Sunday, September 20, 2015

LDS Seminary Classroom Organization Ideas

In my first year of teaching Seminary I had a problem with participation. Going into my second year I decided that this was going to change. I set my classroom up in a way where everyone has a job, and everyone is ready for devotional. Here is what I did:

Student Pictures:
I took a picture of every student holding their name on a piece of paper. This way I could learn the students name more quickly

Student Information Forms:
I had each student fill out the form. This really came in handy in getting to know the students, but also if I had a problem or concern during the year. Below is the information form that I used. You can print it out by right clicking on your mouse and saving it into your pictures, or copy and paste it into your printing program.

Daily Assignments:
I set it up that every day we had a different set of students conducting. This way more students were able to participate. Here are some printouts that you can use for your class. I have one for a smaller class, and one for a larger class.

Miscellaneous Jobs:
Since I still needed jobs for some students I put together another list of various responsibilities for students as they are needed. Here they are:

Devotionals:
My first year devotionals were a disaster! The students would not show up if they were assigned the devotional. The next year I went to Deseret Industries and bought a bunch of Conference Ensigns. I handed them out to every student. I had each student do their devotional right in their journal so that there where no excuses for not having a devotional. Every day I randomly chose who was to do the devotional so that the student couldn't play hooky if he knew that he had the devotional. It worked out great. Here is my worksheet that I used at the beginning of the year:

After the student giving the devotional asked the class a question, I then had the class ask a question to the student in return. I also made a list of all the unique ways that the students can get their scripture reading done during the day. I leave the list up where all the students can see it.

Scripture Mastery:
For Scripture Mastery I have a student help us to recite it every day. We work on one Scripture Mastery a week. I used to have the large copies of each Scripture Mastery, but our Seminary didn't order them this year so I have been working out of the Scriptures. I think that I like this better.

I have put together a Seminary in a Sack for the students. Each time we pass off a Scripture Mastery they get a small item to put into their Seminary in a Sack to help them to remember the scripture. To see how I have done this click on the picture below:

I hope that this gives you a few ideas for your classroom.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah in your LDS Seminary Class

Joseph Smith received the Golden Plates from Angel Moroni on Sept. 22, 1827. This was the exact date of Rosh Hashanah in that year. Last year when we were studying the Doctrine and Covenants I made a little treat for the students for them to remember this connection. To see how to make it click on the picture below:

This year we are studying the Old Testament so I shared with the students some of the Jewish traditions. I want the students to make a connection with the Bible and I thought that this is a good way to do it.

We had apples and honey to celebrate a sweet New Year and talked about the harvest and the connection to our modern day gospel.

I also gave them this handout to place in their journals. I had it printed as a 4x6 photo. It only cost me $2.43 at Costco, plus it saved a whole bunch of ink.

Here is a great article to read for more information:

The Golden Plates and the Feast of Trumpets

Here is another great article to read: Symbols of the Harvest: Old Testament Holy Days and the Lord’s Ministry

There are also some really fun YOUTube Videos that your students can watch at the beginning of class. Here are a couple that I used. Just click on the link to take you there.

Dip Your Apple - Fountainheads Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah Rock Anthem

The day was a hit with the students! They loved the connection of the Golden Plates, and they loved the apples and honey!

To see all of my Old Testament Seminary ideas click here.

LDS Seminary Pen Pal Letters - How we've gotten to know a Seminary class in Coff's Harbour, Australia through Facebook

While we were visiting Australia we met a family from Coff's Harbour who had us over for dinner. We became instant friends and follow each other on Facebook. One day I noticed that she was on the same Seminary Facebook Page that I was and we messaged each other about our classes. She just recently messaged me that she needs some journals for her class. Since she only has 5 students, and we have hundreds of students, I got permission to send her some journals. I thought it would be a good opportunity for my class to send letters to the Australian Seminary Students and hopefully they will write us back. My students loved it! I listed a few things on the board to write about. Here's my list:

Dear Australian Seminary Student,
1. Tell them about yourself.
2. Tell them about where you are from.
3. Tell them about America.
4. Tell them about seminary.
5. Tell them about your testimony of the gospel.

The students did great! I loved reading their letters and reading their testimonies. It was a fun activity for our class. In our package we included some American candy to share with the students.

When our Aussie friends got the package they were delighted to hear from us. They set up a facebook page where we could get to know each other. My students were surprised to find out that they only had 5 students in their class for their entire area. We have 28 students and twelve seminary classes! They shared pictures of their town and their class. On the last day of class they sent pictures of their scripture study at the beach at sunrise. What a lucky class!

Here is some generic stationary that you can use for your class. I printed mine on brightly colored paper to save on ink.

It's been a couple of years since we sent out letters. Now we keep in touch through Facebook. It's been a lot of fun to hear what they have been doing in Coff's Harbour. We usually have about 30 students in our class. In Coff's Harbour they usually only have a couple. It's good for the students to understand what the church is like in other areas of the world.

I've shown the students pictures of the Coff's Harbour area.

Not only is Coff's Harbour different from use in numbers, but they live in a completely opposite climate. We live in a barren desert. Here's a picture of where they live.

While they might have cool kangaroos jumping around

we have some pretty cook bighorn sheep where we live.

To get to know the Australian customs better we did the

Tim Tam Slam.

As you can see, my class loved it.

If you want to learn how to do the Tim Tam Slam, just click here.

To see all of my Old Testament Seminary Ideas click here.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Handouts for Old Testament LDS Seminary Lessons

I like to do handouts throughout the year that the students can put into their journal. Last year it became cumbersome to made a separate post for every handout, so this year I thought that I would make one post that included most of the handouts as I do them. I will put what lesson it is from and then the handout. I will try to post them in the order of the lessons.

If you want to use them for yourself, just click on the picture to make it large, then right click and copy and paste it into your printing program, or save it into your pictures.

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Old Testament

https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/lessons-1-5/lesson-1-introduction-to-the-old-testament?lang=eng

Lesson 2: The Plan of Salvation

https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/lessons-1-5/lesson-2-the-plan-of-salvation?lang=eng

Lesson 17 - Noah's Ark Genesis 6:13–9:29

https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/introduction-to-the-book-of-genesis/lesson-17-genesis-6-13-9-29?lang=eng

Lesson 19 - Abraham 1

lang=enghttps://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/introduction-to-the-book-of-abraham/lesson-19-abraham-1?lang=eng

Lesson 20 - Abraham 2

lang=enghttps://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/introduction-to-the-book-of-abraham/lesson-20-abraham-2-genesis-12?lang=eng

Lesson 25 - Genesis 18

https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/genesis-continued/lesson-25-genesis-18?lang=eng

Lesson 27 - Genesis 20-21

Lesson 29 Genesis 23-24

https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/genesis-continued/lesson-29-genesis-23-24?lang=eng

Lesson 39: Genesis 47–49

nghttps://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/genesis-continued/lesson-39-genesis-47-49?lang=eng

This is not one of my printouts,but I wanted to share that it is available through the blog Bible Fun For Kids. I really appreciate the work that she did to make this printout and to offer it for free.

http://www.biblefunforkids.com/2014/03/i-have-who-has-12-tribes-game-bulletin.html