Writing lesson plans 

There are a few different strategies or formulas for writing lessons plans. ⁣

You can start with an anticipatory set to pique interest, you can read from a common piece of literature and analyze different components, or you could go inquiry-based. ⁣

And… I love them all!⁣

To me, crafting a lesson plan is exactly that— a beautiful craft of mixing creativity and logic. ⁣

After my formal teaching training and degree, I finally had the first opportunity to teach a full lesson in church to a youth class. ⁣⁣

I jumped into “lesson planning” mode and crafted prompts and stories that were going to perfectly take these kids through the concept of “tender mercies”. ⁣

Sunday arrived, and I was so excited to teach the lesson. ⁣

I walked into the classroom, and within five minutes, I knew what I had prepared was NOT going to work. ⁣

These kids needed something different. ⁣

A common teaching mantra popped into my head:⁣

“Teach the kids, not the lesson.”⁣

I said a silent prayer and felt prompted to share a lengthy personal story with the kids— one that I usually wouldn’t think to share. ⁣

I have no clue why I was prompted to share that story. No kid ever said anything to me afterwards, other than a customary “thanks for the lesson” as they walked out the door. ⁣

Or maybe I was the only one who needed to learn the lesson that day. ⁣

“It shall be given thee in the very moment what thou shalt speak and write”. (D&C 24:6)

That was the first time that I can remember having my formal plans being completely overthrown by a spiritual prompting. ⁣

But it’s happened time and time again since then. ⁣

I plan out a post, and as I start writing, I completely change direction. ⁣

I think of a testimony to bear, and while speaking, I share completely new thoughts. ⁣

But letting the Spirit guide me doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind and relying on Him to do all the work. ⁣

I still lesson plan and craft and create. ⁣

But it’s the calm feeling that I know I might follow my plans to a T, or I might throw them out the window. ⁣

And either way, it’s all good. ⁣

Amazing preparation + being filled with the Spirit = the best teaching possible

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black