[Teachldsseminary] Help--A few unruly students

[LITATGP@aol.com]

This might be a little "late in the game" but here is what we did at the  
beginning of the year.  I had a member of the bishopric come to class and  after 
the song and prayer, I turned it over to him.  
 
He facilitated a discussion on what the students wanted to get out of  
seminary and what their expectations were.  He wrote down all of their  responses on 
a dry erase board.  He also referenced several scriptures to  help guide them 
(D&C 88:122 - appoint one spokeman....)
He discussed the calling of seminary teacher and that it was a calling from  
the Lord, pointed out that 1/2 of the responsibility lies on the teacher (to  
teach with the Spirit) but 1/2 lies on the students (to come ready to learn),  
etc.
 
I copied all of the students' comments down and came up with a class  "vision 
statement."  I passed it out the next day and had the kids glue it  in their 
scriptures or in the front of their binders.  Sometimes we stand  and recite 
it when we are working on scripture mastery at the beginning of  class.  I 
think this puts the responsibility back on the students and they  are pretty good 
at policing each other.  I rarely have to ask them to be  quiet or settle 
down, because someone else in the class will.
 
gina