There are questions you don’t know the answer to, and for which you know no answer has been revealed. One of the most powerful skills a teacher can develop is the self-control is to say, ‘I don’t know’, and STOP. It takes a lot of self-control to achieve this top-level teaching skill. Most teachers have […]

Teaching students to use the Gospel Library to answer questions is one of my very favorite teaching techniques. In my opinion taking the time to teach students how to look up and answer when you can easily answer it yourself, separates good teachers from excellent ones. Using this method will take more time in class, […]

Most of us talk too much when we answer a question. It is our natural reaction to share all the information we have on a subject before finding out what the student already knows or how anxious he or she is to know it. In order to answer briefly, you should first ensure you understand […]

If you're struggling with students getting into sidebar or off-topic conversations during your lesson, you may try teaching them this phrase that has worked for me: "between the prayers". The concept is that once we've said the opening prayer, our time has been consecrated for the worship of God. We focus on the lesson at […]

Vanessa S. shared this on the Come Follow Me Facebook Group, and I asked her permission to share it here.  She said: "[A]fter some initially rather disastrous experiments having my girls teach, I eventually came around to this handout, which the girls told me has been very helpful. It outlines the steps for preparing a […]

Movie watching during class can be dull and non-interactive, and -- let's be real -- sleep-inducing, when you're teaching seminary early in the morning. I like this quote: Showing movies in class should not be a Friday fun day activity.  Okay, I don’t mind if you show them on Friday or even if students enjoy […]

Go to http://lds.org/music/ Click on "Library". Choose a song you want to sing. Click on the play button that will show up as you mouse over the song to hear the MP3, OR, click the title and see the totally awesome music player. It will play your music at the tempo you choose and even […]

Where are the symbols or figurative language in these verses? What are the symbols trying to teach? Contemplate the symbols and figurative language. Look For: Look for words that are symbols for something or someone. Example: In the book of Revelation, John continually chooses to represent Christ as the conquering hero but symbolically calls him […]

Don't be afraid to take the your students outside for a field trip to help them learn a lesson. EXAMPLE: Next I took the kids up the hill to our apple trees. With some small pruners, I pruned off a few branches while explaining to the kids that I had a plan for these trees. […]

Sometimes the way the Lord uses verbs, or action words, is very specific and powerful. Look for words that describe actions, what people are doing or to do, etc. Ponder why the Lord chose such language and not another similar but different word. Look For: Look for the words that are action words--that describes what […]