Orientation for New Teachers

President Russell T. Osguthorpe, General Sunday School President, spoke to leaders and teachers in the New Albany Stake on October 24, 2009.  He challenged leaders to orient all new teachers.  He promised that teaching and learning would improve as a result. 

These are the steps he outlined for teacher orientation:

 

1.  Discuss the needs of the learners

a.  Focus first on who they will teach not on what they will teach

b.  Talk about the needs of their specific class members

2.  Introduce Teaching No Greater Call.

a.  Open the book and review the table of contents, point out the many types of resources included

b.  Turn to page 24, "Making a Plan to Improve Your Teaching," and discuss goal setting

3.  Invite the new teacher to set goals

4.  Show them the class manual and discuss how to prepare a lesson

a.  Show them an example of how to use the manual

b.  Encourage them to use examples and suggest applications (action) from the lives of the learners.

Additional resources for orienting new teachers can be found at lds.org:

http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4838-1,00.html

"Ward priesthood and auxiliary leaders meet individually with each newly called teacher in their organizations, preferably before the teacher's first class, to provide a brief orientation. As part of each orientation, the leader should:

• Help the teacher understand the importance of the call to teach.
• Discuss the principles of effective teaching outlined on pages 300-304 of "Gospel Teaching and Leadership," section 16 of the Church Handbook of Instructions Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders (1998).
• Ensure that the teacher receives all the materials needed to be able to teach successfully, including the lesson materials for the class and a roll listing every Church member who should attend the class.
• Ensure that the teacher has copies of the "Gospel Teaching and Leadership" section of the Church Handbook of Instructions and Teaching, No Greater Call. Conduct a brief review of these materials to help the teacher understand how to use them effectively. 
• Offer ongoing support.  After a newly called teacher has taught his or her first lesson, a leader should contact the teacher to answer questions and give encouragement".

http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,6971-1,00.html.

This training video about orienting and giving on-going support to teachers is provided by the General Sunday School.  The Sunday School organization has been charged to assist all priesthood and auxiliary leaders in training and improving gospel teaching.

How to Teach a Song

http://www.lds.org/pa/primary/pdf/PRI_2009_HowToTeachASong_eng.pdf



Know the song: Before you can teach a song effectively, you must know the song yourself. Become familiar with the words and melody by playing the song on the piano, listening to a recording of the Children's Songbook, or listening to the music on the internet (lds.org church music web site)



Sing the Song: Children learn to sing a song by hearing it sung and by singing it themselves.


Use the scriptures: Study the song to learn what message the words convey. How could you use the scripture references at the end of the song in your preparation or in teaching the song.


Capture the children's attention: Capture the children's attention with an object, a picture, a scripture, an experience, or simply a whisper.


Direct children's listening: Ask questions that will encourage children to listen to the song and help children understand the gospel message…for example, What? Where? When? Why?…and state the question in such a way children can discover the answer as you sing the song.


Involve the children: Have children improvise actions. Assign small groups to sing different sections or verses.


Sing, sing, sing: Have children hum or sing the prelude music. For special occasions have a child sing a solo or ask a group of children to sing a chorus. Have the children sing a song that teaches the gospel principle being taught in a sharing time.


Bear testimony: Bear your personal testimony, or read testimonies recorded in the scriptures. As children hear the testimonies of others they will be strengthened.

How to Clean and Sanitize Toys

The nursery has many little hands and mouths touching blocks and toy cars and snuggling up to stuffed animals. It is important to ensure that the toys children play with remain clean and safe. Nursery leaders can take turns sanitizing the toys that need to be cleaned each week. The youth and older Primary children could do periodic sanitizing for all the toys. Additionally, always check for toys that are broken; have small loose pieces; or have rough edges. Throw away any toys that are unsafe.

The following guidelines come from a variety of government and childcare agencies. I have included the directions and amounts that are consistently given and come from reliable sources.

Instructions:

• Wash and dry stuffed or plush animals in your washing machine and dryer. Use hot water and bleach, if possible. Make sure you check the toys for any parts, such as plastic eyes, that may have come loose in the washing or drying cycle. (This should be done each week with the toys are used by the children).
• Plastic toys should be cleaned at least monthly (or weekly if the children put them in their mouths). The following are three methods for sanitizing plastic toys:
1. Dishwasher: Place toys in a dishwasher and run a sanitizing cycle. (This is easiest method for toys that need weekly attention).
2. 
   
   Bleach:
   
   • Place the toys in a large tub or sink filled with warm, soapy water. Scrub the toys well, making sure to get in between any crevices where germs can hide. You may want to use a toothbrush for hard-to-reach places. Just like hands, the most effective cleaning comes from soap and water with plenty of scrubbing. This is your most important step.
     
   • Rinse the toys well, making sure to remove all soap residue.
     
   • Submerge toys in a tub or sink that contains a bleach and water solution and allow to soak for 10 minutes. One gallon of water to ¼ cup of bleach is the general rule. Don't use too much bleach, as this can be dangerous. Also, bleach tends to be more effective in cool to warm, rather than hot, water.
     
   • Allow the toys to air-dry after sanitizing them. Drying them with a towel can lead to cross-contamination problems, so it's better to just lay them out on a rack and let them dry on their own.
   
   
3. 
   
   Oxygenated bleach powder: Oxygenated bleach is a non-toxic, sanitizing powder that you can mix with water to clean infant toys. It is also an environmentally friendly alternative to regular household bleach.
   
   • Clean toys as directed above.
     
   • Substitute oxygenated bleach powder for bleach. Mix oxygenated bleach powder with water according to package instructions.
     
   • Rinse the toys a second time in this solution.
     
   • Air dry.
     
   
   
   

Priesthood Preview

"The priesthood preview is a special opportunity for the bishopric to meet with all 11-year-old boys and their parents. The purpose of this meeting is to help boys understand the importance of the priesthood and strengthen their commitment to prepare to receive it.

The priesthood preview is usually held on a ward level so each boy can participate fully and feel the personal love and interest of his parents and priesthood leaders. This provides an opportunity for the bishop to express his love and concern for each boy and explain to the boys the interview he will hold with them before they receive the priesthood. He may also share his vision of what he hopes for the deacons quorum".

"The priesthood preview is usually held in November".

"The meeting is held under the direction of the bishop. The bishopric may plan the meeting or may invite the Primary presidency or others to assist. The bishop conducts the meeting". http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,5547-1,00.html


Examples of possible activities for a Priesthood Preview (General Primary Resource Room 9/07)


Attention Activity:  Turn off the room lights and turn on a flashlight.  Lead a discussion on power. 

• What gives the flashlight power?
  
• What else needs power to work?
  
• What is the greatest power of all, even greater than the forces of nature?
  

The power of God is called the priesthood.

Scripture Discussion:  The scriptures tell us of and how Jesus used the priesthood.  Review some stories.

• Mark 10:13-16 and 3 Nephi 17:11-12, 20-21 – Jesus blesses the children
  
• Luke 5:12-13 – Jesus heals a man with leprosy
  
• Matthew 26:2-28 – Jesus blesses and passes the sacrament
  

Jesus uses the priesthood and shares it with us.

Blessings We Receive:  How has the priesthood blessed your life?  And how will it continue to bless me?

• Name and blessing
  
• Baptism
  
• Confirmation
  
• Sacrament
  
• Father's blessings
  
• Health blessings
  
• Temple ordinances
  

Memorize the Fifth Article of Faith:  Use a memorization activity or game. 

                Show the video "A Boy and the Power of God #3" from Primary Video Collection (53170)


Learn the Duties of a Deacon: 

Have the deacons quorum president show the boys around the sacrament area and share his thoughts and experiences of being a deacon.

Music:

                Children's Song Book        #  89    The Priesthood is Restored
                                                           #166    A Young Man Prepared
                                                           #190    Love Is Spoken Here

                Hymns                                #320    The Priesthood of Our Lord
                                                           #321    Ye Who Are Called to Labor
                                                           #322    Come, All Ye Sons of God
                                                           #323    Rise Up, O Men of God