So, I have been called to be one of the Gospel Doctrine teachers in our ward. I am very grateful that I am not the only teach and I only have to teach every other week! I am also grateful that Travis is willing to watch both babies during Sunday School! Needless to say though, I am very intimidated by this calling! So I am asking all of you, my readers, for help! Will you please let me know what makes your Sunday School lessons interesting and not boring! What are some things that you like to have in a sunday school teacher?
I am teaching my second lesson today and we'll see how it goes! I am a little less nervous today than I was on my first lesson but I am still nervous and I guess that won't go away very soon. Thank you for thinking of ideas and helping me!
4 comments:
Gospel Doctrine teacher - my favorite calling. I know, I'm crazy!
I've found that teaching (and learning) goes best when you can get the participation of the class. Sometimes they need a nudge, when you ask a question wait until someone responds before going on, don't be afraid of silence. Sometimes people need some time to think about things, especially if you are asking them to share an experience.
You can also prepare people to participate by asking them ahead of time to be willing to share a particular experience or their feelings about a particular topic.
Make sure you spend time studying the lesson and prepare. Don't be afraid to veer off you original plan though. Follow the spirit! I always prayer that I'll be able to teach what the Lord would have his children learn.
You'll do great!
Welcome to the club! I've been our SS teacher since before Elli was one so I feel with you in having a supportive husband. But then he was called to teach Gospel Principles so we were both thankful for a supportive nursery (she was only 16 months!)
As for advice, I have had a lot of success with this nugget: As you study the lesson, look for your own ah-ha moment with the material. then focus your lesson around that. When you learn something when you are studying and then share that with the class, the passion and testimony you have for what you learned will draw the class into the material and you'll get lots of participation.
Also, I use a lot of humor in my class and remind them all the time that I'm NOT a scripture scholar. that helps the class from going into "deep doctrine" discussions that may not meet the needs of the majority of the class.
As always, you were called because the Lord knows what you're ward needs and what you have to offer. Through trial and error you'll improve and refine your skills, but as long as you are you, your class will LOVE you and your lessons :)
Good luck!!!!
That was one of my favorite callings too...I think because I was SO nervous I always studied really hard and I learned so much just in the prepartion!!
So, I HATE when the class or teacher veers off the topic of the lesson and starts talking "speculation." It is seriously one of my most hated things. I know that for some reason some students like to speculate and ask "deep" questions but I always find it distracting and I think the spirit leaves so quickly...because people are just speculating. I always appreciate it when the teacher just says "I don't know the answer to that question" and moves the discussion on (either by redirection or just ignoring it completely).
That's just my own personal pet peeve. :0)
Pray, prepare, pray some more. Stick to the topics of the lesson and go with the Spirit! Good luck. I think you'll do just fine, you just have a lot to learn so enjoy teh growing!
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