It is important to recognize there are numerous approaches you can use to help your students learn. While having a great verbal discussion can be an awesome way to convey truth, this approach may not work with all subjects or with all students. Using visual tools to compliment your verbal teachings can create very powerful connections in the minds of your students. Besides, varying our teaching methods will help make your class time more interesting and fun. Students will learn more when they are interested and engaged, so it is part of our responsibility as instructors to use teaching methods that challenge them or help them see truth in a new light.
Elder Boyd K. Packer taught, “When we teach moral and spiritual values, we are teaching things that are intangible. Perhaps no teaching is so difficult to accomplish, nor so rewarding when successfully done. There are techniques to employ and tools to use.” And President Howard W. Hunter once shared these thoughts in General Conference, “Meetinghouse libraries have come into being and are being stocked with instructional materials to be used by the teachers in the Church to create more interest in lessons, to display them in the most attractive way to sell the idea, to visualize the point, to teach the gospel. Meetinghouse libraries add the chocolate and the nuts, and they put the cherry on top. The teaching may be excellent, but the materials from the library make it better. Abstract ideas may be difficult to understand, but when principles can be visually demonstrated to students, they comprehend more readily.” Much of what you need visually is now on the church website instead of the Building Library, but the principle remains the same.
At THIS link on the LDS.org website there are descriptions and suggestions for 37 different teaching methods. This includes such things as use of music, role playing, games and guest speakers. We encourage you to review this list and see how you might be able to change up your teaching approach: https://www.lds.org/manual/teaching-no-greater-call-a-resource-guide-for-gospel-teaching/methods-of-teaching?lang=eng
We know that as you work on your teaching abilities and methods, the Lord will bless and inspire you to make an even bigger impact in the lives of your students.
In the news:
Carol F. McConkie: 'Teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ' - 04-AUG-2016
“Effective teaching is the very essence of leadership in the Church”
“The leaders who have the most influence are usually those who set hearts afire with devotion to the truth, ... who transform some ordinary routine occurrence so that it becomes a vista where we see the person we aspire to be”
“Youth teach each other all the time — they share experiences, help a friend understand a gospel principle, or set an example through their actions”
‘Invite diligent learning by class members
Class presidencies inspire all class members to participate in learning. They bring scriptures to class, read from them and share favorite verses. They participate in discussions, share testimony-building experiences or favorite quotes from conference talks. A class presidency member may begin the first portion of the lesson, sharing how she has applied a gospel principle in her life. At the conclusion of a lesson the class president may lead the “live what we are learning” section and counsel together with the class about what they will do or what each individual girl would like to do to apply a gospel principle or standard because of what they have learned or felt in the lesson. Leaders give class presidencies sufficient time during a lesson so that they can help encourage the other young women to act.
When Young Women leaders help her be prepared, a young woman serving in a class presidency has the ability to fulfill President Monson’s prophetic word. She can be the leader who will “set hearts afire with devotion to the truth.” She will be the servant called of God who will help another young woman become the person she aspires to be.’