[Teachldsseminary] Notes from CES symposium- Teacher traps and how to avoid them

[anita@whiteley.org]

Notes from 1998 CES Symposium "Ten teacher traps and how to avoid them"
Daniel Bell

#1 “I really want the kids to like me”
At what cost!!!! 90x the Savior is addressed as Rabbi in the NT which
means teacher. We really are their teachers. Not their buddy, not their
locker partner. Recognize that. Don’t dress like them, or listen to their
music. They will love you because of what you do for them. Raise them to
your level. LEARN NAMES FAST. It’s a Clear signal you care.  “Nobody cares
how much you know until they know how much you care”. Do you love them
enough to have rules? You should.

#2 Hope you can’t answer all their questions.
Don’t know all the answers, even if you do let them answer it. Lord hasn’t
revealed everything yet. Have the Humility to say I don’t know and Don’t
speculate. You could say “that question has slipped my mind and I’ll let
you know after I look in to it.  OR “What do the revelations say about
that?” OR  “thanks for that question (so and so) will answer that=), I’m
not Dean (so and so).

#3 touch on the block, take off on discussion and never come back to the
block.
Remain true to the block. That’s our focus. J. Ruben Clark- teach Gospel,
using standard works not get off on a big discussion.  “I will keep my eye
on the block”

#4 Afraid of silence-
 waiting time is critical. Silence is good.  Try it turn to sec 27- great
sec- short 1830 messenger comes down , about sacrament. Read 15-18
silently read and fine something you haven’t seen before. Compliment them
by saying I bet you read this in your personal reading (even if you know
they haven’t=).   You could say, “I’d like to wait for your answer”. 
“SILENCE IS WONDERFUL”

#5 Have you seen a fishermen with one fly? (NEVER) for us to say I’ve
given one readiness activity, and that’s good enough- wrong answer!
Read on page 18 green book about readiness. They will last 8 minutes and
then you need to rekindle their interest. Be into the scriptures after
your readiness within 1 to 2 minutes later.  The readiness should lead
them right to the block. Object, pictures, case studies etc. things you
find in grocery stores- think like a teacher when you see a sign 3 lb of
banana for 1.00 you think I can use that. Don’t know how but I can use
that=) “I WILL REKINDLE THE INTEREST”

#6 “personal stories hold them better than scriptures do”. If you think
this
.Is it because they don’t know they scriptures,  or that you don’t
trust the block?  Are your personal stories enhancing the block. Drive
them to the block? Eyring said,  I have a hunch if you just want my
prediction that in 4 or 5 years from now that you will see more LDS youth
in our classes pondering, talking with each other about them, teaching
them, loving them and believing that they really do have the answers in
them to the questions of our hearts”.  Follow-ups to that quote.  By
EYRING, “It’s going to take a miracle for the young people to do that. It
hasn’t happened yet. You are talking about a miracle here. We need a
miracle, how can we get a miracle. FAITH!- DO the thing that you would
like the students to do.
 How can we go To God and ask for miracles if we are not doing ourselves.
Not believing it will work or could happen could cost us that miracle,
because we aren’t doing it.

Use stories to enhance the scriptures.  So the student could say I loved
Brother (so and so) stories but I really love how he brought it around to
sec 34
“I love the block and will not cost us the Miracle.”

#8 “I’ll just tell them” the good stuff. Discovery is always best even if
you don’t cover much that day. Make sure that they know from day one as
you talk about the capstone,  they can expect to have “Ahhh” moments. As
you go through the capstone experience it’s ok to raise your hand and say
‘Ahhh” And I’ll call on you to tell us what jumped out at you. What made
you have an Ahhh moment when the spirit of the Lord has touched us and
most of the time it’s not what the teacher prepared. You could put on the
board-
Last night while I was reading I


“Johnny could you please finish that sentence for us.” Or “Would anyone in
the class like to share? What we are saying is would you share that “ahh”
experience with us.
 “I WILL LET THEM DISCOVER”

#9 SEPT is heavy for you.  Put deposits in your relationship bank now when
you can stay up past 10:00pm=) Do something with your spouse. Go out with
them. Build a wonderful relationship. Spouse should be #1 in life,
children aren’t even as important.  “Don’t spend too much time that you
neglect what’s most important.”

#10 Does the concept help you teach the block or does the block help you
teach the concept. BOTH! Start and focus on block. Don’t say class today
the lessons’ on chastity and I’ll show you in vs 1-7
Instead ‘class today’s lesson is sec 17 and has wonderful concepts in it.
I wonder if you’ll be able to pick them out.
“LOVE THE BLOCK”.

We talk about quotes of the students being held 7000 yrs to do marvelous
things at this time .  WE too as teachers have been held and reserved to
teach those kids. YOU”RE THE ONE who will bear testimony of Joseph Smith
and the restoration and the capstone of our religion.

Elder packer said, “ I believe to the degree,  that you perform according
to the challenge and charge which you have through Christ- does become
engraven upon your countenance practical purposes in that classroom and at
that time in the expression, and with that inspiration YOU ARE HIM and HE
IS YOU.”