Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Welcome back to our early morning seminary teacher training series! Meaningful class discussions are vital to gospel learning, helping students maintain concentration, deepen their understanding of doctrine, and develop a genuine desire to apply what they learn. In this video, we cover essential techniques to transform your classroom interactions.
Key Concepts Covered in This Training:
The Foundation of Planning: Just like any teaching method, an effective discussion must be carefully prepared under the influence of the Spirit. We explore how to plan your series of questions and prepare for unanticipated directions the conversation might take.
Managing Participation: Learn why it is crucial to avoid excessive teacher commentary so students do not lose interest or feel their contributions are less valuable. We also discuss how to respectfully invite all students to participate, handle students who dominate the conversation, and why calling on students by name fosters an environment of love and respect.
The Art of Silence and Clarification: Don't be afraid of silence! Giving students time to reflect facilitates instruction by the Holy Ghost. We also cover how to rephrase unclear questions rather than asking a rapid succession of new ones.
Listening and Follow-Up: Discover the power of listening carefully to discern student needs. Asking specific follow-up questions—such as "Can you help me understand what you mean by that?"—frequently invites a spirit of testimony into the response.
Redirecting for Edification: Learn to break the standard "teacher-asks, student-answers, teacher-comments" pattern by redirecting comments back to the class. Asking “What would you add to that?” allows students to teach each other, fulfilling the counsel in Doctrine and Covenants 88:122 that "all may be edified of all".
Positive Validation: Find out how to appropriately acknowledge every response. We provide tips on how to build on the correct parts of an inaccurate comment or ask a follow-up question so a student can rethink their response without feeling embarrassed.
Watch now to learn how to cultivate lively, meaningful, and Spirit-led discussions in your seminary classroom!
Welcome back to our early morning seminary teacher training series! Meaningful class discussions are vital to gospel learning, helping students maintain concentration, deepen their understanding of doctrine, and develop a genuine desire to apply what they learn. In this video, we cover essential techniques to transform your classroom interactions.
Key Concepts Covered in This Training:
The Foundation of Planning: Just like any teaching method, an effective discussion must be carefully prepared under the influence of the Spirit. We explore how to plan your series of questions and prepare for unanticipated directions the conversation might take.
Managing Participation: Learn why it is crucial to avoid excessive teacher commentary so students do not lose interest or feel their contributions are less valuable. We also discuss how to respectfully invite all students to participate, handle students who dominate the conversation, and why calling on students by name fosters an environment of love and respect.
The Art of Silence and Clarification: Don't be afraid of silence! Giving students time to reflect facilitates instruction by the Holy Ghost. We also cover how to rephrase unclear questions rather than asking a rapid succession of new ones.
Listening and Follow-Up: Discover the power of listening carefully to discern student needs. Asking specific follow-up questions—such as "Can you help me understand what you mean by that?"—frequently invites a spirit of testimony into the response.
Redirecting for Edification: Learn to break the standard "teacher-asks, student-answers, teacher-comments" pattern by redirecting comments back to the class. Asking “What would you add to that?” allows students to teach each other, fulfilling the counsel in Doctrine and Covenants 88:122 that "all may be edified of all".
Positive Validation: Find out how to appropriately acknowledge every response. We provide tips on how to build on the correct parts of an inaccurate comment or ask a follow-up question so a student can rethink their response without feeling embarrassed.
Watch now to learn how to cultivate lively, meaningful, and Spirit-led discussions in your seminary classroom!
