The danger of teaching the simple things

Currently, I teach junior high-schoolers.

Within my subjects - history and geography - there is a sizeable element within the curriculum for subject skills.

Frankly, some of it is really basic.

For example, direction.

Simple. North, East, South, West.

Year 7 have a whole lesson dedicated to direction.

The danger of teaching such topics is this… I find it simple. Obvious. Easy.

So, the temptation exists to not teach it throughly.

Instead, you assume that the students will understand the content quickly. 

The assumption can be that the answers will be as obvious to them as it is to me.

Of course… this ignores the fact that I learnt some of these skills over a quarter of a century ago. And I’ve now got multiple degrees.

A similar thing can happen with the gospel.

We can assume, just because something is clear for us, then it should come quickly for others.

This isn’t how it works.

For some, the ability to connect the dots will take time.

The ability to link the concepts will not click until they have their individual light-bulb moment.

The ability of a good teacher - be it in the classroom, Bible study or pulpit - is to ride the wave of discovery with the learner, not just going at the pace you assume will be enough to fly through the content.

The key is patience.