The Christian EducatorA publication of North Valley Baptist Schools

Be Extraordinary!

When I think back upon my school days, I can not help but think of the many teachers who have taught me various subjects such as math, science, history, English and of course the Bible. To the best of my knowledge, there have been over twenty different men and women who have given their lives to others and me through teaching. I owe these teachers a lot and they have a very special place in my heart and in my memories.

Most of these teachers are just a memory to me now. I can remember them teaching my classes and I do have several humorous stories to tell from the period of time in my life that I spent with them. Then there are the few teachers whose lives and teachings are so much more than a memory in my life. Their words have been an inspiration to me. These teachers are ones whose lives and testimonies are cherished and admonished by all who knew them. These are the extraordinary teachers who have made a difference in my life. These are the teachers who have encouraged me and inspired me to teach others as well.

The truth is that in schools all across America, there are thousands and thousands of ordinary teachers - men and women who do their jobs and perhaps even do a very good job. They teach their classes year after year, but in the end they are just ordinary. There are however, in the midst of these teachers, a select few who are deemed extraordinary by their students and peers. These are the teachers whose praises are sung in colleges, businesses and homes all over the world. These are the teachers who make a difference.

But what makes certain teachers extraordinary while the rest are just ordinary? What is the difference between ordinary teachers and extraordinary teachers? The answer is almost too simple. The difference between ordinary teachers and extraordinary teachers is a simple little prefix - the extra! That extra makes all the difference in the world. That extra is what influences and inspires our students. That extra is what it takes to make you extraordinary.

My challenge to you is to be extraordinary. Do not just be another ordinary teacher. Be extraordinary. Make a difference in the lives of your students and peers. Allow your life to influence and inspire others; to motivate and encourage all who come into contact with you. Be extraordinary! Below are a few ways to add the extra in your life to make you an extraordinary teacher.

1. Extra Prayer. If the success of your teaching was dependent on the amount of time you spend praying for your class; how successful would you be? In my two-year tenure as a teacher, I have come to realize just how much I need God’s help each day. I have in no regard reached the level of perfection in my prayer life. I can definitely pray a little extra for my students, for my classes, and for wisdom as a teacher. Figure out what time works best for you, and spend some extra time in prayer. You will see how much more successful your day can become.

2. Extra Preparation. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. The worst classes that I have ever taught have been the ones that I was the least prepared for. If you want to be an extraordinary teacher, you will have to do more than the bare minimum in your level of preparation. Most Christian school teachers wear more than a teaching hat. Extra time is a luxury, but is crucially important for your classes. Imagine if you spent just fifteen more minutes preparing for each class. What a difference it could make. Remember, ordinary teachers prepare for their classes, but extraordinary teachers spend the extra time preparing.

3. Extra Personal Touch. Perhaps the most important quality a teacher can possess is that of the personal touch. Let me ask you. How well do you know your students? When are their birthdays, what are their hobbies, what types of learners are they? These are questions you can answer if you have truly given your students that personal touch. There is no better example of this truth than Jesus Christ. Think of all the miracles and the good that Jesus did while on His earthly ministry. Everywhere he went, he had an influence on those He encountered. It was said of President Ronald Reagan that in the White House, you could hear him coming down the hallway even from a far distance because when he passed any room, he would stop to talk and spend a minute or so with his fellow workers and staff. That is the personal touch that you must have to be an extraordinary teacher. Remember, you cannot touch a student’s life from sitting behind your desk. You must walk the hallways talking to them, sit with them at lunch, and eat with them. Take extra time each day to have a little extra touch on someone’s life.

4. Extra Passion. Do you love your job as much today as when you first started? I am sure it is easy after you have been doing the same job for years to lose that passion that you once had. Students can read teachers very well. If they see that you have no enthusiasm or passion for your classes, they develop your same attitude. Approach each class each day with a renewed passion. Have so much passion for what you do that it is contagious to your students and your fellow teachers. Be extraordinary!

5. Extra Pat on the Back. Encourage and praise your students whenever you can no matter how difficult it is. I teach in the junior high. At times, I feel that I am in the babysitting business not the teaching business. If I am not careful, I can spend too much time being negative and correcting the students. While it is very necessary to correct your students, also make sure that you spend the time praising and encouraging them. You will never know how far a kind word may go. Go out of your way to tell a student how well they did, or how proud you are of them. This will set you apart as an extraordinary teacher.

Do not settle for being an ordinary teacher. Be the kind of teacher that students remember for a lifetime and not for the wrong reason! Being a teacher is much more than just a job; it is a ministry to people. Jesus, among many other things, was a teacher. He was more than just an ordinary teacher; He was extraordinary. Let’s follow in his footsteps and do a little extra in our teaching. Let’s be extraordinary!