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Interesting experiences today…. Taught a Teachers Council…it was driven by the class, with people bringing teaching materials to class they had prepared, for input from others in the class. There was a technology demonstration by a couple who teach youth.
I was completely moved and uplifted through the whole thing. These were people who were taking the material I’ve been teaching in class and actually applying it. It was EVIDENCE that the Teachers Council actually made a difference. Some of the bright spots.
1. A RS teacher reverse engineered questions from the lesson (one of those long blocks of text lessons). She shared her attempt to apply the pattern I taught — reverse engineer the question, get class responses, and then do a big “reveal” at the end with what a prophet or GA said in the block of text (or her own answer to the question).
It was moving for me to see that something I taught had sunk in and made it into the classroom preparation.
2. The class evaluated her questions against the criteria that I had given in a previous Council. That was also moving, that they were able to help her refine her questions based on criteria I had given them. That they actually remembered it, and could apply it — it was inspiring.
3. The technology demonstration — I had previously shared how I saw one lesson that was all questions. The teacher had a powerpoint with nothing but questions. Th class members had woven this concept into an online, open-ended question app where people can ask an anonymous question of the class and teacher. Good for introverts and people who would like to participate, but are afraid to for some reason. Apparently, when they asked the youth class for questions about dating, one youth had “posted” anonymously “how much tongue is too much tongue?”. They had uncovered a question from the class that I’m sure no one would dare ask in a personally identifiable situation.
4. Flow happened. I had to shut down the class because everyone was so into the lesson. They were so into it we would have gone way over. And then people stayed behind to ask me questions.
The second class was inspiring because I called it “LIberate your Thinking”. The actual lesson was called “Plan Your Lesson” or similar, but I gave it an alternate name, while keeping the actual lesson name too.
I found justification for seeking supplementary sources, even from secular sources, if consistent with the gospel and there is nothing practical given on LDS.org or in the manual. I gave examples from LDS authors like Stephen R. Covey, Clayton Christianson, Susan Wiseman, as well as authors focusing on home organization, self-discipline, etcetera. The thing that seemed like TOTAL surprise to them was this — the trust we have in them to filter supplementary sources through their understanding of the gospel. I gave examples of practical advice from credible authors and showed how it linked to the gospel. Therefore — it was consistent with the gospel and therefore useable.
IT was like a veil had been lifted. They seemed genuinely surprised and pleased when I mentioned liberating their thinking. Then I gave them names of good books with practical advice for living your life in harmony with the gospel, giving titles and authors. They were writing it all down.
All in all, it was very spiritual for me. And all borne of the angst I feel about the subpar classroom experience in our Church, the lack of resources committed to teaching and teacher improvement, etcetera. I didn’t have to say anything that wasn’t authentic for me.
I wanted to share this as an example of being able to make a contribution to the Ward, borne out of personal angst with the LDS experience. And an example of fitting in without actually fitting in (that’s me in the Ward).
This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing it with us. There are ways we can participate, if we are creative and patient enough.
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I wanted to share this as an example of being able to make a contribution to the Ward, borne out of personal angst with the LDS experience. And an example of fitting in without actually fitting in (that’s me in the Ward).Every one of these makes all of us stronger and gives hope. Thanks SD
Thanks for sharing SD. I was cautiously optimistic about the program from the get-go. I could see how with the right facilitators and support the program could be a success – as is the case with you. Now we just need to replicate you for each ward and branch in the world and we’re all set. Wish we had you in our ward. Our teacher improvement council meetings are not worth much, I’m sorry to say. I kind of feel like they are letting the worst teachers we have to voice what they are doing in their classes…almost like validating them. I dunno…I’m sure it is helping.
What I like reading about your experience is seeing how you StayLDS and have meaningful contributions to be making. We need more of that in our wards. Leaders should tap into the talents people have to offer their wards.
Heber13 wrote:What I like reading about your experience is seeing how you StayLDS and have meaningful contributions to be making. We need more of that in our wards. Leaders should tap into the talents people have to offer their wards.
They don’t think that way. They run down the list until they see someone they think is a good fit, and ask them. No thought for co-missioning with what the members want to do in the church, or finding out their talents. I’m reminded of a business author who described the time he visited a family whose father had died. The guy was a millright in the author’s manufacturing firm. In the home visit, he learned the millright was an accomplished poet. He used it as an example of how little managers often know of employees hidden talents, either developed or undeveloped.
In my case, the bishop wants to drag me back into administration. He knows the teachers council is working, but like most Bishop’s has no compunction about pulling people out of callings they want to be in for “more resopnsibility”. I saw SP’s do that all the time, decimating wards, where all the action is.
Plus, I don’t like being situations where I have to beg someone above me for resources. Our Bishop tried to get me ideating with him about the Ward, and when I did, and made a suggestion (anyone can come to TC, whether a teacher or not, to expose where teaching passion is), he hesitated for a long time — clearly ideas have to be deeply considered — and I felt that same frustration I did as a HPGL that I could not do anything outside the box.
No siree, I’m better off as President of a rag-tag non-profit with 30 volunteers than I am in some sort of church admin position. Hands down.
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