Friday, April 27, 2018

The Master Teacher

My dad is a master teacher. It is a pure gift combined with the power of a PhD. He is so good at engaging with his students, presenting the material in an exciting way, and motivating improvement. Growing up, even Family Home Evening became a major teaching event, with lessons I can still remember well.

I learned so much about teaching just by watching my dad over the years. While I remain in awe of him, I like to think I inherited a small portion of that gift. I am a teacher both at work (UVU) and at church (Relief Society). There is almost no place I'd rather be than in the classroom.

Yesterday I was studying about the teaching modes of Jesus in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon. Here is the Master of all master teachers. As I tried to digest each verse and comprehend what skill or tactic or power he was utilizing, I started composing a list of his teaching methods.  The prospect of improving my own teaching by relying on His expertise became very exciting to me.

As we wrap up the semester and move into finals, I can't help thinking how I might use some or all of these techniques in my own teaching, both at church and at work.

This is what I discovered: (I have a feeling I'll refer back to this list often.)

In His Arsenal:

Authority (Matt. 7:29, John 7:16,  John 12:50)
Storytelling, Parables (Matt. 13:10, Mark 4:2)
Earnestly Urge, Advise (Mark 1:14)
Entered the place of learning (in church on Sunday) Mark 1:21
Drew a Crowd (Mark 2:2)
Used the word of God (Mark 2:2, John 3:34)
Hidden mysteries (through parables)
Hard doctrine, difficult concepts (Mark 8:31)
Power (Luke 4:32)
Perception (understood their hearts) (Luke 5:22)
Sensitivity (Luke 24:17)
Contextualization, Perspective (Luke 24:27)
Scriptures (Luke 24:27)
The spirit (Luke 24:32)
Motivated by Love (John 21:17)
Truth (3 Nephi 11:32)
Wisdom (Matt: 13:54)
Example (Matt: 13:54)

Student Engagement:

Required Reading (Matt. 12:3 (12:1-8) )
Thought-provoking Questions (Matt: 12:3, Luke 7:42)
Sharing, bearing testimony (Mark 8:29)
Taught outdoors, various locations (Mark 4:1)
Problem-solving (Luke 5:22)
Let students form conclusions (Luke 7:42)
Asked for an accounting (3 Nephi 23:11-13)
Commandment to write about experiences (3 Nephi 23:11-13)
Told to pray for understanding (3 Nephi 17:3)
Told to ponder his teachings (3 Nephi 17:3)
Instructed to prepare for next session (3 Nephi 17:3)
Invited to come, approach him (3 Nephi 11:14)
Invited to gain their own, personal witness (3 Nephi 11:14)
Allowed for silence and self-reflection (John 8:7)
Invited to attempt, to gain own knowledge (John 7:17)
Affirmed student responses (Luke 7:43)
Pointed out student errors (Matt. 22:29)
Asked "Why not?" (Luke 24:26)
Took extra time with them (Luke 24:29-30)
Wrote on ground (or on board) (John 8:6)

May all of our teaching, in whatever form, become a little more inspiring, engaging, and powerful as we follow the example of the Master Teacher.