Teacher Development Skills
Prepare yourself spiritually.

“Prepare yourself spiritually,” Teacher Development Skills: Teach by the Spirit (2023)

“Prepare yourself spiritually,” Teacher Development Skills: Teach by the Spirit

Prepare yourself spiritually.

Skill

Use the document “Improving as a Christlike Teacher—A Personal Evaluation” to invite the Holy Ghost to help you refine your preparations to teach.

Image
thumbnail of Teaching in the Savior’s Way

Define

After you prepare each lesson, go to “Improving as a Christlike Teacher—A Personal Evaluation” in part 3 of Teaching in the Savior’s Way. Consider how well each of the statements in the evaluation describes the learning experience you have prepared. Then, as guided by the Spirit, prayerfully select anything that needs to be improved in the lesson plan and make changes.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf shared the following promise about using the evaluation: “It will lead to introspection, reveal blind spots, and prompt inspiration about ways we can improve. … This self-evaluation can be a great blessing—today and every time we prepare to teach in the Savior’s way” (“A Teacher’s Checklist” [Teaching in the Savior’s Way with Elder Uchtdorf, June 12, 2022], ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Model

After Sister Olsen finishes her lesson plan, she turns to the document “Improving as a Christlike Teacher—A Personal Evaluation.” She prayerfully goes through each section of the assessment and chooses an appropriate response for each statement. She sees a place in her lesson where she can better use the words of prophets to teach a truth they will be learning.

Brother Sosi is working to invite diligent learning in his lessons. After he prepares the lesson, he turns to “Improving as a Christlike Teacher—A Personal Evaluation” to assess how he is doing in this area. He evaluates his lesson accordingly:

Invite Diligent Learning

  • (4) I help learners take responsibility for their learning.

  • (1) I encourage learners to come to know the Savior by studying the gospel daily.

  • (4) I invite learners to prepare to learn.

  • (4) I encourage learners to share the truths they are learning.

  • (4) I invite learners to live what they are learning.

He decides he can ask a question that encourages learners to come to know Jesus Christ as they study their scriptures daily and makes a change in his lesson.

Practice

  1. What adjustments might you make in your lesson plan if your personal evaluation looked like the following:

    Teach the Doctrine

    • (4) I learn the doctrine of Jesus Christ for myself.

    • (3) I teach from the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets.

    • (3) I help learners seek, recognize, and understand truths in the scriptures.

    • (4) I focus on truths that lead to conversion and build faith in Jesus Christ.

    • (1) I help learners find personal relevance in the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

  2. Evaluate your next lesson plan by using “Improving as a Christlike Teacher—A Personal Evaluation.” Prayerfully consider how well each of the statements in the evaluation describes the learning experience you have prepared. Then, as guided by the Spirit, select anything that needs to be improved in the lesson plan and make changes.

Discuss or Ponder

  • How can implementing this practice lead to introspection, reveal blind spots, and prompt inspiration about ways you can improve?

  • What is the benefit of using the evaluation document with each lesson plan you prepare?

Incorporate

Want More?