I’ve done a fair number of teacher training seminars through the years and learned that many teachers in children’s ministry find classroom discipline issues to be their number one frustration.  What I also found is that many of these teachers want a step by step play book for “fixing” the problems.  I usually cannot provide that kind of a plan.  What I can do is hand them an umbrella.  No, not a real umbrella … an analogy.

1. They need a big picture perspective or philosophy under which all discipline should come.  This is like the canopy of the umbrella.  Without this material over the framework, or spokes, their efforts will not protect or provide shelter.  All that is done needs to come under the umbrella of God’s Word.  The Effectively Handling Classroom Discipline Workbook provides this kind of perspective.
2. Under that canopy are spokes, the framework on which the material hangs.  These are principles that can apply to all discipline situations.  Again, the workbook will help you work through these principles but the Handbook on the Basics of Classroom Discipline can also help with that.  Every month one of the discipline tips from that book is put on the site, replacing the previous month’s tip.
3. The umbrella with its canopy and framework won’t help unless you personally grab hold of it.  This is where the handle comes in — the specific application to your situation.  One reason I can’t provide steps to handling discipline problems is that there are so many variables.  For example, two children can engage in the same behavior but for different reasons making the application specific to that situation.

Currently one type of resource I am including for members of TrainBibleTeachers.com is a series of handouts to help with different discipline issues.  These one page tools present possible causes for each issue with resultant suggestions for each reason.  So far I’ve added handouts on:

• Attention-Getting Behavior with 3 possible causes
• Bringing Toys & Objects from Home with 3 possible causes
• Constantly or Excessively Moving Children with 3 possible causes
• Crying When Children Dropped off with 3 possible causes
• Talking Incessantly/Inappropriately with 3 possible causes
• Teasing & Bullying with 6 possible causes
• When Staff Kids Misbehave with 4 possible causes

As you keep God’s big picture perspective in mind and apply the principles in ways appropriate to your situation and student needs, “rainy days” won’t have to get you drenched with frustration and despair.  If you line up what you do with God and His Word, you can depend on God for the long-range results and short-term coverage.

Teacher Training efforts in the church too often seem to use a cookie cutter approach.  Everyone is put on the same track as though all teachers had the same needs.

Yet, in the typical teaching staff, you have veteran teachers and new teachers, good teachers and not-so-good teachers, teachers with a lot of Biblical knowledge and some with little to no understanding of God’s Word.  There are teachers who are spiritually mature and those who do little to maintain a consistent walk with the Lord.  Some teachers skillfully use a variety of methods and others are stuck in ruts.  Some know how to handle problem situations and others are ready to give up.   Then, of course, we get into the differences in learning styles among our teachers, the age levels they teach, etc., etc.

How can we even think that we will equip our teachers
effectively by training them with a “one-size-fits-all” approach?

To truly invest into teacher’s lives to make them better teachers, we need to tailor training to the individual teachers when possible by providing help in areas of greatest need and in formats most conducive to their learning bents and schedules.

This is the premise on which TrainBibleTeachers.com was built.  Please be sure to check it out!

As part of a membership at TrainBibleTeachers.com, you get access not only to links for materials on a variety of topics in a variety of means but also to handouts and worksheets I have written which you are permitted to copy and distribute to your teachers.  Right now I am working on putting up a series of one page handouts each on a different discipline issue teachers face.  The page gives a synopsis of the challenge that issue brings, possible causes, and corrective and circumventive measures you can take.  The point is that once you determine the cause, you can truly help the student.  Two students can be engaging in the same behavior but for different reasons.  If you approach both students the same way, you probably will do little to help one of them.  You may be able to stop the misbehavior but the need remains and will very likely resurface at a different time or in a different way. 

Teacher training and discipline issues are two examples of how cookie cutter approaches usually aren’t the most effective.  Where have you seen a cookie cutter approach applied that wasn’t very effective?