Repetition Leads to Competence

What a great time we had at Achievement Day Girls Camp this week! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement to the girls in your ward. Music touches our lives in so many ways. As we saw at camp, music can help focus attention, release energy, produce laughs, and invite the Spirit. As I have settled into this calling, my testimony of music as a teaching tool has been strengthened. As the children learn the songs that we teach in Primary, they learn gospel principles, and they learn one way they can share what is in their hearts. "The song of the righteous is a prayer unto me..." (D&C 25:12)
Teaching lyrics and melodies during singing time takes flexibility and patience. Anybody who has stood to teach, alone in front of more than one child, has had to adapt to multiple ages, reading abilities, learning styles, and varying levels of gospel knowledge. But some techniques for teaching are almost universal. Remember that the children need to HEAR the words. When you speak, speak slowly and clearly. The younger the children, the more they need the clarity. As they hear the words and music together, the information will begin to imprint to their brain.
We know that truth is established by the mouths of two or three witnesses (Deut. 17:6, Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1, D&C 6:28, D&C 128:3). We can apply this principle when we teach, especially when we are teaching specific words that need to be repeated exactly. Repeating the same line, phrase, or verse of a song three times will settle those words and melody into the brain. Often, after one or two times, it can feel like the children might get bored with the repetition. But it is easy to overlook that one child who needs a little extra. Offer encouragement to those who pick up the new words quickly to sing clearly and with confidence. Their confidence will help by allowing the other children to hear the words repeated. I know that as we teach these inspired words, the children will feel the Spirit and be able to draw from this knowledge as they grow.
Sara Hammond
Arlington Stake Primary Counselor over Music and Nursery

Activity Day Girls Camp 2013

Thank you to everyone who participated in this years Activity Day Girls Camp. It was a very fun and uplifting day for the girls and leaders. Please enjoy a few of the pictures of the day. The Arlington Stake Primary Presidency

The Gospel Foundation

In the two weeks since I have been set apart for this calling. I have been impressed with the feeling of how important it is for us to help the primary children build a strong foundation in the gospel. If they have a strong foundation not only will they stay in their church but their positive example will affect others along the way. One of the greatest men I’ve ever known joined the church because of the example of his son. He married a wonderful woman who was LDS, he started going to church and was what the branch members lovingly called a dry Mormon. When it came time for his son to get baptized he realized that he didn’t want his son to take that step without him. Because of that their family was sealed in the temple, he saw three of his four children go on missions. All four children married in the temple. All this came because of his love for his child. A child who had set a good example for his father because of the gospel principles that he learned in primary. Another great man I know felt inspired after the birth of his second child; to give his children the kind of upbringing that he had. He thought about what was missing in his children’s lives that he had, had when he was growing up. He realized it was church. He had been raised Methodist, he was getting ready that next Sunday to go to the Methodist Church for the first time in years. That week two Mormon missionaries knocked on his door. He had turned away several sets of missionaries in the past, this time he let them in because of his love for his two young children. He ended up seeing both of his children go on missions, graduate from BYU and both married in the temple. I feel strongly that many of the families that are less active in our wards would come back because of their children. The children are the key.

Melanie Bissey
Arlington Stake Primary
Second Counselor

The Rescue

I hope that all of you have had the wonderful opportunity to see the broadcast on June 23, 2013. If you haven't had a chance yet here is the link to the broadcast http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast. I urge everyone to take the time to watch it. All of the leaders spoke about how the Lord is hastening the work and that the least effective way to share the gospel is through tracting. The leadership of the church is telling us our mission is simple. We are to love, serve and sincerely become friends to those around us. By doing this we will see our brothers and sisters come unto Christ. Elder Perry said, "Our ward councils lead the charge of bringing people back to church". How great would be our joy, if every primary child that was on our rosters were with us every Sunday; gaining a sure foundation of the gospel. He also tells us "that we don't need an assignment to do the work". Elder Ballard shared, "that the work begins on our knees".
I know that this seems so simple but I know that if we sincerely pray about the wonderful children that are missing from our circles every Sunday, the Lord will let us know who is ready to receive us in their homes and accept our invitations. If we are sincere in our efforts, they will feel it and desire to be with us. The hardest part will be is turning off the TV, or putting down that good book when we are prompted by the spirit and leaving our warm home to serve our brothers and sisters. Trust me I know. Stay tuned next week will be about how two of the greatest men I have ever known joined the church because of their children.

Melanie Bissey
Arlington Stake Primary Second Counselor

A Back Up Plan

Well, I'm about to walk out the door for our family's summer vacation. I did a last minute check of my "to do" list to see what I've forgotten. I've got the camera packed. I always forget it. I remembered the items from the freezer. The neighbor has the key to house now. That's important!! The last thing listed is send out this Saturday's Weekly Teaching Moment. I haven't prepared it yet. So I checked over some thoughts I recorded last fall and found this unfinished thought and figured it was quite appropriate for my situation!!

"I have learned that, even with the best prepared plans, not everything goes as planned. Sometimes things go completely wrong. A back up plan is needed. Take a moment and plan a couple of games, puzzles, flannel board stories or print out extra coloring pages that you only use when you just can’t seem to capture the children’s attention or when you have extra time in class. You’ll never have to worry about “when things don’t go as planned”. Put together a “kit” for a substitute teacher too so they have some “tools” in their bag before they go to teach at the last minute. And then, let the spirit guide you!"

Elise Simbeck Arlington Stake Primary Second Counselor

Understand Who You Teach

I’ve had lots of experience with children. I am a mother of 8 children. I was a nanny to 4 children while I went to nursing school. I babysat many, many hours to earn money for my first car. I’ve always had a calling working with the youth and always thought that I understand kids. I recently got to spend time with 4 year old little boy. Wow!! Had I forgotten so much about being 4 years old!! My youngest son was that age only 4 years ago. That’s not really isn’t that long ago, but I had to quickly readjust my expectations of this little boy. Once I did, we had a much better time together. Children grow and develop so quickly. So, even if you consider yourself an experienced primary teacher (like I do of myself!!), don’t forget to review the age characteristics of the children you are teaching. It can be very helpful in understanding their needs or helping to solve behavioral problems or getting and keeping their attention.

The manual “Teaching No Greater Call” has a section on the age characteristics.
Here’s a link to it: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=997397a7c1d20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=a9832ce2b446c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Elise Simbeck
Arlington Stake Primary Second Counselor

Bless Us to Have Fun

A few weeks ago, I found myself frustrated because it seemed every prayer I heard in church and at home included “help us to have fun”. I kept thinking, “Really, do we need to have fun every day and in everything we do?” And so before my frustration could build any more, I paused. I thought about what were the children really saying when they asked Heavenly Father to bless them with fun. Then a quiet peaceful thought came to my mind. I was reminded that Heavenly Father could speak all languages including the language of children. When they said “Bless us to have fun in Primary,” He heard “Bless us with many ways to learn the gospel and to feel the spirit today.” I am afraid I had become too busy with my daily tasks that I forgot that children aren’t always able to say what they are thinking or feeling and do the best they can. I was reminded to stop listening with my ears. I needed to slow down and hear what was spoken from the hearts of the children, not their mouths, and let the Holy Ghost guide me to understanding them. I was sure humbled very quickly and grateful that my Heavenly Father understands the “language” of me too! Elise Simbeck Arlington Stake Primary Second Counselor