I like my calling. I teach the twelve and thirteen year old Sunday School Class. There are a few fourteen year olds in there as well. Usually I have fourteen people in my class, but if we have visitors it can be more. That is a lot of teenagers to have in one room, and I am not the best at keeping order. In fact, I'm really bad at discipline. But I'm working on it.
Here's the thing: As of December 31, 2010, there are 28,660 LDS wards and branches in the world. I have no idea how many of those wards and branches are English-speaking, but it is not a small number. Now, take into account that not all of those English-speaking wards have a twelve and thirteen year old Sunday School Class (because they are singles wards or just don't have the youth) and you are left with, what? It's got to be around 10,000 English-speaking teachers called to serve as their ward's twelve and thirteen year old Sunday School Class teacher.
One of the amazing things about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is how universal it is: Every twelve and thirteen year old Sunday school class teacher teaches from the same manual: The Presidents of the Church. There is even a lesson schedule, so all wards are on the same lesson, give or take a ward conference. Most teachers are called for more than one year, so they teach the same lessons multiple times, depending on how many years they have this calling. So, on any given Sunday, I'm guessing that there are around ten thousand people teaching the same lesson I am teaching, to the same age group I am teaching. Some with more experience than me.
The Internet is a wonderful thing. It connects all sorts of people. I'm thinking the Internet should connect me to those ten thousand people. Seriously, how is there not already a forum for us to be like: "I had a great idea for lesson 33!" or "I tried this with my class, but they did not take it well. I would suggest going with out the..." or "For this last class I did this and the kids responded so well!"
Is there something like out there? Please say yes. I so desperately need some help with my lesson plans.
I was about to rain on your parade and say things like "but different kids have different personalities so what works for one class may not stand a prayer in another" but then I realized that when you are brainstorming any idea is a good 'un.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if there is such a thing, such a "LDS Forum" thing. I wonder. I'll take a look, and if I find anything I'll let you know.
And oh hey, I got a calling in my new ward. I'm the disaster preparation co-chair person thingy. I have to teach our apartment complex how to prepare for disasters of all kinds. Whee!
There are sites for Gospel Doctrine and I have used them for lessons. I realized that I had to be careful because they did not always teach the lesson as the church wanted it to be taught. (Some go in wild tangents that have nothing to do with the gospel.) If I read my lesson first and then used the internet for supplementary information it worked quite well.
ReplyDeleteI was teaching 12/13 year old's before moving to Iowa where I now am the Nursery leader. Our Nursery leaders are now two High Priests, an Elder and a Sister (who shows up about once every four to six weeks). The children seem to really be enjoying having all those men in the classroom. This has got to be one of my favorite callings!
Today there were 11 children, aged 18 months (his second week) to almost 4 (she is four on the 7th of January). The other High Priest was there (he was called today), the elder was missing (his first miss) and the sister attended the week before conference so she has a couple weeks before we see her again. It keeps life interesting.