[3beautifulkidsParticipant]

It is very tricky and hard on anyones nerves, even the most patient, to attempt to teach a meaningful lesson to a room full of chatty girls. Lets face it though us girls like to talk, girls are emotional, and a teenage girl is easily offended (depending on the time of month and any other family, school, church, or work pressures she may be facing that day). So telling them to listen tends to make them listen even more to just each other not you the teacher. You are going to have to get creative to get them to listen, and your going to have to be very patient about the results.

I like to use object lessons, girls seem to really enjoy these and will listen to them. After you got them hooked by an object lesson (oh, you have seen the massive archive of object lesson jenny has compiled on this site right?, so it wont be that hard to find something that will work) start asking some basic questions (but only a few, you don’t want to bore them and loose them, try to only ask the questions that get the pat answers– prayer, scripture study, go to church, ect. just once in a lesson), and then jump into some deeper questions that will get the girls TALKING (their favorite thing to do!)

Teaching no greater call has some great tips on leading a discussion, such as repeating or rephrasing the question (usually no one quite hears the whole question the first time you ask it so always repeat, and if you get no responses after a short pause, rephrase and rephrase and rephrase until you do. When any answer is given thank them and praise them (in a natural way) for their answers and rephrase back to them what they said…. if their answer was a little off use the rephrasing to add your own thoughts, or ask more questions, don’t tell them they got it all wrong. Be patient with yourself and your girls, and instead of trying to change them try to change how you teach them, adapt to them and their level.

And yes, I know it is cliché to say, but praying about just how to get through your girls will help.

Good luck to you and anyone struggling to get through to their class, I know you can do it! Make the “Teacher, No Greater Callâ€

[Author]

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