As a teacher, God has equipped you with the tools to not just facilitate group study, but also steward and shepherd the people in your group. A key element is understanding your students’ learning needs so you can then maximize their learning potential. How students engage with a lesson may be heavily based on their experiences, their culture, or even the life season they are in. This results in diverse interactions between students in a classroom, reflecting a variety of thoughts and opinions.

Recognizing the needs of your individual students is the first step to classroom success, because how you lead, love, and learn with them makes a difference. Not only that, but the discussions that take place can easily define a visitor’s experience—for better or for worse!

In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul writes, “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” Welcome unity into your classroom by laying the right foundation—creating a safe space where students can freely discuss what is on their minds and hearts. We all process information in vastly different ways, which leads to a wide range of learning and thinking. There may be challenge and disagreement at times, but when you lead your class with unity in mind, your students will learn to walk in love and understanding.

Disunity can easily creep into the classroom when we falsely assume that everyone is in the same place. God desires that we grow—in relationship with Him, with others, and with His word—and with growth comes understanding.

Let’s take a look at three learning styles that are likely represented in your group. Think about how you can use this knowledge, tailoring your teaching style to bring growth and unity to your classroom.

The See-ers

For the “see-ers”—or visual learners—in your group, charts, diagrams, maps, graphs, and infographics are some of the many visual aids you can incorporate into your lesson. Students with this learning style respond best and retain more when information is presented visually. For some, it is not as much about recalling details as it is seeing to understand. For example, if you’re sharing about Paul’s missionary journeys, including maps in your lesson plan will help visual learners in your class track Paul’s travels and better understand the geographic and historical context of his letters.

The Hearers

Have you ever listened to an audiobook and found that you were able to process the information better than if you were reading the pages yourself? If so, you may be a “hearer”—or an auditory learner. Students with this learning style respond best to lecture, discussion, audio clips, and music. Try incorporating these elements into your lesson to help auditory learners fully engage and apply what they’re learning.

The Doers

The “doers”—or kinesthetic learners—in your class learn best through hands-on experience. To create interaction and physical movement in your class, try reenacting a Bible story, using an opening activity to start class time, dividing into groups to complete activities from the Resource Packet, or working on a service project together. There are many ways you can help the doers in your class learn and connect in a practical, hands-on way.

As you analyze the types of learners in your classroom and then adapt your teaching based on what you discover, God will help your group to grow in new ways! One idea is to show the Radiant Life adult lesson videos, which especially engage your visual and auditory learners.

For the “doers” in your group, emphasize the practical “Living It Out” steps at the end of each lesson. Pray that even those students who don’t consider themselves kinesthetic learners will be inspired and motivated to live out what they’re learning.

Are the students in your classroom leaving with more biblical knowledge than when they arrived? Then take heart; your labor is not in vain. If you’ve met them where they are and have provided them with the resources to keep learning and seeking, then you have done your part as a teacher. You don’t have to be perfect. Just do your best to equip students with the unique tools they need for spiritual growth, and then trust God with the results!

Whitney Lee is an editor for Radiant Life adult curriculum.