Introduction:
I believe that most of our students see the start of a new school year as an opportunity to make improvements. As teachers, you have a wonderful opportunity to help and encourage them in these desires. As you are starting the school year off, now is an important time to have your students set some personal goals on scripture study. These goals should focus more on the quality of their experience with the scriptures and less on the quantity of what they wil read. The quality of their experience will help them to see the changes they desire.
What is my initial understanding or ability? (Assessment):
Have you considered how many different methods there are to study scriptures? How many do you think your students are familiar with?
What is it and why is it important? (Define):
President Nelson said, “I suggest that you shape the style of your study to fit you” (“Living by Scriptural Guidance,” Ensign, Nov. 2000). When students choose a scripture study method that meets their individual needs, they are more likely to be motivated and excited to accomplish their scripture study goal and feel the power of studying the word of God in their lives. Teachers should not try to direct students to a specific scripture study method; rather as they encourage students to set a personal study goal, they should help them evaluate which method would be best for them. One way this can be done is by providing students with a variety of scripture study methods to choose from. It can be highly effective to also invite students who have already discovered effective scripture study methods to share them with their classmates.
Who or what provides a good illustration of this? (Model):
As Brother Billings invites his students to think about how their personal scripture study over the past year has improved. He gives his students 5 minutes to write down 3 or 4 things of how their personal scripture study has changed, and how they feel they have been blessed by it. After five minutes he asks the following questions:
What do you want to experience as a result of your time with the scriptures?
What scripture study method has helped you to have more meaningful personal scripture study?
What are things you feel you might want to change or improve on moving forward?
How can I practice using this skill or applying this principle? (Practice)
Review statements from this past general conference about the blessings of daily person scripture study, and evaluate your own personal study habits in light of these statements.
Ponder or discuss:
How do you think students’ scripture study methods impact the way they learn from the scriptures?
How and when will I incorporate this?
Determine how you will provide your students with options of study methods and skills they can use. Decide on the question or questions you will use to help them identify the method that will best meet their needs. (You may want to consider using this in combination with other scripture goal setting skills such as identifying blessings of scripture study, encouraging them to be prayerful in setting a scripture study goal, or deciding when and where to study for example.)
Please note: Some students will be ready to decide during class which scripture study method they would like to use. Others may need to ponder and pray a little before they decide. It will be beneficial to periodically follow up with students and help accordingly.
Comments