Seminary Teaching Tips

Following are some teaching ideas from various teachers, especially as regards Seminary.

The New Files

Check out the new Teaching Techniques database! We’ve got ideas for lesson openers, getting everyone to participate, avoiding disruptions, asking better questions, and much more!

The Old List

This is the old list based off our old menu item of Seminary Teaching Tips. These files will also be of use to you:

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More Seminary Help

Scripture Mastery

START HERE: Be sure to check out our new scripture mastery games database, full of categorized scripture mastery game ideas. Other scripture mastery ideas I've collected lots of ideas for memorizing the scripture mastery scriptures for the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Old Testament and New Testaments here. Some are ideas shared by other...

Recommended Books

I'm too new at this to recommend many books, but I have to say that so far, Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov has been the most helpful for me. I don't have any formal training as a teacher, and this book helped me understand why the techniques I've accidentally discovered while teaching before...

Structure of a Seminary Class

I've recently been called to teach Old Testament for Seminary next year. I'm pretty confident about how to teach a lesson, but since I've never actually been to a daily seminary class before, I have/had a lot of questions. After speaking with several other teachers (I hope you will talk to other teachers, too) I've...

A Century of Seminary

Janet Thomas, "A Century of Seminary," New Era, Jan. 2000, 26 In the early days of the Church, stakes in Utah actually operated their own schools. However, in the 20th century, the schools became public, and religious education seemed to be pushed aside. Seeing the need to teach young people about the scriptures, the stake...

Quotes for Seminary Teachers and Leaders

Below are some inspirational and uplifting quotes for LDS Seminary. Seminary is fun "But seminary is not all study. There are some fun and games." -- Elder Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1990, p. 38 Blessings for Seminary Teachers "I pray that he will bless you in your homes and in your families, that as...

Child Pages

Seminary Over Skype: Case Studies

Even in the area where I now live, where daily Seminary is fairly easily accessible to all students, individual circumstances arise that prevent some students from being able to regularly participate in Seminary. Some have requested alternate methods of attending Seminary, including online. One special needs student is participating in the church's official online Seminary...

Integrating Duty to God into Seminary

The new Duty to God booklet includes a section where Young Men are invited to Share what they've learned with a group. This is easily implemented into Seminary through a devotional period. Here's how it should work. Give the boys the following instructions, which are adapted from the Duty to God booklet in the Spiritual...

Old Testament Scripture Mastery Helps

Since I'll be teaching Old Testament in Seminary next year, I'm beginning to create a list of resources that Seminary teachers can use to help students memorize their scriptures. Flashcards Scripture Mastery Songs / Music LDS.org Games Videos Flashcards Scripture Mastery Cards - Get the Scripture Mastery Cards from LDS.org Scripture Mastery Flash Cards -...

Supplemental Ideas for New Testament

Here's a list of things I've found to be helpful in teaching the New Testament this year. Herod's Temple Here is a website I used to teach about Herod's temple (the temple that was built in Jesus' day). It's helpful for the kids to understand why the Jews were both angry and astonished when Christ...

New Testament Videos from LDS.org

Please consider using the new videos from the LDS Church during your New Testament Seminary course this year. Each video is short enough to be used during a daily seminary lesson. You can download these videos to an iPad or other smart device so that you can use them without internet access. I know that...

Asking Better Questions

I have collected several articles that will help you ask better questions that foster student participation: The Non-Talkers Really Will TalkA Gift for YouGroup wall post by Jenny SmithA Gift for YouThe Virtue of PatienceThe Big QuestionMissionary TagPop QuizFinding “Witnesses”LectureAsking better questionsJesus and Disruptive QuestionsRegional Seminary Inservice Report – Leading Discussions with Good Questions and...

Teaching Tips: How to Prepare During a Break

Ken Alford This information was originally published at http://kenalford.com/semlist/2002/02jan04.htm and sent out as part of Ken Alford's email list to Seminary teachers. Christmas break is a perfect time to "get a jump" on the remainder of the school year. Time invested during the Christmas break can pay dividends throughout the entire year. Here are a few...