Manual and prescribed resources were prepared for you by the Lord’s servants and a approved by the Presidency of the Church and, of course, Jesus Christ. You are commissioned by Jesus Christ to be a teacher. Another words Christ is the boss and is calling the shots!
Christ has told you, through the First Presidency to teach out of the approved manual and use only the prescribed resources, like the scriptures and the teaching of the prophets both past and present.
Christ is our coach, we are in the last inning of the game of this world’s series. It is crucial that we do actually what our coach tells us to do. We must work together to win as many souls to God as possible. Since God knows all and sees all, we must work as a team. We cannot be running our own plays. Another words…teach from the approved manual and use only those resources which are prescribed!
Elsie
Elliott
Elder Oaks noted that while visiting quorums and Relief Societies, "I have sometimes observed teachers who gave the designated chapter no more than a casual mention and then presented a lesson and invited discussion on other materials of the teacher's choice. That is not acceptable. A gospel teacher is not called to choose the subject of the lesson, but to teach and discuss what has been specified."
Speaking during the April 1983 general conference of the preparation needed to teach effectively, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve observed, "Teachers would be well advised to study carefully the scriptures and their manuals before reaching for supplemental materials. Far too many teachers seem to stray from the approved curriculum materials without fully reviewing them. Teachers can stay on safe ground when they use the standard works, the approved manual, the writings of General Authorities."
The First Presidency identified several objectives regarding the church’s courses of study for adults in Relief Society and the Quorums. These objectives are to:
1. Put more substance into instruction, emphasizing the scriptures and doctrinal teachings of latter-day prophets.
2. Strengthen the work of the quorums and Relief Society.
3. Retain and strengthen converts.
4. Have the flexibility to teach doctrines on timely subjects.
5. Provide parallel gospel study materials for adult brethren and sisters.
As teachers we must understand that there is no flexibility in the
materials and resources we must use to teach from.
Instead, we can find flexibility and creativity in the way in which we
choose to present this material (Elsie Elliott).
The manual, Teaching No Greater Call, has almost thirty pages packed with interesting ways to share the lesson material with our learners (p. 159-184). It is your job to vary your presentation to keep the interest of your learners and to pray to find out which way will best reach them with each type of material to be presented. Don’t get caught doing the same thing over and over again!
The following table list just some of the methods of presentation, but the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
Teaching
No Greater Call (1999)
|
Activity Sheets |
Flannel Boards |
Readers’ Theaters |
|
Activity Verses |
Games |
Recitations |
|
Application Techniques |
Guest Speakers |
Role Playing |
|
Attention Activities |
Lectures |
Roller Boxes |
|
Brainstorming |
Likening |
Scriptures, Marking & Writing Margin Notes |
|
Buzz Sessions |
Maps |
Scripture Memorization |
|
Case Studies |
Memorization |
Scripture Reading (Aloud) |
|
Chalk Boards |
Music |
Scripture Study Helps |
|
Choral Readings |
Music with Narratives |
Scriptures Teaching |
|
Comparisons |
Object Lessons |
Sing-a Story |
|
Demonstrations |
Overhead Projections |
Stations to Visit |
|
Dioramas |
Panel Discussions |
Stories |
|
Discussions |
Paper Stan-Up Figures |
Visuals |
|
Dramatizations |
Pictures |
White Boards |
|
Drawing Activities |
Puppets |
Work Sheets |
|
Examples |
Questions |
Other… |
Reference
Elliott, Elsie - eelliott@cgocable.net
(1/14/00). Presentation Idea.
LDS_teachers@onelist.com/.
Teaching No Greater Call
(1999). Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Salt Lake City, Utah:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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