What should you focus on RIGHT NOW to best grow as a teacher?

A seemingly simple question but one that's not always easy to answer. With so many questions bouncing around in your head & so many challenges on your plate, it can be hard to figure out what to focus on next.

That's why we've developed the Teacher Success Roadmap.

Get all the links at www.teach4theheart.com/roadmap.

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The Teacher Success Roadmap

This roadmap is meant as a guide – a clear path towards success that will show you step-by-step what areas you need to focus on as you seek to grow as a teacher. As well as the resources you need in each area.

These steps are sequential. So take a look at each one in order. If you believe you're doing pretty well with the first step, move on to the next – until you get to an area where you know there's room to grow.

And that – right there – is the perfect spot to focus next. Don't worry too much about the rest of the roadmap. Just take the next step. Once you've mastered that, you can come back and continue on the road to success.

Step 1 | Walk with God

Experience the power of a vibrant relationship with God as you spend time with Him and talk with Him throughout the day.

If you try to teach in your own strength, you may be a great teacher – you may even make a difference in your students' lives. But you won't have a fraction of the impact that you could have if God is working through you.

That's why we must value our relationship with Him and make it a priority. We must realize that spending time with Him and talking to Him throughout the day is the most important work we can do – way more important than our never-ending to-do list.

If you haven't yet developed the habit of spending time with God each day, then that's where you should start. Here's some great resources that can help you get started:

• Summer Bible study for teachers: Grace Changes Everything with Bonnie Kathryn Hunter
• FREE daily devotionals: Our Daily Bread

And if you don't know God personally, I encourage you to start with this article here:

How (and why) to Have a Relationship with God

Step 2 | Manage your classroom

Create a classroom environment that is conducive to learning.

It's tough to teach when your students aren't listening. That's why great classroom management is key to any successful classroom.

Think of it as the foundation - it's not really exciting, and it's not the most fun piece of the house to work on, but without it, everything else you build will eventually come crashing down.

If you're struggling with classroom management, this isn't something you can just ignore and hope it gets better. You have to make changes. You have to figure this out.

The good news? We're here to help!

Free resources to get you started:

• Top Recommendation: Classroom Management MiniCourse: 3 Days to Regain Control

• Listen: Season 1 of the Teach 4 the Heart Podcast: Classroom Management
• Read: Classroom management articles

Go straight to the all-in-one solution:

• Join Classroom Management 101

Step 3 | Plan & execute effective lessons

Structure your lessons so your students truly understand and master key skills.

Are your students struggling in your class? Are you seeing way too many D's and F's and getting way too many confused looks?

Our default reaction is to blame the students for not trying, but the hard truth is that sometimes we're not doing the best job explaining the concepts in a way students can actually understand.

We owe it to our students to be continually improving our teaching methods – always looking for better ways to create more of those lightbulb moments.

Need help planning & teaching effective lessons?

• Read: Blog posts on teaching effectively
• Cult of Pedagogy instructional articles (My friend Jennifer Gonzalez at Cult of Pedagogy has a wealth of helpful advice on how to teach effectively. Please be aware, however, that her advice is NOT from a Biblical perspective – so use discernment as you decide what strategies to adapt for your classroom.)

Step 4 | Find balance

Don't let teaching take over your life. Find balance by learning to teach in a way that is actually sustainable.

Are you overwhelmed by your workload, stressed by your mile-long to-do list?

You can't let teaching take over your life or you're headed straight for burn-out. Or, at the least, I'm-so-tired-and-stressed-I-can't-think-straight-ville. Neither of which make you a very effective teacher.

The good news is that it IS possible to be an amazing teacher without working 24/7. But to achieve balance you must make it a priority and seek out creative solutions.

Which we'd love to help you with 🙂

Free resources to get you started:

• Watch: 5 Summer Secrets to a Stress-Free Fall by Angela Watson
• Watch: Teaching with Balance Video Series
• Listen: Season 2 of the Teach 4 the Heart Podcast: Balance & Time-Management

Go straight to the all-in-one solution:

• Join Angela Watson's 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club (accepting new members at the end of June)

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Step 5 | Teach Uplifted

Teach with God's peace and joy, even in the midst of challenges and frustrations.

So often as teachers we're worried, frustrated, anxious, or discouraged.

But not only is this not what God intended for us, but we're also not as effective when we're distracted by these negative feelings.

Praise the Lord, He has something better. In learning to trust Christ, think Biblically, and surrender everything to Him, we can overcome anxiety and teach with peace and joy, even when everything around us seems to be going wrong.

And what a powerful testimony that can be!

Free resources to get you started:

• Live Training: Teach Without Anxiety: 3 Habits to Develop Now

• 3-Day Challenge: Renew Your Joy, Refresh Your Perspective
• Read: Encouraging blog posts

Go straight to the all-in-one solution:

• Join the next session of Teach Uplifted

Step 6 | Embrace Your True Mission

Fulfill your God-given mission to shine His light in the public school or make disciples in the Christian school.

Once you've gotten this far on the roadmap, you've mastered the basics and have overcome some key challenges. Now you're ready to truly make a difference as you embrace your mission as a Christian teacher.

Public school teachers: If you teach in a public school, you may not be used to thinking of teaching as a ministry, but that's exactly what God has called you to. He desires you to be a bright light pushing back the darkness all around you – and drawing others to Him.

• Shine Like Stars Bible Study by CEAI

• We're also considering partnering with CEAI to produce a program that will help you teach with faith, not fear as you navigate the minefield of living out your beliefs as a Christian teacher in a public school. If you'd be interested in hearing more about this program as it becomes available, click here to request updates.

Christian school teachers: As a Christian school teacher, you have the privilege (and responsibility) of directly instructing students in God's word – not just in Bible class but in every area of the classroom. You must intentionally disciple students and show them how to examine every topic through the lens of a Biblical perspective.

Resources:

• Online Course: How to Cultivate Biblical Discipleship Day by Day (FULL version)
• FREE LITE version of the course

Step 7| Inspire & lead your students

Make a lasting difference in your students' lives as you learn how to inspire, motivate, mentor, counsel, and lead them.

At this point, you're a strong teacher – ready to grow your influence and make a lasting difference in your students' lives.

But how exactly do you best inspire them, motivate them, counsel, mentor, and lead them?

We're hoping to develop more resources in the future to help with this final stage of the roadmap. But in the meantime, we hope you'll find these helpful:

Resources:

• Read/Listen: 10 Traits of Impactful Christian teachers
• Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

One More Thing...

In order to be most effective, all of these topics must be studied 1) From a Biblical perspective and 2) Within community

Biblical Perspective: The Bible is not just a wise book that helps us be good. It is the source of truth – the only thing we can be absolutely sure of. We must view every other topic through the lens of Scripture & allow its truths to shape how we think and act.

At Teach 4 the Heart, we strive to examine each topic from a Biblical perspective so that we aren't simply running from one new idea to the next but are seeking to apply never-changing truths to every challenge.

Community: Too often we make the mistake of trying to learn & grow on our own, but that's not the way God designed us. God created us to learn and grow together – in community with fellow believers.

At Teach 4 the Heart, we strive to connect Christian teachers in meaningful ways so that we can support & encourage each other. Community happens all over Teach 4 the Heart but most notably in our Facebook group, live trainings, prayer challenges, and premium programs.

Join Teach 4 the Heart.