Teaching Tip

Leading Ideas – The American Christian educator determines the Leading Idea to be presented to the student in each class.

Leading Ideas

   As a teacher prepares lesson plans for each day, it is important to identify the main or Leading Idea for the individual lesson. This Idea will govern the content of the classtime and any student work. Webster defined an Idea as a concept, thought, opinion, image in the mind, proposition, or principle. The Idea is what will remain with the student and will be supported by the facts and material selected for the classtime.
   The confirmation of the Idea being taught will occur as the student reflects and reasons concerning the Idea taught through questions and tests. It is easy for the teacher to fall into simply teaching facts and information. To avoid this pitfall, identify the Leading Idea for each lesson and make it a part of your planning for the individual class.