Bowling for Success: Engaging Invitations
Sometimes when we teach, we forget that we have a goal beyond just teaching a lesson. We prepare a lesson. We deliver the lesson. If it goes off without a hitch, we call it a success. But what is actual success in teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ? It’s helping those we teach understand, apply, […]
Are We Authentic Teachers?
People pay a lot for authenticity. They want the real deal. Authentic artwork. Authentic collectibles. Authentic jewelry. People pay a premium for things that are original. Nobody wants a knockoff. Even when it’s a good imitation, it just isn’t the same. The same can be said of our teaching. Your students don’t want a cheap […]
Let it go! It’s for the Best…
I love Disneyland. It truly can be one of the happiest places on earth, and I have a ton of good memories in that park. I love the rides, the atmosphere, the shops, the entertainment, and the food. But let me tell you about an experience I had there that was truly miserable. I promise […]
Be a Part of Something Special
I’ve been around a lot of teachers in my lifetime. We all have. Think for just a moment about how many people have taught you throughout your life. Our parents and grandparents. Siblings and friends. Primary teachers. Young Men’s and Young Women’s leaders. Schoolteachers. Scout Masters. College professors. Missionaries. Church leaders. Seminary and institute teachers. […]
Be Prepared to Prepare!
Did you know that the greatest advice in any Disney movie came from a villain? Hear me out… Let’s pretend you teach early morning seminary. You have a handful of teenage zombies 🧟 that wander into your living room every weekday at 6:00am with differing levels of enthusiasm and grooming standards. They’re fighting for their […]
Having Ears to Hear
Ears do a lot more than hear. Do you realize how much of your life depends on the functionality of your inner ear? Your ability to hear, to be active, to balance, to see well, to be coherent, to be aware… all of it depends on a tiny sack of tissue and nerves roughly the […]
Bednar and Burr: Talk Less. Teach More.
I’m going to say something that sounds counterintuitive: The more you, as a teacher, talk during a lesson, the less likely it is that your students will learn. Now you may be thinking to yourself: As a gospel teacher you may feel like it is your job to make sure that you cover every bit […]
Asking Effective Questions: Don’t Make Bad Hobbits… I Mean Habits.
Let me ask you a question: What role do questions play in gospel teaching? (You see what I did there?) Elder Henry B. Eyring once said “To ask and to answer questions is at the heart of all learning and all teaching.” (Henry B. Eyring, “The Lord Will Multiply the Harvest” [evening with a General […]