Adapting a lesson for Junior or Senior Primary

Junior Primary and Senior Primary are two very different groups and therefore should be taught in a different manner. You may have a lesson that has appropriate content for both groups, but you will have to adapt it for the age group you are teaching in order to keep their attention.  

Most Junior primary children cannot read and therefore will need visual things such as pictures or objects to look at and manipulate. Use language that is simple and examples that they can relate to. Remember this age group has a tiny attention span and when they get inattentive you may need to stop for a second and have a movement break. 

Senior primary children have a bigger attention span but, it is still small. They also need to move, visualize and manipulate objects. Use good questions, scripture stories, role playing, and games. With these children you can use higher vocabulary and can allow them to try and define hard words. Allow them time to think over a question and answer it (count to 3 in your head before moving on). These children can do more and need less help from the teacher.  

 When creating your lesson for more than one group try... 

-Making two sets of questions: simple questions for younger children and more difficult questions for older children.  

-Put quotes or scriptures on the back of pictures and when you use them with the younger children they will hold the pictures while you explain the quotes or scriptures. With the older children you can allow them to read the quotes out loud.  

-When using the chalkboard put pictures low and reachable for the younger children. Things at eye level are paid attention to more attentively.  

I know if you try to meet the needs of these two different groups you will have more success in teaching and will feel more satisfied with your efforts. Your ultimate goal is to help children gain a testimony and live the gospel. I am confident that with the Holy Ghost guiding you, you will reach the children in your primary and they will learn to not only live the gospel, but to love the gospel.  

Sister McClellan

What to of when you have extra time

Have you ever found yourself at the end of a lesson with 15 minutes left and nothing to do? 

If you do not have a very talkative bunch this could happen.  

1. Try choosing 2 or 3 enrichment activities in the manual at the end of each lesson to help extend your lesson. You could add them where you find appropriate. I like to add them in three different parts so the children have some listening and then some activity at 3 different times in the lesson for variety. Attention spans are pretty tiny, so this seems to break the lesson up into manageable chunks. The lesson manuals are tailor made for each age level of children. These manuals were put together with much thought and prayer and are perfect for teaching young children.  

2. If you still need something try going to lds.org and clicking on "children" in the menu. This will take you to the primary page. Here you will find a link for "Lesson Helps" and it will provide you with extra stories, activities, and coloring pages directly from the Friend that will go with your lesson. We have provided on our stake primary blog a section on the right in red called "Useful Links". These links will take you directly to the lds.org primary page, the 2012 lesson manuals, the leadership training library, and an index for coloring pages. Check it out!! 

3. Pray about each lesson you are to give. Pray that you will have the spirit with you when you give your lesson and pray that the children will be able to feel the spirit when you teach, so they know that what they hear is good and true. 

I know Heavenly Father will give you the inspiration you need to best teach the children in your personal class. I know He will because He has helped me many times. You just have to ask. I can teach a lesson without His help, but a lesson with His help is 100 times more effective.  

 Sister McClellan 

 FYI...We are adding a section to our blog called "Useful ideas from around the Stake". We would like to add great ideas we see in your primaries to this section. We would get permission first and credit you for the idea on the blog. We have seen some creative ideas as we visit that might be able to help or inspire another primary. If you have something you would like to see or need help with please contact one of us in the stake primary presidency.

Improving teaching through setting clear expectations

In order to be effective teachers we have to give our students clear expectations. The best teachers I have observed are very prepared and use several techniques to invite their students to participate and learn. These techniques can be used with children of all ages in sharing time, singing time, and in the classroom.

1. Before beginning a lesson state the objective. Students need to know what they will be learning about. This might go something like this... "I am excited to be here today. We are going to learn about how prophets teach us to choose the right."

2. Next, give students clear expectations for behavior. Children will meet our ideals if they know how to meet our expectations. This might go something like this...

"I have a lot of fun things planned for our lesson. To start we are going to play a game, but in order for us to have a lot of fun you guys are going to have to help me out. I am going to call on the boys and girls that are listening and sitting quietly. When I think you are getting too loud, or you aren't listening, I am going to say, "If you can hear me touch your elbow. If you can hear me touch your knee. If you can hear me touch your nose." Practice it once before starting the lesson. (This works like a charm in Junior Primary. Try it!! You may have another technique that works, the point is to get them listening before moving on. Especially when you are about to testify of a gospel principle.)

With older children you may hold up the scout sign or some other reminder, but they will quiet down when you stand there long enough. If students are getting out of their seats tell them you will call on them as soon as they are sitting down and then be sure to call on them.

If you want students to raise their hands to be called on to answer questions then say, "I will only call on students with their hands raised." Say, "Please do not blurt out answers it ruins the lesson for everyone."

You could also try having students tell someone sitting next to them what they think the answer is and then count to three and call on someone with a raised hand to get the answer out. Say, "Quietly tell someone next to you who the living prophet is today and when you are finished raise your hand, if you think you know his name." This gives everyone in the group a chance to participate. You could also say, "Give me a thumbs up if you think President Monson is our prophet."

3. Last, at a point in each lesson testify of some gospel point. Testimony brings the spirit every time.

I know if you try to incorporate some of these things they will work for you. You will be blessed with the spirit in your primary and that the children will meet your behavior expectations. You will get better at these techniques the more you practice them. You are all doing amazing things in primary. We appreciate the heart and soul you put into each primary child. They are blessed to have such wonderful people on their side. These are Heavenly Fathers children and he loves you for your efforts.

Sister McClellan
Second Counselor
Arlington Stake Primary

Testimony

I was touched by the testimonies given in sacrament meeting last week. They testified of the simple truths of the gospel. 

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Primary general president said, "The world will teach our children if we do not" (Ensign, November 2010). The adversary is waging war on our precious children. We must prepare each child to win that war by helping them gain a personal testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. You can do this in primary by...

-Being an example and bearing your testimony during sharing time, singing time, or a lesson. When you feel the spirit, stop and share what you feel with the children. When you are summing up your lesson leave them with your feelings. 

-Allow children to give talks in primary. It gives them a chance to bear their testimony in a more comfortable place. 

-Teach them that as they bear their own testimony, the power of the Holy Ghost will witness the truth of what they say in their hearts and their minds. Their testimony will strengthen them, protect them, and prepare them to return to live with their Heavenly Father. 

I have a testimony of my Savior and I know he loves each of his children. You all have such an impact in the lives of Heavenly Fathers children. Testify to them often. 

Sister McClellan

A tip for settling down the children

If you have a rowdy class that likes to talk, try this...

Before starting your lesson, let each child share something fun or interesting they did that week. This allows them to talk and have the attention of the class. This should help students settle down and be ready for your lesson. It also gives you a little glimpse into the lives of your students. Teachers should know their students!!

Sister McClellan
Second Counselor
Arlington Stake Primary Presidency

Asking the proper "who," "what," "when,"" where," and "how"

Weekly Teaching Moment        2/24/2012

Asking the proper "who," "what," "when,"" where," and "how" Questions

I loved President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's wise counsel in the Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting and thought we could apply these questions to our callings.

1. Who are we reaching out to? Who needs us?

2. What can I do to help these children in primary recognize the spirit and to know that their Heavenly Father loves them?

3. Where can I find answers to help our Primary

4. How can we help the children to gain a testimony and to gain the desire to always serve our Heavenly Father?

President Uchtdorf said, "All of our discussions concerning young and old, from welfare needs to missionary work, from gospel teaching to strengthening families, should be framed in this context."

"As you have noticed, the new handbooks do not specify in great detail every action you are to take in your calling. These handbooks were provided for the right amount of structure without regimenting every detail. It might be wise to look at the handbooks and even the scriptures not as checklists or detailed scripts but rather as opportunities to prepare our minds and hearts to receive divine inspiration for our responsibilities.

Unfortunately, we sometimes don’t seek revelation or answers from the scriptures or the handbooks because we think we know the answers already.

Brothers and sisters, as good as our previous experience may be, if we stop asking questions, stop thinking, stop pondering, we can thwart the revelations of the Spirit. Remember, it was the questions young Joseph asked that opened the door for the restoration of all things. We can block the growth and knowledge our Heavenly Father intends for us. How often has the Holy Spirit tried to tell us something we needed to know but couldn’t get past the massive iron gate of what we thought we already knew?"

Sisters, we are so blessed to have Priesthood who lead us. I share my testimony with you that I know that President Monson is Heavenly Father's mouthpiece, and that our Priesthood leaders are called of God. I also know that when we turn to our Father in Heaven for guidance and revelation He will most certainly give us answers and a direction. I know that He loves each and every one of you for your commitment to your callings, and the love you share with your primary children.

We as a Stake Primary Presidency love and appreciate each one of you so much.

 

Michelle Nieman

1st Counselor in Stake Primary Presidency

Make the choice

Weekly Teaching Moment  2/19/2012

I would like to share one of my favorite quotes with you.

"Live your life so that those who don't know Him, but know you, will want to know Him because they know you."

One of my favorite scriptures also happens to be this years theme. 

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

My challenge for us all this week is to commit to choosing the right even when it is hard. Loving those around us even though at times that is not easy. May each of us Serve the Lord with our whole hearts.

Michelle Nieman

1st Counselor in the Stake Primary Presidency