GIVING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO

TEACH AND TESTIFYTO ONE ANOTHER

" Profound spiritual knowledge cannot be poured from one mind and heart into

another. It takes faith, trust, and diligent effort."

Elder Richard G. Scott(BYU Devotional Address, 17 August 1993)

Some of my thoughts on this topic. …

Jill DurrantStake Called Teacher Benton City WA

When our students are encouraged to put forth effort, many things can happen.

They will open up communication with the Holy Ghost. 

They discover personal applications that the teacher would never think of! 

It gives them the chance to talk to each other and build friendships.

Often times they are more likely to listen to their peers than the teacher.

When our students are encouraged to put forth effort,

many things can happen. They learn how to find answers in the

scriptures They are more likely to stay awake. They "learn for themselves.“ The more you do it, the better they

become and more students are willing to participate.

All teachers know that you learn something better when you have to teach it—this applies to students too

HOW MY TEACHING HAS CHANGED: I have overcome my fear of not getting through

everything in the chapter. I have accepted the fact that the things that are

important to ME in the scriptures, may not be what is important to the STUDENTS.

The more effort I put into letting the students teach, the better they get….. patience!!!

If you ask the students, many of them would say that they would just prefer that I give the lesson and they listen…Don't believe it! and don't let them get into that habit…

Forget what Seminary was like when I was in high school… Times have changed!  These youth are smarter, more prepared, more valiant, more capable, and way more "chosen"...but they are also lazy (if you let them be lazy).    The Lord expects more of them (and of us).

WHAT THIS HAS DONEFOR THE STUDENTS:

They are getting the gospel deep into their hearts because THEY are putting it there.

They are uniting as a class and as a group of young Latter-Day Saints.

They are preparing themselves for missions, motherhood, the temple, and future service in the church…

They come to class expecting to participate, even the shy and shaky students are starting to come around…again… patience…and peer pressure (the good kind).

My best ideas

My best ideas have come from the student manual this year

Connect a principle with something from the Strength of Youth or True to the Faith

Change the seating. Don’t “stack the deck” with a “great” kid in every group. Give others a chance to step up and do well

Write a church talk using TTF & BofM chapter

Another idea Sis. James just did a "news day" for

review in her class on Friday.  She brought donuts (just like a newsroom).  And everyone had to write an article on something that happened that week.  They wrote their articles directly on the big newspaper with ads and all.  She walked around the room saying "come on, we have a deadline".   I was amazed how well her class responded to that.  She set the expectation and they met it.

Finally I have watched my students become

more sincere in their teaching as the year goes on.  My sweet little Brandon who has been so quiet all year was suddenly the expert on the Zoramites on Thursday.  It was his moment to shine.  He really shocked all the other students.  One of them said, "how do you know all this Brandon?" He practically yelled out, "this is like my favorite story in the Book of Mormon!"   Who knew?