Stargazer Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 I have been asked to teach our HP group during priesthood meeting for this upcoming new year! Cool! Considering that I told them a couple of years ago that they could ask me to substitute teach at any time they needed with no notice at all (up to and including ten seconds before the meeting), I guess they got the idea that I didn't mind doing it! Especially when they did on one occasion ask me to substitute at the beginning of the session (maybe to see if they could rattle me?), and I jumped into it with glee written all over my face. Unfortunately, I will only get to teach one lesson per month, as there is another teacher. I am so looking forward to this! Any suggestions as to whether I should stick with the lesson manual, or whether any of you think it is a good idea to bring in other materials related to the lesson?
Storm Rider Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 Follow the Spirit's guidance and all will be well.
Kenngo1969 Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 You already know/do this, I'm sure, but I think the only keys (in addition to following the Spirit) are: 1. Love what you teach. and ... 2. Love whom you teach. Congratulations! I'm sure you'll do well. 1
Duncan Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 Some good thoughts! http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2013/12/faulconer-sorenson-welch-and-others-on-scripture-study-and-teaching/
JAHS Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 We do it a little differently in our High Priest group. Everyone in the group signs up to teach a couple of times during the year. It's good for getting different perspectives on gospel subjects, although in our group all one has to do is bring up the subject and everyone in the class has something to say about it. The teacher doesn't do much except to keep it on topic.
bluebell Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 Is the manual the teachings of the prophets? If so, I know when they first came out the instruction was that absolutely no outside resources be used. Manual and scriptures only. Pres. Hinckley even refused to add a forward to the first few because he wanted no other voices but the prophet of the year being used. I don't know if that's been changed.
strappinglad Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) If you can get the group to read the lesson before your presentation , that would make a significant improvement to the discussion. Some High Priests have dug their personal gospel ruts/roots so deep that a mere hint of some interesting outside material will give them anaphylactic shock. This from someone who taught HPs for 5+ years. Edited December 30, 2013 by strappinglad
The Nehor Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 I have been asked to teach our HP group during priesthood meeting for this upcoming new year! Cool! Considering that I told them a couple of years ago that they could ask me to substitute teach at any time they needed with no notice at all (up to and including ten seconds before the meeting), I guess they got the idea that I didn't mind doing it! Especially when they did on one occasion ask me to substitute at the beginning of the session (maybe to see if they could rattle me?), and I jumped into it with glee written all over my face. Unfortunately, I will only get to teach one lesson per month, as there is another teacher. I am so looking forward to this! Any suggestions as to whether I should stick with the lesson manual, or whether any of you think it is a good idea to bring in other materials related to the lesson?I would stick with the manual in terms of topic then I would chuck the manual. I am very wary about bringing in other materials unless it is scripture or from the words of the Brethren. I would not say don't do it but I would avoid bringing in other stuff because it is "interesting". I had God call me on the carpet for that once.
thesometimesaint Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 I have been asked to teach our HP group during priesthood meeting for this upcoming new year! Cool! Considering that I told them a couple of years ago that they could ask me to substitute teach at any time they needed with no notice at all (up to and including ten seconds before the meeting), I guess they got the idea that I didn't mind doing it! Especially when they did on one occasion ask me to substitute at the beginning of the session (maybe to see if they could rattle me?), and I jumped into it with glee written all over my face. Unfortunately, I will only get to teach one lesson per month, as there is another teacher. I am so looking forward to this! Any suggestions as to whether I should stick with the lesson manual, or whether any of you think it is a good idea to bring in other materials related to the lesson? Congrats. I did it for several years. It was both a challenge and rewarding experience for me.
ERayR Posted December 30, 2013 Posted December 30, 2013 I have been asked to teach our HP group during priesthood meeting for this upcoming new year! Cool! Considering that I told them a couple of years ago that they could ask me to substitute teach at any time they needed with no notice at all (up to and including ten seconds before the meeting), I guess they got the idea that I didn't mind doing it! Especially when they did on one occasion ask me to substitute at the beginning of the session (maybe to see if they could rattle me?), and I jumped into it with glee written all over my face. Unfortunately, I will only get to teach one lesson per month, as there is another teacher. I am so looking forward to this! Any suggestions as to whether I should stick with the lesson manual, or whether any of you think it is a good idea to bring in other materials related to the lesson? My observation is that you can stay with the manual and still have some very stimulating conversations.
Stargazer Posted January 3, 2014 Author Posted January 3, 2014 Is the manual the teachings of the prophets? If so, I know when they first came out the instruction was that absolutely no outside resources be used. Manual and scriptures only. Pres. Hinckley even refused to add a forward to the first few because he wanted no other voices but the prophet of the year being used.I don't know if that's been changed. The manual for the Priesthood and Relief Society is Joseph Fielding Smith. When I asked this question originally, I did not know which President was going to be the source. Nor had I seen the manual (obviously). But I find this in the Introduction: If you are teaching a Melchizedek Priesthood or Relief Society lesson, you should not set this book aside or prepare a lesson from other materials. I guess this says you should use the book, but not that you can't use other materials as supplements. The Intro does make clear that there is probably more material in each lesson than can be covered in a given class period, so perhaps supplementary material might prove to be unnecessary. I appreciate the input here.
cdowis Posted January 3, 2014 Posted January 3, 2014 (edited) I would use the manual as a start for a discussion and go off from there, but the Bishop counseled us to stick with the manual. I thought that would be boring -- just reading page after page in class, but let's try it. My first change was to read the lesson myself several times, and makes notes and underline significant material. I selected ahead of class the paragraphs we would read -- skipping around, rather than starting from the beginning and going in sequence to the end. I would find different ways to make it interesting. For example, when someone read a paragraph, I would ask them to select just *one word* from each sentence. So, a five sentence paragraph would have five words that described the substance of his teaching. They really enjoyed that exercise. Also I would interrupt the reader while in the middle of the paragraph. "What's he talking about here?" It's really boring to read the entire paragraph, so breaking up the paragraph (as appropriate) makes it more interesting. I've noticed that the other teacher is doing the same thing and we have very interesting discussions, and still stay on the material in the lesson. I have a flexible opinion on what "outside materials" means. I am thinking of using previous manuals, especially the Prophet Joseph Smith's statements, to add to the understanding of a doctrine. Of course, personal experiences are appropriate. Anyway, best of luck on your new calling. Edited January 3, 2014 by cdowis
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