If you have ever taught Primary or are currently teaching Primary it can be quite an experience. Often children can cause disruptions and easily distract others from the message that you are sharing. I am grateful for everyone who is willing to serve in Primary. It is a wonderful place to serve because you are teaching the children about the gospel, but it can be difficult at the same time.
The first time I taught Primary I was barely eighteen. They had just divided a difficult class. Well the presidency let the old teacher divide the class. The boys were the ones who were having a hard time behaving. She kept one boy and most of the girls. I was given the boys and one very shy little girl. My first week I had two of the boys try to climb out the window while the others jumped from chair to chair across the room. I knew that I had to get creative, if I was going to reach this group. Here are some things I learned from that experience and the other times that I have served in Primary.
1) Make the lessons interesting. Most of the lessons have a story or two that demonstrate the point that you are trying to teach. Make sure that you tell the story instead of reading it from the manual. If you have pictures or flannel board figures that go along with the story bring them in.
2) Bring in any visual aids or hands on projects that you can to demonstrate the point that the lesson is making. Have the children do the demonstrations because this will involve them in the learning process.
3) Get to know the children you are teaching. The children will listen better if they know you care about them. It will also create a better learning environment.
4) Follow the guidelines that you have in your manual. The guidelines are there to help you. You can find the guidelines here. You can also incorporate suggestions from “Teaching No Greater Call.”
5) Do something fun each week. You can end the lesson with a coloring project, or by playing a review game. I did something different every week with my group of boys. One Sunday we rolled a basketball back and forth across the floor when they were answering questions. Another week we didn’t sit on chairs. This helped them to stay focused because it was a different environment each week.
Teaching Primary is an important calling. I am very grateful for my daughter’s primary teachers. I know that the parents of the children who you teach are grateful as well. Keep up the good work! Do you have any suggestions on how to hold the children’s attention?