Library
Create settings and opportunities for learners to be taught by the Holy Ghost.

“Create settings and opportunities for learners to be taught by the Holy Ghost,” Teacher Development Skills (2022)

“Create settings and opportunities for learners to be taught by the Holy Ghost,” Teacher Development Skills

Teach by the Spirit

Create settings and opportunities for learners to be taught by the Holy Ghost.

Skill: Create student self-evaluations about a doctrine, truth, or principle.

Define

Teaching by the Spirit includes helping students consider their own perspective, feelings, and experiences related to specific truths. This personal introspection and evaluation can invite the Holy Ghost to help each student see things “as they really are, and … really will be” (Jacob 4:13) in their lives. Effective self-evaluations help students consider (1) their own current understanding of a particular truth, (2) why these truths are relevant for their own life and situation, and (3) how to better live these truths. You can invite this self-evaluation at any time during class through various means, including writing activities, discussion questions, and invitations to apply doctrine and principles.

Model

Here are a few examples of how you might create student self-evaluations:

  • At the beginning of class, you could invite students to briefly record in a journal their current understanding of the law of tithing.

  • At the end of class, you could invite students to reflect: “How has your understanding of the law of tithing changed since the beginning of class?”

  • After identifying together various principles from a scripture block, you could ask students, “How would you rank these principles in your life in order of importance?”

  • During a class discussion, you could ask students to think about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ has affected their life to this point.

  • You could invite students to think about how they can apply what they’ve learned: “Consider how you are currently doing in looking ‘unto [Christ] in every thought’ (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36). Write down what you feel is the next step for you in improving your relationship with Him in this regard.”

Click here to see a video of this model.

Practice

Use one or more of the following practices to improve your ability to create self-evaluations for your students:

  • Look at an upcoming lesson plan. Select a doctrine you are planning to focus on. Practice writing two or three simple self-evaluations students can use to consider their current understanding of this doctrine or how their understanding has changed because of what they learned.

  • Select a moment in an upcoming lesson when a class discussion is planned. Practice writing two or three questions that help students evaluate their own perspective and experience related to a principle that will be identified.

  • Find a place in an upcoming lesson plan where you will focus on application. Rather than just inviting students to apply a particular doctrine or principle, practice writing two or three invitations that help them evaluate their current application and how to continue improving.

Discuss or Ponder

Ponder what you have learned from this experience. Perhaps you could record some of these thoughts in a study journal. Consider the following questions:

  • What have I done previously to help students self-evaluate?

  • What have I learned in this experience that could improve my ability to help students self-evaluate?

  • What will I do to continue to improve?

Incorporate

For each lesson plan this week, use a different self-assessment to help students learn from the Holy Ghost. Take time to identify what you learn from this experience, and practice again in your preparation and in your classes. Continue to practice, learn, and refine your efforts to help improve your students’ experiences and encourage their continued growth and progress.

Want More?