How To Make Team Teaching a Smashing Success

by James L. Rubart

Last week I team taught at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference with Susan May Warren and Jeff Gerke. (Great conference BTW.)

Susie and Jeff coming up with brilliant ideas

Even though I’ve known Jeff and Susie for years I’d never presented with them. I was interested in how it would turn out. Why?

We had only seven hours of teaching time. (Yeah, I know that sounds like a lot, but when you have three people who would have no problem filling those hours by themselves I was curious how we’d adapt to each other.)

The Key to Our Success

It sounds simple, but here’s why it worked wonderfully: While we shared our opinions passionately while we brainstormed how the class should work, none of us had any ego in the game. Extremely refreshing. When we taught the class the same attitude prevailed.

I’ve team taught in the past where it became clear immediately that my co-teacher had a King Kong plus Godzilla size ego, and if I was going to say anything I had to forcefully interrupt.

With Susie and Jeff, it was the opposite. We encouraged each other to jump in with an agreement, disagreement, and color commentary at any time. We didn’t care who was speaking as long as it had an impact on the class.

The Awards Banquet--Another Chance to Collaborate

OCW has an awards banquet every year and the three of us decided to amp things up with a running gag about me crashing Susie and Jeff’s MC-ing duties. Looking back at the creation of the skit, I can’t tell you who came up with what and I’m guessing they couldn’t either. It was a completely collaborative effort. None of us cared if their idea was used, we just wanted it to work.

Completely Smooth? Kind Of

Did we ever disagree? Of course. For example, when Jeff or I suggested an idea that Susie wasn’t keen on, she’d say, “I like that idea, but I think we can build on it ...”

Jeff’s translation: “Susie doesn’t like it, thinks it’s stupid, but is too kind to say it that bluntly.”

Then we’d laugh and move on. The point is, we disagreed with gentleness and consideration.

Can we work this way with our editors? Our publishers? Our marketing people? Other authors? Hope so. I know it will produce a better product, and better relationships as well.

One More Memory From OCW

This has nothing to do with the rest of my post, but it’s too funny not to include. You know the cliché when a room is cold that goes, “This place is like a meat locker!” The room we taught in was colder than a meat locker. I kid you not. So at one point Susie did the logical thing and went to her room and grabbed a blanket. 

"Here's how to beat the cold."

Only Three Rules To Follow For An Outstanding Team Teaching Experience

1. Get your opinions out there.
2. Get rid of your ego.
3. Get a warm blanket

James L. Rubart is the best-selling, Christy award winning author of seven novels as well as a professional speaker. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps authors and publishers make more coin of the realm. He lives with his amazing wife in the Pacific Northwest and loves to dirt bike with his two sons, hike, golf, take photos, and still thinks he's young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.jameslrubart.com

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Responding to That Niggle

I joined my husband at the table with six others, thinking I wouldn’t have much to contribute as they began to plan our church association’s western region conference. Our district superintendant revealed details about the main speaker, venue and other things that had already fallen into place. Then the group began to discuss workshops. These are, typically, focused on topics pertinent to pastors and lay leaders in the church.

That’s when I felt that little niggle - offer a writing workshop. I pushed the thought away. I knew the attendees at the conference would be a group of highly qualified, highly educated people, mostly pastors. What could I possibly teach them? I reasoned.

But the niggle wouldn’t go away. So finally, in a soft voice I asked, “Do you think anyone would be interested in a workshop on writing their testimony?” Our superintendant’s eyebrows rose a bit and his words surprised me. “Good idea,” he said. Then he grinned. “And do you know someone who could teach it?” I smiled back and volunteered. As I prepared I wondered who, if any, would show up.

The majority of the conference was over by the time the workshop was scheduled and I was very much aware that God had been at work. The preaching and teaching had been excellent and the general mood was upbeat. I had facilitated a session for pastor’s wives that morning that had gone very well. So it was with a lightened spirit that I made my way to the room where the workshop was to be done. But my heart sank as I stepped into the room.

One man sat in a corner with his head in his hands, obviously praying. I hesitated. Did I have the wrong room? The man raised his head, smiled and stood to introduce himself. Franco’s English was halting. As we waited for others I hoped would join us, I asked where he was from and discovered he had been in the country for only a couple of years. I was about to ask him why he wanted to take this workshop when two women arrived. The four of us sat down and I prayed for our time together.

As I taught, my three students began to scribble notes. Now and then one of them would ask a question. The ninety minutes flew by. At the end of the time they gathered around my small book table, each choosing a purchase and each of them thanking me over and over again for the teaching.

Franco’s face beamed. “Now I can do this,” he said. “Now I can write to my friends and my church back home.” 

The younger of the two women nodded. “I know God has been nudging me to write,” she said, but with little kids it’s hard to find time. This has shown me that I can do it. It’s just what I needed.”

“I’ve only ever written things for my children,” the older woman explained. As I encouraged her to reach for a wider audience, the light in her eyes told me she would.

As I packed up the remainder of my books I was smiling. Such a small class. Such wonderful potential for God to do mighty things through them. I thanked the Lord, over and over again.

“Who dares despise the day of small things...?” (Zechariah 4:10).

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Marcia Lee Laycock writes from central Alberta Canada where she is a pastor's wife and mother of three adult daughters. She was the winner of The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone and also has two devotional books in print. Her work has been endorsed by Sigmund Brouwer, Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and Mark Buchanan. Marcia's second novel, A Tumbled Stone has just been short-listed in the contemporary fiction category of The Word Awards. 

Abundant Rain, an ebook devotional for writers can be downloaded here. Visit Marcia's website

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