yourself frequently in the position of a people among your pupils, and join in the search for some fact or principal.

The lesson that does not culminate in fresh questions and wrong.

Observe each pupal to see that his mind is not wondering so as to forbid it’s activities being bent to the lesson in hand.

Count it your chief duty to awake in the minds of your pupils, and do not rest until each child shows his mental activity by asking questions.

Do not answer to promptly the questions asked, but restate them, to give them greater force and breadth, and often answer with new questions to secure deeper thought.

The chief in almost constant violation of this law of teaching is the attempt to force lessons by simply telling. “I have told you 10 times, and yet you don’t know!” exclaims a teacher of the sort, who is unable to remember that knowing comes by thinking, not by being told.

6. The law of the learning process

The pupil must reproduce in his own mind the truth to be learned.

While telling the teacher how to teach, it also tells the people how to study.

It is indispensable that the student should become an investigator.

Ask the pupil to express, in his own words, the meaning of the lesson as he understands it, and to persist until he has the whole thought.

Help the pupil to test his conceptions to see that they reproduce the truth taught, as far as his powers permit.

7. The law of review and application

The completion, test and confirmation of the work of teaching must be made by review and application.

The statement of the slaw seeks to include the chief aims of the review: to perfect knowledge, to confirm knowledge, and to render this knowledge ready and useful.

Not to review is to leave the work half done.

Consider reviews is always in order.

At the close of each lesson, glance backward at the ground which has been covered.

The best teachers give about one third of each period to purpose of review. Thus they make haste slowly but progress surely.

Find as many applications as possible. Every thoughtful application involves a useful and effective review.

Here to Serve,

Jeff Bush

101 Tips for Teaching

By Mark Rasmussen

Mary Poppins said a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

It has often been said the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary

Seek to inspire your students to learn and every aspect of their education

The more the students can be involved with the instructor in the process, the greater the learning and ultimate retention will be.

One of the problems with today’s educational method is the lack of repetition

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body

The student must understand that there is always room for growth and improvement.

Help the learner understand that nothing good will ever come without a price.

Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven  – Ezra  7:23

One needed quality is enthusiasm about the subject at hand

It can be guaranteed that the student will never be more interested in the subject then the instructor.

It is imperative to understand that as a teacher are genuine interest, love, and enthusiasm for the topic at hand is the spark that kindles the fire of learning.

Ordinary people must have extraordinary dedication

The extra ordinary parent or teacher who does every action with such excitement and creativity that their children seem to always respond with great results, is truly 1 in a million!

God does not want anything other than our everything

DL Moody said, the world has yet to see what God can do with one man who is totally yielded to him. But he went on to say that by gods grace he would be that man.

In Proverbs 31:26, the virtuous woman demonstrates the correct way to speak – with wisdom and kindness.

Truths wrapped in stories are more easily comprehended

People remember stories for longer than they remember outlines or lectures.

Truths are seeds to be sown, not bullets to be shot

Speaking the truth in love – Ephesians 4:15

It is impossible to get to know God without spending time with Him

Praise publicly, reprimand privately

He who fails to plan, plans to fail

Be proactive and not reactive

Some people make things happen, some people watch things happen, and some people wonder what happened.

We must decide that we are going to make things happen rather than just allow things to happen

This proactive behavior must be a goal within the heart of the instructor

True teaching does not just involve giving of knowledge, but also creating and stimulating in the mind of the student a desire to learn and it cumulate knowledge and understanding for himself.

It is important to inspire students to want to learn.

Eliminate distractions. There are two major distractions that can affect the student: internal distractions – student is thinking about something else. External distraction: noise, windows, television, pictures, communication with others. With these distractions are eliminated, learning becomes easier and more efficient.

Motivate students toward maximum effort

Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence is the key to unlocking potential – Sir Winston Churchill

Teach with care and confidence

Students need variety in the classroom

Well spontaneity is important, it needs to occur only periodically… Lest there be too much of a good thing!

One must first organize, then deputize, and finally, supervise.

If the student cannot trust the teacher, the instructional process is severely crippled.

Jesus Christ is our great example of one who said what he meant and meant what he said.

Look to the future, but value and enjoy today

Think fullness will lead to thankfulness

Have more teaching material than you think you will need

After laboriously working to produce a vase or a jar, artist in ancient Rome often faced a dilemma. They would sometimes detect a crack after removing the pottery from the kiln. This forced them to make a choice to either destroy the object and start over, or to attempt to camouflage the weakness and passed the vessel off as one without defect. The weakness was camouflaged by filling the crack with wax and painting over the vessel. To the untrained eye, it was difficult to detect the weakness that existed in the vessel. This led craftsmen who had vessels without flaws to put above their pottery the Latin phrase, sine cera. This is where we get our word sincere, meaning “without wax”.

Focus on the Root, not just the fruit

May we see beyond the fruit problem and beyond the outward conformity, and may we look to the root problem in the lights of our students!

Bob Moawod said, average is the place in the middle. It is the best of the worst or the worst of the best.

Oliver Cromwell said, those who stop being better stop being good.

An excuse is nothing more than a lie

wrapped in the skin of a reason.

Rather than making excuses, we need to realize that a leader will find a way.

21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader

By John Maxwell

Adversity is a crossroads that makes a person choose one of two paths: character or compromise.

Commitment starts in the heart; commitment is tested by action; commitment opens the door to achievement

Developing excellent communication skills is absolutely essential to effective leadership the leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others. If a leader can’t get a message across clearly and motivate others to act on it, then having a message doesn’t even matter. – Gilbert Emilio

Educators take something simple and make it complicated. Communicators take something complicated and make it simple. – John Maxwell

Be clear as a bell. Short and direct, fewest words possible, simplicity and clarity.

Meet people where they are, and you will be a better communicator.

Live your message.

Competence is the leaders ability to say it, planet, and do it in such a way that others know that you know how – and know that they want to follow you. – John Maxwell

The person who knows how will always have a job, but the person who knows why will always be the boss.

When you think about people who are competent, you’re really considering only three types of people: those who can see what needs to happen, those who can make it happen, and those who can make things happen when it really counts.

Courage is fear that has said its prayers – Karl Barth,  Swiss theologian

Courage is contagious. What a brave man takes a stand this spines of others are stiffened.

Those who don’t take chances worry about trivial things.

A 19th-century circuit writing preacher named Peter cart right was preparing to deliver a sermon one Sunday when he was warned that Pres. Andrew Jackson was in attendance, and he was asked to keep his remarks inoffensive. During that message, included the statements: I have been told that Andrew Jackson is in the congregation. And I have been asked to guard my remarks. What I must say is that Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn’t repent of sin.

After the sermon Jackson strode up to Cartwright. Sir, the president said, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world.

Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which have to believe – John Maxwell

The first rule of holes: when you’re in one, stop digging. – Molly Ivens, columnist

If you chase two rabbits, both will escape. – Unknown

A leader who knows his priorities but lacks concentration knows what to do but never gets it done.

If you’re through growing, you’re through.

When the trainer holds the stool with the legs extended for the Lions face, the animal tries to focus on all four legs at once. And that paralyzes him. Divided focus always works against you.

Your candle loses nothing when it lights another.

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave. Calvin Coolidge, American Pres.

The only way to really when the money is to hold it loosely – and be generous with it to accomplish things of value. As E. Stanley Jones said, money is a wonderful service but a terrible master. If it gets on top and you get under it, you’ll become enslaved.

Writer John Bunyan affirmed, you have not lived today until you have done something for someone who could never repay you.

Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. Conrad Hilton.

Of all the things a leader should fear, complacency should head the list. – John Maxwell

If you’re going to be an effective leader, you’ve got to know what you want. That’s the only way you’ll recognize opportunity when it comes.

As someone once said, everyone has a great idea in the shower. But only a few people step out, dry off, and do something about it.

But before a leader can coach a person’s heart, he has to know what’s in it. He learns that my list. An unwillingness to listen to common among poor leaders.

To add Growth, Lead followers – to multiply, lead leaders.

Nobody can be successful unless he loves his work.

The answer is passion. Nothing can take the place of passion in a leaders life.

A leader with great passion and skills always outperforms leader with great skills and no passion.

The truth is that you can never lead something you don’t care passionately about. You can’t start a fire in your organization unless one is first burning in you.

You won’t become passionate until you believe passion can be the difference maker in your life.

If you lost your fire, get around some fire lighters. Passion is contagious.

Your people are a mirror of your attitude – who you are is who you attract.

If you look at Edison’s life, you can see that his positive attitude and enthusiasm not only fueled him but also inspired his people to keep pressing on until they succeeded.

The thing that separates good players from great ones as mental attitude. It might only make a difference of two or three points in an entire match but how you play those key points often makes the difference between winning and losing. If the mind is strong you can do almost anything you want.

Effective leaders, like Sam Walton, always rise to challenge. That’s one of the things that separates winners from whiners.

When a mission organization wrote Livingston about sending helpers and asked him have you found a good road to where you are, Livingston replied, if you have men who will come only if they know there is a good girl, I don’t want them. I want and then will come even if there is no routing all.

If you never try, fail, and try again, you’ll never be good at it.

Relationships: If you get along, they’ll go along

1. Have a leader’s head-understand people. If you deal with every customer in the same way, you only close 25% of deals. But if you learn how to effectively work with people you can conceivably close 100% of your deals. You have to be able to adapt your leadership style to the person you’re leading.

2. Have a leader’s heart – love people.

3. Have a leader’s hand – help people. If your focus is on what you can put into people rather than what you can get out of them, the love and respect you.

One millionaire was asked why he worked 12 to 14 hours a day. He answered, it took me 15 years, working for a large organization, to realize that in our society work eight hours a day for survival, and if you work only eight hours a day, all you do is survive… Everything over eight hours is an investment in your future. No one could do the minimum and reached his maximum potential.

If you want to meet, you’ve got to produce.

When an archer misses the mark he turns and looks for the fault within himself. Failure to hit the bull’s-eye is never the fault of the target. To improve your aim, prove yourself.

No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it. Andrew Carnegie

Takers do not make good leaders.

When followers are undermined and received no recognition, they become discouraged and eventually stopped performing at their potential. And when that happens, the entire organization suffers.

Self-discipline: the first person you lead is you.

The first and best victory is to conquer self. – Plato

Jerry Rice is a perfect example of the power of self-discipline. No one achieves and sustained success without it. No matter how gifted a leader is, his gifts will never reach their max potential without the application of self-discipline.

To be successful, self-discipline can’t be a one time event. It has to become a lifestyle.

If you lack self-discipline, you may be in the habit of having dessert before eating your vegetables.

A nursery in Canada displays the sign on its wall: the best time to plant a tree is 25 years ago… The second best time is today. Plant the tree of self-discipline in your life today.

You’ve got to love your people more than your position. – John Maxwell

Great leaders see the need, seize the opportunity, and serve without expecting anything in return.

If your attitude is to be served rather than to serve, you may be headed for trouble.

If you want to lead on the highest level, be willing to serve on the lowest.

Teachability: to keep leading, keep learning

As long as you’re green, you’re growing. As soon as you’re right, you start to rot.

If we keep learning, we must also keep making mistakes.

You cannot be prideful and teachable at the same time.

To gain growth, give up your pride.

If you don’t like the crop your reaping, check the seed you are sowing.

If you want to be a champion tomorrow, be teachable today.

Vision leads the leader. It paints the target. It sparks and fuels the fire within, and draws him forward. It is also the fire lighter for others who follow that leader. Show me a leader without vision, and I’ll show you someone who isn’t going anywhere. At best he is traveling in circles.

True vision is far-reaching. It goes beyond what one individual can accomplish. If you have a vision that doesn’t serve others, it’s probably too small.

One of the most valuable benefits of vision is that it acts like a magnet – attracting, challenging, and uniting people.

To find the vision that is indispensable to leadership, you have to become a good listener.

Discontent with the status quo is a great catalyst for vision. Are you on complacent cruise control? Or do you find yourself itching to change your world? No great leader in history has fought to prevent change.

Nobody can accomplish great things alone. To facilitate vision, you need a good team. If you want to lead others to greatness, find a mentor.

A truly valuable vision must have God in it.

Also think about what you’d like to see change in the world around you. What do you see that isn’t – but could be? Once your ideas start to become clear, right them down and talk to a mentor about them.