[Teachldsseminary] QUESTION: LARGE class suggestions?

[debra storm]

I believe that large classrooms have some advantages. I had between 40-50
potential kids every year (7 years). True, within a few months, the numbers
dropped to the "solid" students...
One thing I did was to utilize class officers to help me make one-on-one
contact with each student.
For instance, every time a student was absent that day, I assigned a class
officer (or two if the numbers were high) to call the missing students to
see if everything was alright, and to find out if they - the seminary- could
do anything to help. If a student was absent for a week or more, then I
would call as well.
Class officers would also help me with achievements the students had through
out the year- if someone was in the community paper, it would be cut out and
shared with the class. My class officers were often from each of the high
schools ( I had three wards; two high schools represented), so they knew
what was happening in their school.
We also played Daily Reading Football during the Fall- half the class was
BYU Cougars; the other half was OSU Buckeyes. Everyday, everyone on the
Buckeyes would read their scriptures the night before for the allotted time
would stand and be counted - every student counted. Then the Cougars who
read would stand and be counted. Which ever team had more readers, that team
moved the football 5 yards on the poster board football field. Whenever a
touchdown was achieved, that team got pop tarts, breakfast bars, etc.
The point is that every person was needed, every person counted, every
person was noticed. My classes usually ended up with 25-31 regular students,
and a handful of part-time students.
I don't feel like I lost track of any of them, or that anyone slipped
through the cracks...
I also paired up some of my solid students with those who were struggling
for different activities, etc. The ideas go on.....

Let the Spirit guide you as you consider the needs of your class. You will
find the right combination of things to do or say that will touch hearts...
Debra
Columbus, OH


On 8/19/06, Catherine McCabe <mccabefam6 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Wise, wonderful List,
>   I actually have a huge class--47 freshmen on my roster--YIKES!!!  I know
> that the stake will get another teacher if, in fact, the numbers stay that
> high but my concern is that I want to start strong--after all, they're
> freshmen--and I want them to have a great first week while we iron out all
> the kinks.
>   We have three high schools that attend EM seminary and two of those
> three
> have a released-time option.  But due to district schedule
> requirements/changes that are new this year, particularly for the
> freshmen,
> many of the kids won't be able to take advantage of the released-time
> option.  That's why I have to start with such a big crowd and see how it
> all
> shakes out.  I tend to have a rather casual teaching style and I must
> admit,
> I'm a bit worried.
>   Have any of you had experience with a large class?  I've spoken at Youth
> Conferences but I think of seminary as being so much more intimate than
> that.  I'd like to think that what I lack in knowledge, I make up for in
> love, but it's going to be hard for 47 kids to "feel the love"!!
>   Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
>   Catherine McCabe
>   Littleton, Colorado EMS
>
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