Teaching for Successful Pathfinder Leaders

1. Be Humble
Remember, you haven't always known the material that you're presenting. Exhibiting an inappropriate arrogant attitude discourages learning and involvement.

2. Lead, don't preach
Involve the Pathfinders in the discussion or activity. Instead of telling them what they should learn, ask them what they are learning. If necessary, clarify YOUR teaching so that they are learning what you desired to teach them.

3. Make the lesson relevant
Pathfinders learn and remember what they've been taught in Pathfinders (classwork, honors), if its relevant to their lives. Therefore its important that Pathfinder staff are "in touch" with pathfinders' lives so that they can mold their teaching to be relevant to their Pathfinder kids.

4. Let others talk
Kids bring a great inventory of life experience to the learning process -- you'll be surprised about how much more effective a story they share will be in "proving" (and sometimes "testing") your point. Questions such as "Can you think of a time you felt this way?" or "How does this story match something going on with your life or a friends' life?" help a pathfinder connect spiritual truths with their own life, plus you'll gain insight into your pathfinders' needs.

5. Be prepared
You don't have to have "all the answers", but don't arrive at a pathfinder meeting out of breath, disheveled, and unacquainted with the subject matter you're going to be teaching! Lack of preparation tells your pathfinders that they're not important to you! Therefore, be prepared!

6. Maintain a consistent witness
Many kids (and adults) become skeptical of "church" and "God" because of a real/perceived feeling that their leaders are "hypocrites." Though this doesn't mean that you as a leader are perfect, being real & open about your spiritual walk (age appropriate of course), will heighten your esteem in the pathfinders' eyes.

7. Maintain leadership
While encouraging participation, never forget that you are the teacher and ultimately responsible for what transpires. Runaway conversations and tangents need to be curtailed as a service to the whole group of pathfinders. Affirm the importance of a discussion; then suggest it continue after pathfinder meeting. Be careful not to let one pathfinder dominate to the exclusion of others.

8. Believe what you teach
Pathfinder ministry has some of the best material available for preparing children for useful life here on earth and for the kingdom as well.