Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Welcome back to our early morning seminary teacher training series! In this video, we explore how to manage classroom discipline while maintaining an environment of Christlike love.
Key Concepts Covered in This Training:
The Philosophy of Discipline and Love: Classroom management should always be rooted in the understanding that "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God". As President Thomas S. Monson powerfully taught, "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved". While order is necessary and disorderly behavior can hinder the Holy Ghost, maintaining order does not always mean having complete silence.
Attentiveness and Less Direct Interventions: Teachers must be attentive to whether students are restless, bored, or even lonely. When misbehavior occurs, it is crucial to control your emotions and avoid public ridicule. Often, minor disruptions can be resolved through less direct methods such as making eye contact, stopping talking even in midsentence, moving to stand closer to the misbehaving student, or directing a lesson-related question to them to bring them back into the discussion.
Direct Interventions and Private Counsel: If unacceptable behavior persists, teachers should consult with the student privately. During this counsel, it is vital to differentiate the unacceptable behavior from the student's individual worth, and remember to follow the Lord's counsel to show "forth afterwards an increase of love". If needed, teachers can also separate disruptive students or consult with parents and priesthood leaders for additional insights.
Extreme Actions and Unwavering Love: Dismissing a student is an extreme action, but as President David O. McKay taught, "order we must have!—it is necessary for soul growth," and it is better for one student to leave than an entire class be slowly poisoned by disruption. Before taking this step, teachers should counsel with parents and leaders, making sure the student understands that it is the disruption that is unacceptable, not the student. Ultimately, we must remember Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's counsel regarding unresponsive students: "maybe you can’t teach them yet, but you can love them".
Watch now to learn how to balance maintaining necessary classroom order with showing unwavering love for your students!
Welcome back to our early morning seminary teacher training series! In this video, we explore how to manage classroom discipline while maintaining an environment of Christlike love.
Key Concepts Covered in This Training:
The Philosophy of Discipline and Love: Classroom management should always be rooted in the understanding that "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God". As President Thomas S. Monson powerfully taught, "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved". While order is necessary and disorderly behavior can hinder the Holy Ghost, maintaining order does not always mean having complete silence.
Attentiveness and Less Direct Interventions: Teachers must be attentive to whether students are restless, bored, or even lonely. When misbehavior occurs, it is crucial to control your emotions and avoid public ridicule. Often, minor disruptions can be resolved through less direct methods such as making eye contact, stopping talking even in midsentence, moving to stand closer to the misbehaving student, or directing a lesson-related question to them to bring them back into the discussion.
Direct Interventions and Private Counsel: If unacceptable behavior persists, teachers should consult with the student privately. During this counsel, it is vital to differentiate the unacceptable behavior from the student's individual worth, and remember to follow the Lord's counsel to show "forth afterwards an increase of love". If needed, teachers can also separate disruptive students or consult with parents and priesthood leaders for additional insights.
Extreme Actions and Unwavering Love: Dismissing a student is an extreme action, but as President David O. McKay taught, "order we must have!—it is necessary for soul growth," and it is better for one student to leave than an entire class be slowly poisoned by disruption. Before taking this step, teachers should counsel with parents and leaders, making sure the student understands that it is the disruption that is unacceptable, not the student. Ultimately, we must remember Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's counsel regarding unresponsive students: "maybe you can’t teach them yet, but you can love them".
Watch now to learn how to balance maintaining necessary classroom order with showing unwavering love for your students!
