Teaching the principle of giving support in the classroom to the independent learning at home

20 March 2019

Brethren,

My wife Vivienne teaches the Adult Sunday School class in our ward. Usually when I ask her about how her class went when I come home she responds with: “It went OK, but I wish I had remembered this” or “I wish I would have done such and such.”

Last Sunday I found her giddy with excitement about her SS class experience that day. It was no more “I wish…I hope…I forgot” (it was not about her), but about how the class took over the lesson. I encouraged her to share her feelings with the ward SS president. I found her email so compelling (I promise, I didn’t prompt or direct her) that I feel to share it with others—if I can make it so it doesn’t appear to be boasting, a set up or "Lewis conspiracy.” So I need your guidance on this, if approved at all.

The last time I introduced the subject of smaller classes to you, your reaction was pretty strong that the Adult SS classes are better than ever…that teachers are really catching the vision…the increased size of the class was enhancing the discussion. It was all about the quality of teaching and improvement in discussion, which is wonderful.

But ever since the Brethren introduced to us the principle that the Church is to become “Family Centered, Church Supported” my heart has turned from how to improve teaching to how to improve learning and deepen conversion.

Will you please review the attached 2-page document and give consideration to what I’m asking that we teach. 

I still want us to have the discussion on how do we become a “Church supporting” stake--more supportive of the independent learning at home. But when I heard that the Stake SS presidency was going to conduct a training meeting on April 4, I felt an urgency to address this one area of their calling and help guide the SS presidency to teach this principle, among other things, in their training.

I also wanted to get this to Paul before he leaves town so he can ponder it while traveling, if he chooses. 

I would appreciate you giving me your feedback, counsel, suggestions by this Saturday or sooner so we can approach the Stake SS presidency and give them plenty of time to respond before their training meeting. 

I was going to suggest we discuss this document in presidency meeting next Tuesday, but I have another matter that I will be sending you later this week that I would prefer we discuss in our meeting.

I appreciate you giving this your attention as soon as you can. This is not in stone so I welcome your thoughts.

Thanks,

Crismon

Supporting Home-Centered Learning in the Classroom

Dear Brethren,

We are gratified by the increased number of members who now come prepared to share during Sunday School what they’re learning at home. Adult Sunday School teachers report that class discussions have never been more vibrant and meaningful.

While class discussion is wonderful, it’s not our most important objective.

For us to fulfill the mandate to become “Home Centered and Church Supported,” we ask that we consider the scriptural instruction found in D&C 88:122:

“Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that every man may have an equal privilege.”

In other words, a very important objective is to help everyone participate in some way in the second-hour class to validate their independent learning at home and, in so doing, deepen their conversion (i.e., why we have a monthly Testimony Meeting). Participation may include sharing an insight learned at home, recounting a personal experience, reading a scripture, bearing testimony, offering the closing prayer, etc.

It is extremely difficult to accomplish this objective when classes are so large that there’s no way to involve everyone. Therefore, will you please consider creating multiple adult classes where possible so each class has a maximum of 15-20 students?

As the “Come, Follow Me” teacher’s manual states: “The essential purpose of gospel learning is to change lives.”

Please prayerfully ponder and counsel together on how classes in Sunday School can become more effective in helping to change the lives of all who attend.

A TEACHER’S EXPERIENCE: On the backside is a letter from an Adult Sunday School teacher, who earlier in March found her Sunday School class so large it was difficult for her to make eye contact with everyone. Afterwards, she asked the ward Sunday School president (with no prompting from her husband, the stake president) if ward leaders would consider dividing the class. It was discussed and approved by the ward council. Two weeks later she taught a much smaller class of 11 adults in the High Council room. On page 2 (or backside) is the email follow-up report she wrote to her Sunday School president.

A Teacher’s Experience in a Small Class

The following is an email from Sunday School teacher Vivienne Lewis to Walters Hill Ward Sunday School President Travis Brown about her experience in teaching a smaller class after their Adult Sunday School class was divided.

I thought I’d share my thoughts on how the first lesson went for me with the Adult Sunday School class being divided.

·      There was a more intimate feeling in the class. There was a powerful experience shared by Brother Williams that was a spiritual experience he had had in seeing Elder Neil L. Anderson in the SLC airport. He was emotionally touched as he shared, and I think that probably wouldn’t have happened in a classroom packed with other members. It seemed more appropriate to share in a small group.

·      I was so happy that finally everyone in my class participated in some way. Most shared their own insights or experiences, and a few that didn’t share their thoughts participated by reading scriptures. I noticed that some who typically don’t share in a large group, shared in this smaller class.

·      At the beginning of the class I was sitting on my stool at the front of the High Council room. Soon I had the feeling to just sit down in a chair with everyone else seated around the table. I had the feeling come over me that “this was their lesson” and not “Sister Lewis’ lesson.”

·      There were some really good insights that were shared, and good discussion. I couldn’t help sharing at the end of class that “I think this is what the Brethren want to happen in our Sunday School class each time.” I told them how I learned from them, and they really helped teach this lesson.

·      I received several comments afterwards from my class, and from members of the other class in the Relief Society room as I passed them in the hall, that they really liked dividing the class. It seemed to make it more comfortable for people to share, and not so intimidating to walk into a classroom that was so packed that it’s sometimes hard to find a seat.

·      As a teacher I loved the fact that I could look at and connect personally with each member of the class. I had a much better idea of who was not there, and I could reach out to them later by text, email, or other means.

Overall, as a teacher I loved the smaller class and the opportunities it opened up for others to be more willing to share.