Motivate and Inspire

    Every year as the kids head back to school I always love to see their excitement!  Sure they may grumble a little about having to go back to school and sit around and learn all day but really anyone can see that they are actually looking forward to it!  Days filled with friends, structure, new ideas and opportunities.  The teachers generally are sweet, welcoming and patiently listen and answer them.

     As I watched and pondered the whole back to school process I realized that as a parent, neighbor, friend and leader to those around me, I need to step it up!  All of us as teachers have so many opportunities to motivate and inspire.   Sometimes it's easy to fall into the same old routine and think that what we say or do doesn't make much of a difference.  I promise you, it does!! Get excited about something, think of a new way to teach it.  Be silly, make a game, laugh at yourself, laugh with others, have fun...be like a child.  Children have a beautiful talent for making any activity fun.  They don't care how they look, who's watching, if it's performed exactly as imagined, they are more concerned of figuring out ways to accomplish the task, how they can involve their friends and find joy in the process. 

     I challenge everyone, myself included, to find a way to get those around us excited abut the gospel!  Show the children that the scriptures are an amazing tool to help us find answers to our questions and learn about some really cool people.  Teach them how our Heavenly Father is there, waiting for us to come to Him and strengthen our relationship.  Help them know that He will answer our prayers and give us strength in times of trials, always...  Sometimes we just have to humble ourselves and ask for that help.  Let us be patient and loving as the Savior always is with us.  And remember that we are never alone, we are all in this together and we can strengthen and help those around us by letting our light shine.  Be sweet, be kind, have fun, rely on Heavenly Father and relax...you've got this.  You're making a difference to those around you and it is appreciated!!!

Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance...

Alma 36:3...Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.

Lauri Ferguson

Arlington Stake Primary

2nd Counselor

Five Reasons

Today, I thought about five reasons why I love my calling!   

I love my calling because…

1.     I get to learn!  My calling requires me to study the scriptures, manuals, conference addresses, trainings and more.  To fulfill my calling, I must study and learn. 

2.     Because I am so busy!  I am asked to do many things and go to many places and to do it cheerfully!  I learn to rely on Him. I learn to be happy about it, too!

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.”  Philippians 4:13"for God loveth a cheerful giver."  2 Corinthians 9:7

3.     I have to do things I don’t want to do!  My talents and experiences grow.  I overcome my fears and anxieties.  I learn more about myself and become a better person as I do the things I really would rather not do. I become a better servant for the Lord.

“I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, Over mountain or plain or sea;

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, I’ll be what you want me to be.”

            -Hymn #270

4.     It leads me to the temple.  As I learn of the gospel and give cheerful service, my heart turns to the Lord.  It makes me want to go to the Temple more often.

5.     I have been humbled. The more I understand through study, the more I give through service, the more I learn through doing hard things, the more I attend the temple, the more I understand what an honor it truly is to teach and serve the little children.  I am humbled by Heavenly Father’s confidence in me that He wants me, imperfect and flawed, to serve His children.

“No greater responsibility can rest upon man than to be a teacher of God’s children.”    

                           -Teaching, No Greater Call Lesson 1

Elise Simbeck

Arlington Stake Primary

First Counselor

Excited to Learn

Yesterday afternoon as I finished up my yard work and went into the house to fix dinner, I reminded my children to get their church clothes and shoes ready for Sunday.  My 13 year old daughter insisted it was only Friday.  As she and I discussed what day of the week it really was, my younger boys quickly started to make plans for their extra "Saturday". I ended the discussion by going to the computer to prove that it really was Saturday.  They admitted defeat and got their clothes ready for Sunday.

 

This morning as I woke up and realized it was indeed Sunday, I was so very happy.  I thought about my children's disappointment when they realized it would be Sunday and not Saturday.  How could anyone not be excited for Sunday?  I took a minute to see if I could find a scripture that would describe or explain what I was feeling.  Here's what I found:

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118: 24

 

Sunday is a day of learning and worship.  Doctrine and Covenants 19: 23 reads "Learn of me, and listen to my words."  Our homes, church and the temple are places that we learn of Him.  We have DVDs, scriptures, LDS.org and more.  We are blessed to have so many opportunities for learning around us!   I suddenly became excited for all our children!  They will get to learn at school soon and as they are learn at school, they also will be preparing themselves to become better scholars of the gospel!  This might be a good time to remind the children and parents that as they prepare for back to school, they can include some discussion of Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 and perhaps sign off  Developing Talents #6.  They could also complete Preparing the for the Priesthood  or Young Women #4 in their Faith in God book!

 

Thanks,
Elise Simbeck

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