The Teacher Success Roadmap (S5E1 Growth)

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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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