--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I teach the formal curriculum, I…" description: "\"When I teach the formal curriculum, I have the chance to think about it ahead of time. I can rehearse it. I can illustrate it with self-deprecating hum..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb1/john-ortberg-932_about_when-i-teach-the-formal-curriculum-i-hav_860805.png" --- # When I teach the formal curriculum, I have the chance to… ![“When I teach the formal curriculum, I have the chance to think about it ahead of time. I can rehearse it. I can illustrate it with self-deprecating humor and humble-sounding personal disclosure. I can try to make it comes out just right.” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb1/john-ortberg-932_about_when-i-teach-the-formal-curriculum-i-hav_860805.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb1/john-ortberg-932_about_when-i-teach-the-formal-curriculum-i-hav_860805.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb1/john-ortberg-932_about_when-i-teach-the-formal-curriculum-i-hav_860805.png) > “When I teach the formal curriculum, I have the chance to think about it ahead of time. I can rehearse it. I can illustrate it with self-deprecating humor and humble-sounding personal disclosure. I can try to make it comes out just right.” [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preparing lessons ahead, using humor and personal stories, improves clarity and connection with students **In simple terms:** Planning and personal touches make teaching more effective Key Takeaway Prepare, rehearse, and personalize your teaching approach Themes education humor authenticity preparation communication Mood motivational thoughtful Type advisory educational When to use this quote - classroom lectures - workshops - online courses - training sessions Key Concepts pedagogy self‑deprecation relatable storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance humor with instructional depth? - When is personal disclosure appropriate in teaching? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on humor may distract from core content ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead/) [Ahead of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-of-time/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Curriculum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curriculum/) [Curriculum Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curriculum-chance-850645/) [Disclosure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disclosure/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-reform/) [Formal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal/) [Formal Curriculum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal-curriculum-850644/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Illustrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illustrate/) [Illustrate Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illustrate-self-850647/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) [Rehearse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rehearse/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self deprecating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-deprecating/) [Self deprecating humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-deprecating-humor/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Formal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-formal-850646/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't have but two teeth, but thank the Lord they both hit together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-cecil-smith/i-don-t-have-but-two-teeth-but-thank-the-lord-they-both-hit-together/) [Karen Cecil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-cecil-smith/) > [I am incredibly self-deprecating. 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There was no humor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/democrats-if-they-re-smart-and-they-re-not-brain-dead-are-doing-two/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Some of my friends and family have tried to challenge me to do jokes that aren't as self-deprecating, where I genuinely express my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/some-of-my-friends-and-family-have-tried-to-challenge-me-to-do-jokes/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [Occasionally projects just take off unexpectedly, sometimes you can work away at sketches and ideas for years before they are published. There are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howe/occasionally-projects-just-take-off-unexpectedly-sometimes-you-can/) [John Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howe/) > [“analogy to illustrate this phenomenon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/analogy-to-illustrate-this-phenomenon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [French and German illustrate the misleading character of apparent grammatical simplicity just as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/french-and-german-illustrate-the-misleading-character-of-apparent/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [We don't need to illustrate music; music illustrates itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/we-don-t-need-to-illustrate-music-music-illustrates-itself/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) ## More by John Ortberg > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. 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It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The greatest bloodbaths in the history of the human race were recorded in the twentieth century in countries that sought to eliminate God, worship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-greatest-bloodbaths-in-the-history-of-the-human-race-were/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Death is the prerequisite to resurrection, the new life God intends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/death-is-the-prerequisite-to-resurrection-the-new-life-god-intends/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [From ancient times, the core idea of the soul is the soul is the capacity to integrate different functions into a single being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/from-ancient-times-the-core-idea-of-the-soul-is-the-soul-is-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/hurry-is-the-great-enemy-of-spiritual-life-in-our-day-you-must/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/in-reality-each-thought-we-have-carries-with-it-a-little-spiritual/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The miracle of Sunday is that a dead man lives. The miracle of Saturday is that the eternal Son of God lies dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-miracle-of-sunday-is-that-a-dead-man-lives-the-miracle-of/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Jesus had a universal concern for those who suffered that transcended the rules of the ancient world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/jesus-had-a-universal-concern-for-those-who-suffered-that-transcended/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [God is a God of endless opportunities to do good; the God of the open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/god-is-a-god-of-endless-opportunities-to-do-good-the-god-of-the-open/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [One of the most painful aspects of suffering is the loneliness of it. Others may offer support or empathy, but no one can walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-most-painful-aspects-of-suffering-is-the-loneliness-of-it/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) [Explore all 325 John Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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