Many childbirth educators new to Lamaze International have just finished the fall testing period and now wait to find out if they can add the credentials Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) to their name.  When you are a new childbirth educator, it feels as if there is so much knowledge and information that you must remember and you worry about how you will be able to recall all the important content when facilitating your first classes without looking like a fumbling fool wildly clutching handfuls of notes and papers.  This is a completely normal feeling, and the reality is, even experienced educators don’t hold all the information in their head and often rely on notes to be sure they are providing accurate information to class members.  Here are five recall hacks that can help you be the professional educator you are right from the start.

Use the back sides of posters

If you use posters and large laminated items in your classes, you often find yourself holding them up for the class to view.  You may not realize you have a lot of “real estate” available for notes on the backs of these posters to remind you of critical points.  Only you can see this information and it helps you keep your thoughts organized.  Use a post-it or tape a notecard to the back with the information pertaining to this topic, so you are sure nothing gets left out.

Let your families be the teachers

When you have information heavy topics to cover in class, consider an activity where the families become the teachers.  Organize small groups to research and present on a topic to their fellow class members. You can use QR codes to steer them to your favorite sources of evidence-based information and they can use their textbooks too, if a book is provided.  Your role, as they share information with the class, is to provide any key information that might have been left out and answer questions.

Hidden notes on white boards and newsprint

If you are the type of educator that likes to write on a white board or paper while you teach, use the corner of the white board/paper to very lightly jot down important points.  For a white board, use a very fine dry erase marker that can only be seen up close and for the newsprint, use a pencil with a light touch, to leave yourself notes that can only be seen when you are standing nearby.  These notes can be helpful for making sure you don’t leave out any valuable content and are virtually invisible to others.

Use appropriate content-rich videos

Videos are often an effective way of sharing information.  If there is a particular topic that you feel less confident about covering, consider using a video to share the information.  When you become more confident about delivering the information yourself, you can switch to a different activity.  Remember to always debrief the video and leave time for questions.

Use effective PowerPoint presentations

While I am not a big fan of PowerPoint, if you can offer a visually appealing presentation that is graphic rich and interesting, you can use presenter mode to have your notes visible to you at the same time.  Instead of filling your slides with bullets and paragraphs of text, consider using the perfect image, and share the information from your notes verbally with your class.

Conclusion

When you are starting out as a new childbirth educator, it can seem overwhelming to remember and share all the information you want to pass on to your class families.  You worry about providing accurate information and not leaving anything out.  This is a normal feeling for those who are new to the profession.  These five teaching hacks can help you feel confident and really shine as you get started.  Soon you will find that you no longer need these notes and the information is truly in your head.  But until then, consider using any or all of these ideas to help you be the best childbirth educator you can be. And remember, even the most experienced educators bring along their planning tools and notes to have at hand if needed.  There is no reason that you cannot look at your notecards or info sheets to help keep you on track. 

What do you do to help yourself remember all the information when you teach?  Share in the comments below.

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