Teaching a lesson in RS - Help!

[daenvgiell]

Ok so I've never taught a lesson in church to anyone that wasn't old enough to really remember what was going on. I've been asked to teach a lesson in RS and I'm absolutely petrified.

I'm teaching lessons 27 from Teachings of the Presidents of the Church - Joseph Smith. I know they have suggestions in the back on teaching, but I was just wondering, how do you like to learn best? Questions? Discussions? Reading from the book?

Any help would be appreciated, whether it be from out of the book, or just something you may think would help me.

Thanks :)

[skippy740]

The Savior taught using parables and stories.

This is how I prefer to teach - using stories.

If the lesson feels more "abstract", find a way to apply it to today's world and our everyday lives.

Try to get a discussion going (stories that relate to life today help) - so you can encourage participation. The more participation, the less you have to talk!

[Drey0287]

I know I get the most out of lessons and talks when people apply the lesson to everyday situations or share their experiences with the topic. If it gets TO scripture heavy then I tend to get confused. Either apply the lesson to everyday life, or get a discussion going in the class about other peoples experiences with the topic. That way, people can also learn from eachother.

you can go to lds.org for more suggestions on the lesson. My mom went through the same thing. Had never gave a lesson or anything before and then she was called to be the 2nd Counselor in the Young Womens presidency and was terrified to give a lesson on Fast Sunday. But she did great and so will you! :)

[Guest]

Maybe this will make you feel a bit better:

I was only a member for 2 weeks when I got my first calling - RS Teacher for Teaching of our Times!

I had about another 2 weeks to prepare for the lesson and then it was Sunday. I had to stand there infront of all these "seasoned veterans" with the wife of the Stake President sitting smack dab infront of me!

It all went okay even if I said, "mass" several times instead of "sacrament meeting", and I keep on forgetting to say, "Brother" or "Elder" or "President" or "Prophet"... I called everybody "Mr." including "Mr. Gordon Hinckley".

I have to say, that calling made my testimony of the gospel grow by leaps and bounds. It is something I will always be grateful for the rest of my life.

Here are some tips: Teaching from a manual is much easier than teaching for our times which has a broader material.

From JS manual, it usually starts out with a story from the prophet's life. I would ask somebody during the week to recount (summarize) the story to start off your lesson. Or you can recount a similar event in YOUR life to make it more personal.

The lesson is usually divided into main bullet points (or sections). Make a poster of the bullet points and tape/magnet each one on the board as the lesson progresses to that section. Cut out the most important paragraph/lines on that section and have somebody read that paragraph to start discussion on that section. Then you tell them what you think about that section. And then you can ask them what they think as well. Move on to the next section. I really like it when the teacher tries to explain how the point in the lesson applies to her life and, especially, other RS members share theirs as well. It makes it feel more "real" to me.

When you organize your lesson, take note of the questions at the end of the lesson and try to cover all of them while you progress in the lesson. If there are some questions that are not addressed, then you can make posters of them and, if you have extra time at the end of the lesson, you can put them up on the board for everybody to think over and answer (in class or as their homework).

If you are crafty, you can make some little trinket with the main point of the lesson or a scripture, = like bookmarks, or a card with a piece of chocolate attached to it, or a magnetic card they can stick to their fridge, etc. and hand them out at the end of the lesson to keep the lesson in their minds throughout the week.

Good luck!

Edited April 13, 2009 by anatess

[Madriglace]

After teaching RS for nearly 6 years and currently teaching Sunday School for me it should be old hat ...RIGHT!

First the lesson material is so extensive that you will not be able to get all the way through the lesson. Start with prayer then ready the entire lesson through. Then go back and mark the passages that really jump out at you. Then put it away for awhile and when you pray again and go back it will just kind of take shape. The best lessons I have taught or attend are those that the members of the class have been involved in ... get them talking. All that will be left for you to do is keep on track and move the lesson from point to point.

Be sure to use only the lesson manual and the scriptures as the Brethern have asked and don't be surprised if the lesson you prepare and the lesson you deliver are nothing alike. The Spirit knows whats needed on that day and will adjust to make sure it happens. I was always amazed at the promptings I received in the middle of a lesson. Enjoy yourself ... you will learn so much more than those you teach. Of course if you are like me you are gonna need a nap when you get home!

[skippy740]

I've recently been called as the new EQ instructor, and so I taught my first lesson yesterday. (It had been a long time since I last taught a lesson.)

I started my preparation the day before in the early afternoon. This gave me time to think and reflect on the content and what else I could add to it.

The lesson was Standing Valiant in the Cause for Christ. Now, I read through the story and I thought "Wow. We certainly don't have to live through times like this ourselves today." It was the story of Brother Joseph being held captive while his captors are bragging about the robbery, rape and murders they committed.

The rest of the lesson was about how we need to conduct ourselves with honesty, integrity and virtue.

Now, to me, this was a "duh" lesson. Of course, we're supposed to do those things.

So, I chose to emphasize more on WHY.

I'm in financial services. I wish more people in my industry would have the integrity, ethics and moral character to earn what they are earning. However, there are a few people who just feel compelled to cheat and steal from their clients. While this doesn't describe me, it affects me. I want to me known by others to say "Hey, Skippy would NEVER do anything like that."

I also felt compelled to discuss a talk by Elder Neal A Maxwell about a more disciplined discipleship - and how irreligion is becoming the state religion. I also shared bits about the White Horse Prophecy (for informational purposes only). This is where our nation is and where it seems (to me) to be headed towards.

I was told that it was a good lesson. Especially because I had an INVESTIGATOR there - and he even read some of the passages in the manual! I told the missionaries that I went a little deep on this one, but they can sort through it all with him at another time.

So, give yourself the time to prepare. Read the chapter. Go about your day and reflect on it. Follow the Spirit to help you make the lesson all that it can be and you'll do fine.

[daenvgiell]

I'm definitely giving myself time to prepare, like I said I'm teaching the lessons next month, but I'm preparing it now because this is all so new to me, and plus I have a week off from uni so I'm trying to get ahead in my studies and such.

Thanks for all your help so far everybody, but don't let that stop you, if you have any more tips I am still here ready to read them :)