Comments on: Good Thoughts on Teaching Sunday School

By: Julie M. Smith

Julie M. Smith — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:40:57 +0000

#36, amen.

“How do you create an environment where the students will ask their questions?”

Some thoughts:
(1) Never, ever respond to a question or a comment in a way that might make another person hesitant to make a question or a comment.
(2) When students do ask tough questions, praise them. Acknowledge the question. But also, make it clear that one can have faith and testimony even without the answer to that question.
(3) As a teacher, ask your own tough questions.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:23:37 +0000

Elder Holland did a worldwide leadership training meeting in 2007 on teaching and learning in the church. He said you can judge the success of your teaching if the students are asking questions. Sunday School and Relief Society/Priesthood seem like great places to go if you’re struggling with something or don’t understand a part of the doctrine or lesson, but we just make comments, not ask for clarification. How do you create an environment where the students will ask their questions? Is it the environment or is it a total mindset change?

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:47:14 +0000

“Thinking does not only occur in absence of the Spirit.”

…Unfortunately, so many members would disagree. It has been my experience that the most transformative learning and teaching (secular or spiritual) comes only after a lot of hard work. It seems like a prevailing – and spiritually devastating – attitude toward teaching in the church is that we don’t have to work hard because we have the Spirit to convey the message. The Spirit can come through in a pinch, but will not CYA when you don’t do the work.

By: BHodges

BHodges — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:39:49 +0000

Sabra: I don’t many people would disagree that the Spirit is the key for teaching and learning, or that it is the Spirit that will make the best difference. Your objection assumes that using better teaching techniques, asking better questions, engaging students, and making careful preparation are things that do not involve or acknowledge the role of the Spirit. I think that is incorrect. I see the potential for the Spirit to be involved in all of the above. Thinking does not only occur in absence of the Spirit.

By: Sabra

Sabra — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:55:12 +0000

I have read the blogger’s complaints and the reponders solutions. I can’t help but feel that what is missing is who the real teacher is and that should be the Spirit. I believe it doesn’t matter how much gospel knowledge you have or experience in teaching. What matters is if you can bring the Spirit into the classroom so that the students not only hear the lessons but feel them. I have taught four years of Seminary along with two ‘terms’ at Gospel Doctrine and also Relief Society and the Youth classes. I know that no matter how much I know and how much I study and prepare, if I don’t have the Spirit to guide me then my lessons fail to do what they were meant to do.

By: Jim Donaldson

Jim Donaldson — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:55:17 +0000

I taught the OT to seminary kids and they loved the stories. Lots of trickery, sex, blood, and death. It’s perfect actually. Rely on the stories where you can. Sneak into more basic gospel principles sidewise, from the stories. That worked for me.

By: Vera

Vera — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:55:08 +0000

I also teach 14 year olds. I love their energy, enthusiasm, and eagerness to learn. We always do a game to start every class–sometimes a scripture chase (using only scripture mastery verses which are relevant in the lesson material); sometimes a small jeopardy game; sometimes ease-erase boards where they must reveal their answer, indiviually. The game at the beginning is always reviewing previous material from prior Sundays. This week we discussed various definitions of words dealing with the lesson material, before tackling Abraham 3. They all seem to love to read the scriptures, and most have Itouch or Ipod technology to use. They know they must be attentive to the material or they won’t be able to play the review game the next Sunday. I have the most success when I try to keep things simple. They can’t discuss as adults, but they are eager to throw in their ideas.

By: Alex T. Valencic

Alex T. Valencic — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:46:11 +0000

Thomas (30) Teach 14-year-olds by asking them what questions they have. Make the lesson all about them, instead of about what the manual says you should be teaching. Sometimes you will have a lesson that doesn’t even touch on one principle that is in the official curriculum, but it provides answers to Gospel questions, and those are things that I can guarantee 14-year-olds are anxious to find!

Just remember that it is much more effective to let them not only ask the questions, but to also find the answers. You can guide them and share scriptures, but let them draw the conclusions.

By: Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:42:26 +0000

But how do I teach the OT or any other topic to youth? They seem to have so little understanding of the basics, I feel like I have to focus on the facts which doesn’t lend itself well to discussion. How do you get 14 year olds to discuss anything?

By: Kristine

Kristine — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:29:56 +0000

Idahospud, those are brilliant. Thanks for sharing them.