by Charity Silvers
As we head back into another school year, I have been going through the Bible looking for verses about teaching. This one in Ezra 7:10 really struck me as having a lot to say about the whole process that leads up to teaching.
“For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra 7:10 (NASB)
In all my 60+ years, I’ve never really given much thought to the progression that is described here. This single verse presents such valuable truths that I want to share what I have learned. And I’ll make applications for the upcoming school year, as we all need encouragement to press on in this calling to teach and train our children at home.
SET YOUR HEART
First off, Ezra set his heart. Another translation uses the word “prepared,” and both of those imply that the teacher gets things ready. For the homeschool mom, it’s not just gathering the curriculum and supplies needed for each subject, but more so getting her heart prepared to embark on another school year. This step should include time devoted to prayer as you won’t know what the Lord wants for you and your children if you don’t seek His input on the matter!
What do you want to see accomplished in the lives of each of your children during the coming school year? What do you want to see accomplished in your own life as you relate to each of your children? There is always room for growth in godly character in both the student and the teacher. What went well last year? And what needs to be changed because it didn’t work so well? Just remember that what might have worked last year before the new baby was born may have to change! There are different seasons of life, and you must adapt to all the changes as they come your way.
STUDY
Once you have your heart set, you need to study whatever it is you’re going to teach! Now for the younger elementary grades, it usually doesn’t take a lot of studying, because you already know the alphabet, simple math, and the basic concepts of other subjects that such young children learn. But if you have older children who are learning advanced math or complex science topics, it does take more time to become familiar with the subject matter so you can then teach it to your children.
However, there may come a point in time, especially if you have many children including some in high school, that you will not be able to study every subject that your children are learning. There are only so many hours in a day and so many things that a brain can handle! But for those subjects where you are the primary teacher, you will have to apply time and effort to studying the content that you’ll be teaching. So, plan accordingly because if you don’t have the time to study what is needed, then the learning won’t be as effective as you would have hoped. It may happen that you have to learn alongside your student, and that is perfectly okay! If you feel like you are falling short in this regard, it’s not the end of the world. The opportunities for study and learning are always there and can be taken up later.
PRACTICE
This idea of practicing what you aim to teach is so critical, especially as it relates to teaching spiritual truths and godly character. In essence, it’s putting your money where your mouth is. It’s also indicative of the idea that more is caught than taught. Children are very observant, and they pick up on things, good or bad, that they see in those around them. Sometimes they even learn things that they see without any intentional teaching being done!
And while it’s wonderful if your gentle, joyful spirit flows over and creates a happy household, there are times when adverse things happen because our children imitate our not-so-good behavior and attitude. Plus, children readily see when the actions of their parents don’t match up with the words their parents are saying. The best thing you can do if that happens is to humbly go to your children and confess the wrong and seek forgiveness where needed. That act alone can speak volumes to your children and will have a lasting beneficial impact. And while the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect,” remember that complete perfection will never happen until the time when we meet Jesus face to face.
TEACH
Once the three previous steps are done, then you’re ready to begin the real task of teaching. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives this definition for teach: “To instruct; to inform; to communicate to another the knowledge of that of which he was before ignorant.” (I’ll go ahead and add a plug for using this version of Webster’s dictionary because the definitions are so rich and deep compared to the modern-day versions. You can look up words in the free online version if you don’t happen to own the hefty two-and-a-half inch thick hard cover version!) I think the key word in this definition is “communicate,” because if that doesn’t happen in a way that the student can take in and comprehend, then the teaching is ineffective.
If you have more than one child, you already realize that there are different ways that people understand and learn things. The three main learning styles are kinesthetic, visual, and auditory. There are other factors involved in how a child learns, so be sure you know what works best for each of your children. Maybe you aren’t even familiar with those terms, but as a parent, I know that you know how each of your children is wired and what it takes to get them to understand what you want them to know. So, use that method as much as possible when conveying new material to them and they will be more likely to grasp it the way that you had intended. Yes, that might mean that you have to make adjustments to the curriculum, but we all want to do what’s best for each one of those blessings the Lord has given you.
In closing, I’ll go ahead and add that if any of the first three steps are missing, our teaching will have gaps. As you get ready to begin your school year, take Ezra 7:10 to heart, especially as it relates to the spiritual truths you want to convey to your children.
About Charity
Charity Silvers is a 25-year veteran homeschool mom, as well as a PSP administrator. She also serves as volunteer staff for CHEA and Treasurer on CHEA’s Board of Directors.