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Well, if you like to teach in a discussion style, how about leading with something along the lines of “today’s topic is ___________. What do you know about it? How do you feel about it? What questions do you have about it?” You can then have some great discussions… |
If you’ve looked at those manuals, there is no way you can fill up the time on the lesson without some good group discussion. I like starting with some sort of question related to the topic, kind of like what Ron mentioned. The best thing to do is have the class speak as much as possible. |
I agree with asking questions, but I hate those questions where the answers are completely self-evident. Everybody likes to tell personal stories, so I’d let them share experiences in a way that illustrates what you’re teaching. It usually gets discussion going. And I think, in a class where some of the attendees might be uncomfortable at best and scared to death at worst, it’s okay to divert from the lesson. |
Yeah, but in a class of non-members, the answers often aren’t self-evident. |
Sometimes the answers aren’t self-evident in a gospel sense (e.g., people may genuinely not know what is the purpose of temples), but questions can still be self-evident in the sense that it’s obvious what the teacher wants you to say (“So, do you think it would be better to dress modestly, or would you prefer to dress in a slutty way that will dishonor God, draw negative attention to your body, and may even be responsible for your losing your virtue?” — yeah, I know there are about 30 things wrong with that question, but that’s the point. A lot of the old “Mr. Brown” missionary discussions were that bad.) Questions that don’t call for factual information that newcomers may not have, but which let them express their interests and concerns and ask their own questions, are good. They’ll cue you into which bits of the subject you do have to teach, or to guide them into learning by the way you steer the discussion and call up scriptures. |
Rather than teach your class the answers to Gospel questions, teach your class to ask questions about the Gospel and how to find and test those answers. It will give them a good foundation for understanding the doctrine, and will also prepare them to not settle for stale lessons in the future where teachers ask self-evident questions. Ask them questions that you don’t have answers for, or at least point out those questions, so they learn to feel comfortable not knowing everything and yet still participating fully in church. |
And while your at it, how would you feel about posting your lesson notes? |
BrianJ–I like that approach. Lesson-notes…hmmmmm–I don’t do them on the computer. They are all scribbles in the margin. But maybe that will change; we’ll see. |
You can’t please everyone being general doesn’t help anyone. Build around what you think is correct and allow discussion but keep it restrained so it doesn’t break down the whole process. |
ESO: if that changes, and you want a place to post them, you are welcome to post on the Feast blog. Let me know. |