The Theme of Primary

The theme of Primary:

                      “All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (3 Nephi 22:13).

The purposes of Primary are to help children:

1. Feel Heavenly Father’s love for them.
2. Learn and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.
3. Feel and recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost.
4. Prepare to make and keep sacred covenants.

How do you accomplish this in your Primary?  The same as you have been doing each week!  As I visit the Primaries throughout our Stake, I am amazed at all that I see and feel.  I see friendships and feel love.  I see happiness and I smile.  I hear laughter, music and lessons and feel the spirit.  What a blessing it is to be able to visit each primary.  I always leave spiritually fed and uplifted. 

As you prayerfully prepare each week, don’t forget to ask yourself “What will the children DO to learn today.”  Children learn in many ways.   Some learn visually or auditory, but when they can do something as well, it helps their learning.  And it’s fun!  Also, ask yourself “How can I help them FEEL the spirit today?”  There are many things you can do to invite the spirit.  When you do feel the spirit, you can point it out to them.  Nothing teaches better than the spirit! 

 

Thanks,
Elise Simbeck

Arlington Stake Primary

First Counselor

Teaching with Inspiration

Elder Boyd K. Packer said, “Power comes when a teacher has done all that he can to prepare, not just the individual lesson, but in keeping his life in tune with the Spirit. If he will learn to rely on the Spirit for inspiration, he can go before his class … secure in the knowledge that he can teach with inspiration” (Teach Ye Diligently, rev. ed. [1991], 358–59).

The Savior taught by example.  His life was in tune with the Spirit constantly and therefore He was able to teach with power and inspiration.  We will never be as perfect as Christ, but we can try our best to live our lives in such a way that we too can be in tune with the Spirit constantly.  We can pray often, we can read the scriptures daily, we can go to church and fulfill our callings to the best of our ability.  We can be baptized, take the sacrament and go to the temple as much as possible.  Others will see your acts.  They will want to know Christ because they know you.  You will be able to teach them about Christ with inspiration and power because you will be like Him.  You will teach your family, the primary children, and others by example.  

Autumn McClellan

Arlington Stake Primary President

Teaching Like the Savior

https://www.lds.org/youth/learn/ss/becoming-more-christlike/familiar?lang=eng

Primary children love to hear stories. If you want to teach like the Savior try and use personal stories. They are most effective and deliver the spirit. I love the stories you share in primary and have been touched very deeply from time to time through the stories you share. I know the children feel the Holy Ghost as you speak from the heart.

Autumn McClellan

Arlington Stake Primary President

Effective Teaching

Stake leaders have been asked to think about effective teaching practices.  We have been encouraged to teach like the Savior.  I would encourage you to study more about the Savior and His way of teaching.  Understand that whatever your abilities there is always room for improvement.  Please stop by some of your classrooms in the next couple of months and see how effective the teaching is.  Observe. Bring a thank you to the teacher.  See where you can help and if there are any needs that can be met through training.  

Study Handbook 2 Section 1.2.2, 1.4, and 1.4.1

In the Ensign this month there is an article on page 10 called, "We Teach By The Power Of The Holy Ghost".  

In this article it states that effective teachers love, teach by the Spirit, teach doctrine, and invite discussion.  To be effective we must prepare early and study more than we need.  We need to know and love those we teach so we will use the proper methods to meet the needs and get results from our students.  In 2Nephi 33:1 it says, "When a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it to the hearts of the children of men." In D&C 42:14 it says, "And the Spirit shall be given unto you by prayer and faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach."  We have to pray and ask for the Spirit to be with us when we teach.  We have to ask that we will say what Heavenly Father wants our students to know.  We have to ask that our students will feel the Spirit when we teach.  We then must have faith that the Holy Ghost will deliver.  When we testify the Spirit will come.  Use the scriptures and church approved materials.  Have students interact. Ask yourself, "What will the children do to learn today and how can I help them feel the Spirit?" That means, ask questions, discuss, and have students apply what they have learned.  Invite them to do something and then follow-up the next week.  It could be as simple as asking students to find one way to help a family member that week and then ask them what they did the next Sunday.  Even children are responsible for their own learning.  Help them, give them an opportunity to apply a gospel principle.  

In this article President Hinckley was quoted, he said "Eternal life will come only as men and women are taught with such effectiveness that they change and discipline their lives.  They cannot be coerced into righteousness or into heaven.  They must be led, and that means teaching".

Autumn McClellan

Arlington Stake Primary President

Teaching With Symbols

For this week's teaching, I would like to bring a new resource to your attention (at least new to me!):

https://www.lds.org/callings/primary/leader-resources/teaching-children/symbols?lang=eng

Found on lds.org, this page talks about Teaching with Symbols. Symbols are good to use because they can hold the attention of all ages and abilities. One of my favorite suggestions on this page is using symbols to post a nursery or sharing time schedule. One of my first experiences in primary gave my an opportunity to see a schedule in action. She would review the schedule at the beginning of each day, and she was consistent with bringing the children's attention to the progress through the schedule.

Giving children routines and expectations can give them peace. This can contribute to the reverence in your Primaries and open testimony-sharing opportunities.

I encourage you to review this page and discuss with your presidency if adding symbols or a schedule would enhance your Primary experiences.

Sara Hammond

Arlington Stake Primary

Music and Nursery Specialist

Cub Scout Den Doodle

How do you encourage Cub Scouts to wear their uniforms, bring their books, to be on time or bringing their families to pack meetings? 

A den doodle could be the answer.

 

Den Doodles are used to recognize Cub Scouts for participation in activities and any other behavior which needs encouragement.

Den doodles can be used as a continual incentive for Cub Scouts. A den doodle is an emblem - a figure chosen by the den and placed on a stand or hung on a wall to show each boy's advancement and participation status.  The doodle is then given to the boy as he crosses over into Boy Scouts.

 

Make your own doodles -

Den doodles are simple to make. It is just a leather or craft string, shoelaces or other lacing attached to circles of cardboard, wood, tin, or other devices.  These "doodles" are hung from a coat hanger or wooden or PVC pipe stand.  Beads are awarded for various things and added to the string each week.  A doodle stick dates back to the Indian coup stick and totem pole.  Cub Scouts will like to make den doodles and watch their string of conquests grow. Boys falling behind take notice of their bare strings and work harder for their advancement. Den doodles should be on display each week and at each pack meeting.

 

Beads could be awarded for:

1. Being on time. 

2. Wearing their Cub Scout Shirt TUCKED IN.

3. Bringing their Book

4. Passing off something during the week at home with their parents. 

5.  For extra helping or good behavior during the meeting

6. Faith in God requirements

7.  Doing a good deed

8.  Bruises, scrapes and other injuries or lost teeth (a favorite with Cubs!)

9.  Bringing family to the Pack Meetings

  

Pack 182 has an amazing Doodle that they use for the entire Pack.  I've attached pictures.  You can google "Den Doodles" and see what others have done.

 

Thanks,
Elise Simbeck

Arlington Stake Primary

First Counselor

The Science of Happiness

 I’m taking my Girl Scouts on a 20 mile hike at the end of June. I thought it might be nice to give each girl a disposable camera and a notebook so she can take some pictures and journal or sketch along the trail. Then I wondered if she could earn a badge for this.  I checked out the requirements for several badges and discovered the Science of Happiness Badge would fit perfectly.  Here are some of the activities they will be doing:

 

    1.  Gratitude Log—the girls will write down things they are grateful for or the things that made them “stop to smell the roses” each day.   The badge pamphlet says that people who acknowledge their blessings are a happier than those who do not.

   2.Thinking Differently about happiness-- Sometimes you can’t change what happens in your day, but you can change how you react to it. The girls will try to find the good side to each situation that day. Scientists say that people who stay positive, or are “optimistic,” are happier, even if more bad things happen to them.

   3. Getting Happy through Others—I’ll encourage the girls to try to help each other along the way. The pamphlet says that a good way for you to be happy on the inside is to care about others and focus on relationships with people on the outside.  

 

It seems to me that this Girl Scout badge teaches gratitude, hope and service.  These are the same things the Church has been teaching us since the beginning!

 

    1.  Gratitude-- Pg 192 of the Family Home Evening Manual states “An increased spirit of gratitude will bring increased joy into our lives.”  

    2.  Hope-- Alma 34:41, “But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.” 

    3. Service-- President George Albert Smith said of ministering to others: “Our eternal happiness will be in proportion to the way that we devote ourselves to helping others."

 

It’s kind of fun to see how science and religion match up!  I challenge you to try one of the activities from the Girl Scout Pamphlet and see if you can increase your happiness!  

 

Thanks,
Elise Simbeck

Arlington State Primary Presidency

First Counselor