May 22

Both Scott and I have been trying to limit the class notes from which we teach.  Somewhere we heard that the best teachers study hard to make sure they know their subject and then they let the Holy Spirit and the questions/comments of the students direct the lesson.  Of course we have an idea how we want to start, finish, and a general plan for the middle, but we want to be available to the direction of the Spirit rather than to the planned lesson.

Recently Scott commented that his lesson plans were always less than a page.  My lesson plans have also gotten down to one page which is amazing to me.  I remember teaching Gospel Doctrine in the single's ward and having perhaps four or five pages of notes in my hands.  The last time I taught before this mission was in Young Woman's; many times my notes were three pages long, so less than a page is short for me.  We both feel that we are better teachers now, and that we are more open to the direction of the Holy Ghost.

So tonight my lesson went awry!  My opening activity was for each student to write down the attributes of the person on this earth that has the most positive influence on them.  We then listed on the board all the good attributes of these influential people.  Afterward we went through the attributes to see if God had those same attributes with the idea that God is the embodiment of all good.  Sounds good, right? Well somehow the class got into a discussion on "Is God submissive?"  Stupid.   It reminded me of some university Sunday School classes where all the returned missionaries wanted to appear smarter and more learned than everyone else.  

We did get back on track, but the rest of the class did not feel good.  

I will be stronger and faster at taking charge next time.  Hopefully there will never be a next time.  I wonder if after an episode like this, I could have someone offer a pray asking for the Spirit to come back into the classroom.