One Bloom at at Time

In his book, Minute Motivators for Teachers, Stan Toler observes, “A gardener doesn’t raise a crop of roses. He cultivates the flowers one bloom at a time.”

What is true of gardening is also true of teaching. As you train your TCE students, you must cultivate them one at a time. Of course, when you work with roses you've got to expect a few thorns! We've all encountered those "thorny" students in our courses, haven't we? But God can helps us work around those obstacles as we seek to cultivate each student so he or she can blossom in the ministry of reaching children.

Following are some of Stan Toler’s suggestions for being a good trainer/cultivator, which we have adapted for our ministry as IOTs:

1. Teach Sincerely
Your TCE students are not only affected by your skills, they are influenced by the way you live. The greatest lessons you will ever teach will come from your own experience in reaching children. Your transparency before your students will be a greater source of inspiration than your facts or theories. Be real with your TCE students. Let them know about times you struggled as well as the victories you have achieved.

2. Teach Purposefully
Vibrant teaching focuses on building productivity and responsibility. It observes weaknesses and teaches strengthening. It recognizes possibilities and offers plans. It estimates damages and offers reconstruction. These are good principles to keep in mind as you evaluate and grade your TCE students. Remember, it’s not about the grades—it’s about encouraging your students and helping them strengthen their teaching.

3. Teach Methodically
Methods must fit the occasion and lessons must be aimed at the learning level of your students. And don’t forget, steady doses are better than overdoses. Don’t unload the truck on those TCE students! Layer your teaching a little at a time. Be clear and methodical, especially in those skill-building classes like Scripture Memorization and Bible Lesson Preparation and Presentation.

4. Teach Sacrificially
Every leader is given a moment—a window of opportunity that may never open again—to influence a life. You may have to subtract time or energy in order to add the resources for someone’s development. As you no doubt realize, being an instructor of teachers is not a 9 to 5 job! Some of your TCE students are going to require a greater sacrifice of your time and energy than others to succeed. Invest in your students—they are the future of your ministry!

5. Teach Sympathetically
The best teaching comes from the heart. Your students not only need your experience, they also need your attention. Teach them by not only respecting who they are, but also by what they will become. Howard Hendricks reminds us, “Teaching that impacts lives is not from head to head, but from heart to heart.” Let your TCE students see an instructor who is patient, kind and compassionate. What they learn from your heart will be remembered long after they have forgotten what they learned from your mind.

Someone once said, “We should be in the business of building people up. There are too many people in the demolition business.” You have a unique opportunity as an instructor of teachers to build child evangelists and disciplers. But you won’t accomplish that task if you view your students as a crop of teachers. Cultivate your students one bloom at a time and watch your garden grow and flourish!