posted
It's much more discussion driven. We were given a booklet and watched videos about teaching the way the Savior teaches. Using questions, asking the youth to talk about their experiences and to bear their own testimonies about principles.
It is basically broken down into monthly topics, and then there are 5 outlines per month. Each is a question, such as "Why do we need to listen to living Prophets?" or "What can I do to get more out of my scripture study?" And the outlines are a list of things to read and look at (all scripture or most recently conference addresses)to decide what to share with your class, and then about 3-5 suggestions of things you could do to facilitate teaching the class.
It is much more "work" for the teacher, if the teacher was used to just going down the manual point by point. It's not that far off from the way I usually taught anyway, so I have been pleasantly surprised that it has been actually less stressful, because it's only 2 pages of information instead of 5 and I have the freedom to come up with the way I think is best to present that, and not have it spoon fed to me.
We have to fill out online surveys every week after we teach, which ask tons of questions about what we did and how we did it, and if the youth participated.
I am feeling like this is teaching with the training wheels off, for the Sunday School and YW/YM teachers. It is going to require spiritual prepardness, not just invite it.
There is a lot more, but I don't want to go on and on...and I am hopeful someone else here might have some experiences with it.
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posted
I really like what you are saying. It sounds like it would be very effective if the teachers really will do it.
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quote:[...] I have the freedom to come up with the way I think is best to present that, and not have it spoon fed to me.
Have you felt bound to do that before? I ask because in the few years I've taught I never really felt bound by much other than the assigned chapters (as in, I didn't feel it imperative to follow what was in the manual beyond making sure it all came out of the chapters we were supposed to do for that week). I often have followed lesson outlines in manuals, at least the topics for discussion (I don't think I've ever used any of their questions or suggested activities) but I never felt I had to, and not infrequently take the lesson somewhere else. Like I said, always within the chapters we're covering but not necessarily on the topics they highlight.
No, but when you have a 4-5 page lesson with stories and quotes and object lessons and suggestions, sometimes it stunted my thinking process. I didn't always have time to sift through all of that without it sort of giving me one path to take and therefore me sort of closing off any other options, sometimes without even really knowing it.
I like having less direction, because then I don't feel like I am throwing out the manuals to teach what I think will work better. I am already coming to it with an outline that assumes I'll know better, and gives me the basics to find my way.
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quote:We have to fill out online surveys every week after we teach, which ask tons of questions about what we did and how we did it, and if the youth participated.
I don't think I want to be the person who has to follow up and get teachers to actually do this. Personally I don't see it happening on a large scale.
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posted
I think those surveys are for the pilot program to assess how effective it is. My guess is that if this is something the church finds effective, they will implement without the follow up surveys and questionnaires.
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posted
I haven't taught from the youth manuals in ages, but usually prepare my lessons from scratch. I do so for several reasons.
1) By ignoring the rigid schedule of the lesson manuals, I am free to cover topics that are more relevant to the needs of the quorum or SS class.
2) The youth interact much better when you speak directly to them without a manual in hand.
3) Manual free lessons are more easily redirected to address tangential questions and concerns of class memebers.
4) I often do not agree with certain points presented in the lessons.
5) I recall hating the manual lessons when I was a youth and usually enjoying the "from the heart" lessons from my instructors when then went "off script." I expect that the youth in my class have similar sentiments.
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posted
And isnt' it supposed to be the quorum presidency who determines what lessons the quorum needs, not the advisor (though I'd be surprised if quorum presidency didn't ask advice from advisor)?
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posted
I agree Cook, they can be both from the manual and from the heart.
quote:1) By ignoring the rigid schedule of the lesson manuals, I am free to cover topics that are more relevant to the needs of the quorum or SS class.
2) The youth interact much better when you speak directly to them without a manual in hand.
3) Manual free lessons are more easily redirected to address tangential questions and concerns of class memebers.
....
5) I recall hating the manual lessons when I was a youth and usually enjoying the "from the heart" lessons from my instructors when then went "off script." I expect that the youth in my class have similar sentiments.
All of these can be taken care of by 1. The teacher learning to teach better - either through Teaching No Greater Call or other resources. and 2. The teacher preparing better. I've seen some excellent, lively lessons that used the manual. The manual isn't the problem.
quote:4) I often do not agree with certain points presented in the lessons.
And that's a concern. It's a concern because you don't want to teach things you disagree with and a concern to me as a parent that worries you may be teaching things with which I don't agree. However, I don't think we need to toss out the whole manual just because you don't agree with a few points.
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posted
Lesson Manuals have a purpose which is why we are asked to use them. There are topics and lessons that the leadership of the Church has determined needs to be addressed. We probably can all attest to experiences we have had where the teacher chose to do without and thus had doctrinally questionable lessons, disjointed or gospel hobby presentations, or missed vital gospel messages.
It will be interesting to see how this new curriculum works out. I know some will find it difficult to put a lesson together because they don't take the time to do it right and are used to being led by the hand with the current manuals. There are a wide range of capabilities among those that teach in the church and thus the manuals have catered to the group that has a hard time putting resources and coherent thoughts together. For those who don't have those problems, the manuals provide a topic and basic points that can be expounded upon with or without the quotes and stories provided.
Once again I find it boils down to poor use of a resource. The manuals can provide help to a wide range of saints with differing teaching aptitudes. A push to change the manuals comes from those who think have to use it word for word. The same went for the old missionary discussions which some mission presidents inappropriately ignored the instruction for and provided in the MTC to use the discussions as guidelines and resources not a word for word recitation devoid of the direction of the spirit.
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posted
I really, really like that idea. I like to have a lot of discussion in my classes. At the beginning of the year, one of the boys who had just moved up into my class said, "You aren't doing this right, you are supposed to talk and we listen, can you stop asking us questions?"
Posts: 894 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
I teach the adult gospel doctrine class and haven't found the manual to be helpful... It does tell me what part of the scriptures to focus on that week, but once I've figured that out the scriptural text itself is a lot more useful as a starting point.
I view the manual as kind of like a signpost pointing the way into the scriptures... the idea is not to stand around admiring the sign, rather, it's to go to where the sign is pointing and see what's there.
I like what I'm hearing about the new curriculum.
Posts: 392 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:I really, really like that idea. I like to have a lot of discussion in my classes. At the beginning of the year, one of the boys who had just moved up into my class said, "You aren't doing this right, you are supposed to talk and we listen, can you stop asking us questions?"
And how do the current manuals prevent/discourage that? I say they don't.
I definitely like to try to engage my classes in discussion regarding the topic and believe most manuals try to encourage that. My favorite lessons have been where a good discussion took place and believe those were the most beneficial to everyone involved.
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posted
Yes, the current YM and YW manuals have been around for a while and need replacing. How long have they been around?
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quote: And how do the current manuals prevent/discourage that? I say they don't.
You're right. They actually have questions to ask the children. So if all the teacher is doing is talking then he/she isn't using many of the things in the manual that encourage discussion.
One thing I am hoping with a change in manuals is the idea of having to "get through it all". Some teachers do focus on just a few things. Others are constantly feeling pressured to cover everything even with this counsel at the front of the book:
quote:Prayerfully select from the chapter those teachings that you feel will be most helpful to those you teach. Some chapters contain more material than you will be able to discuss during class time. Allow good discussions to continue rather than trying to cover all the teachings.
Hopefully new formats will help teachers understand the concept.
In looking for that I came accross: Inviting Class Discussion with ideas from teaching No Greater Call. If all teachers read that I think we would see a huge shift in how teaching is done.
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posted
Thanks for that reminder, yungmom. And the link was great! I think I'll have to bookmark that one.
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quote:But that requires me to understand the needs of the individuals in my class. It means that I have to know more about their lives than what I observe for 45 minutes each Sunday. It also means that I have to take some time to prepare, and to seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost as I prepare.
And you thought you had a "Sunday-only" calling. Posts: 8601 | Registered: Sep 2002
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You are welcome Jenna. Apparently there was another reason to find that - I just got called to sub in RS this Sunday.
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posted
As a Sunday School President I was pleased to just get assigned teachers to show up each Sunday. I know the same is true with Primary. Some people are just not cut out for teaching others yet most callings in the Church require it at least some.
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quote: And that's a concern. It's a concern because you don't want to teach things you disagree with and a concern to me as a parent that worries you may be teaching things with which I don't agree. However, I don't think we need to toss out the whole manual just because you don't agree with a few points.
Yeah. I want my children to learn the Gospel, not someone else's cherry-picked philosophies.
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posted
I think it was Hugh Nibley who pointed out that your average Christian of any denomination only deeply knows and thinks about maybe 2% of the scriptures, because a year's worth of Sunday instruction can't really adequately cover any more. Yeah, maybe our leaders are inspired as to which 2% is the most important, but they're forced into cherry picking too.
I'm not really worried about someone going off topic with my kids - as long as they are doctrinally correct.
And now that I think about it, I'm not even particularly set on them always having a doctrinally correct lesson from an instructor. My kids have decent BS detectors, and we have good lines of communication open.
I was once taught in primary, how the third part who followed satan came to earth and got bodies, so one out of every three people you meet is actually a demon in disguise. We kids pretty much had brother Fruitcake pegged before that, so it's not like we accepted anything he taught us as truth anyway.
Posts: 2099 | Registered: Aug 2007
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I'm concerned if you often disagree with points made in the manuals. Sure, there are points made that have problems but I really hope often is an overstatement.
Posts: 5566 | Registered: Sep 2001
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quote: I'm not really worried about someone going off topic with my kids - as long as they are doctrinally correct.
And now that I think about it, I'm not even particularly set on them always having a doctrinally correct lesson from an instructor. My kids have decent BS detectors, and we have good lines of communication open.
The reason the Church has asked teachers to stick to the manuals is due to those who veer from doctrinally correct teaching. My kids are sponges and I don't so much like the thought of them being taught the gospel according to Brother Soandso who thinks he knows doctrine better than Church leadership. Of course, hopefully some of that is caught at home and corrected.
Posts: 5566 | Registered: Sep 2001
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quote:Of course, hopefully some of that is caught at home and corrected.
Unfortunately, there are those youth, such as I was, who are completely on their own from a gospel standpoint, and who are going to church to be taught the doctrine in its purity.
Yeah. I kind of got tired of being assigned Sunday school teachers who were "getting back into activity" and who thought that such ideas as "The priesthood is just like The Force in Star Wars" was a deep and brilliant spiritual insight.
Primary and the youth should get teachers who teach the truth with the spirit, and who show up every week unless they're being life-flighted somewhere.
Posts: 8601 | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
I've seen this around - for those of you experiencing this beta test, does this sound consistent with what you've seen/heard? --
quote:I've heard there is a new youth curriculum due to launch Jan. 1. Elder Jensen may have alluded to this when he said
"Quite honestly, in the young men's and young women's curriculum, where their manuals are severely outdated right now, they just announced a new package of materials that is actually going to be a library… where teachers can go and in a sense, create their own curriculum, within certain bounds, for the young people in their ward. They can give lessons drawn from this database. While they may not be revolutionary, they will be a breath of fresh air across the church."
Apparently this program has been in "beta" testing at some Stakes. Some points about the curriculum:
1. No more lesson manuals. 2. While there are "umbrella" topics, it is no longer required or intended for the church to be on the same lesson each week. 3. Students are to have input on what they want lessons about. 4. Teachers are to teach with the spirit. 5. General topics are provided on the Web, with supporting materials, but apparently there is no longer any injunction against "outside" materials. More info is provided on Web than is intended to be used, teachers and students supposedly can pick and choose. 6. Teachers are allowed (encouraged?) to spend more than one Sunday on a single lesson.
quote:Of course, hopefully some of that is caught at home and corrected.
And hopefully the youth will listen when that happens. I have one child who would adamantly believe and argue for a teacher's understanding over mine. Or a friend. Or just something he incorrectly read. Little by little we have learned to use humor in discussing these things with him and then are able to show with the Spirit what correct doctrine is, but it has been a long process and makes me feel very grateful when only truth is taught in class.
quote: 1. No more lesson manuals. 5. General topics are provided on the Web, with supporting materials, but apparently there is no longer any injunction against "outside" materials. More info is provided on Web than is intended to be used, teachers and students supposedly can pick and choose.
I obviously don't know since I'm not doing it, but it doesn't all sound consistent with what TW said and with common sense.
1. No more lesson manuals. From TW - "We were given a booklet and watched videos about teaching the way the Savior teaches. Using questions, asking the youth to talk about their experiences and to bear their own testimonies about principles.
It is basically broken down into monthly topics, and then there are 5 outlines per month. Each is a question, such as "Why do we need to listen to living Prophets?" or "What can I do to get more out of my scripture study?" And the outlines are a list of things to read and look at (all scripture or most recently conference addresses)to decide what to share with your class, and then about 3-5 suggestions of things you could do to facilitate teaching the class."
5. General topics are provided on the Web This wouldn't work for many people who do not have access to the web. It sounds like they are confusing the pilot program and feedback with what may be coming in the future.
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quote:Well, when there's such a strong resemblance between Yoda and President Kimball--you can't help but make the connection.
True dat.
However, this particular instance of the "Force equals the priesthood" observation was made shortly after the first Star Wars was released (yes, I am as old as dirt, sonny). IIRC (and I am older than the big bang, so that is questionable) Yoda didn't appear until The Empire Strikes Back.
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posted
The new program sounds a lot like what I already do. Good to know the general leadership and I are on the same page.
And to help calm the nerves of any of you worried about my rougue teaching strategy, here is a brief description of what I did this last Sunday.
This week the youth are off at Trek. So for the lesson on Sunday I gave an overview of the history of the Mormon migration from the vangard company through migration by train. I informed them of the key facts on hand cart companies (e.g. there were only 10 over a 4-year period, most had few difficulties, primary group that used handcarts were poor European immigrants, BY was never happy with the hand cart option and switched to professional wagontrains as soon as there was the means to do so, etc.)
I then shared some experiences of my 5th great uncle, Lewis Barney, on the vangard company, including his friendly hunting rivalry with Porter Rockwell.
In concluded by sharing my testimony and expressing thanks for the early saints and encouraged the boys to have fun and to take advantage of the experience.
So there you go. I don't think I strayed too far from the norm, and I hope my lesson helped them be better spiritually prepared for Trek.
Posts: 1322 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
I don't feel you have a rogue teaching strategy. My concern more is
quote: I haven't taught from the youth manuals in ages, but usually prepare my lessons from scratch.
I've no problems with pioneer stories or even having your own style of teaching (I think that is a good thing!). I'm just want my children being taught and understanding the gospel principles that are in the manual as well as the stories.
I don't have any idea what lesson you should be on, but if I take the number of weeks add subtract a couple of stake conference etc. then the YM's lesson would be on "Doing Good on the Sabbath". That would be an excellent topic when sharing those pioneer stories.
The next lesson was on reverence. It would be really cool to do a pioneer lesson on why they did what they did - one of those reasons was reverence for God. Imagine those boys reflecting back on your lesson as they struggle with the handcart and gaining a testimony of Heavenly Father helping them and then the reverence that lives on with them afterwards.
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