Follow-up from last week: I didn't get on groovshark to listen to music at all this week. I did get on facebook a couple of times, but I made sure that it was after I have done my homework. I think I'll keep on doing it this way.
R.A.C.E. is an acronym for research, action plan, carry out, and evaluation. I feel like this is vital to my leadership role as a Gospel Doctrine teacher. I go through each step every time I give the lesson. Research includes printing out the lesson, reading and studying the assigned scriptures, and reading and studying the lesson material.
Next I make an action plan. There is always way too much material in the lesson than we can possibly have meaningful discussions about in class so I have to decide what will be most relevant to the class members. Also part of action plan is knowing what direction I see the lesson going, what I'll say and point out about certain verses of scripture, what questions I will ask, and what activities or object lessons I will use. The action plan also consists of prayer and the Spirit because both of these are needed to teach the Gospel.
One thing I want to mention-I've noticed that Saturday is the hardest day for me to study the scriptures. Perhaps it's because there is not structure to the day. I also think it's because Satan doesn't want to me prepare spiritually for the next day-Sunday. Part of being an effective Gospel Doctrine teacher is regularly doing personal scripture study-not the scriptures that will be taught in class. I am making a goal to read scriptures that first thing I do Saturday morning.
The next part of R.A.C.E is carry out-do it! For me this part comes on Sunday at about 1:30pm. I give the lesson, we have discussions, and if I have prepared adequately and have gained a personal testimony of the doctrine that I am teaching then the lesson usually goes well. It never goes the way I exactly plan it, but that is expected. In sum, I give the lesson the best way I know how-of course trying to implement the public speaking skills I learned a couple of weeks ago.
Lastly, I evaluate. How do I evaluate how well the lesson went? There are a couple of things that I look at. First, I can feel it. I can feel when the Spirit is there. Next, usually I can tell that class members are learning and having a good experience when they participate by making comments, and answering/asking questions. Thirdly, I know that it is going well when I feel comfortable being myself as I teach. Fourthly, I can talk to Matt about the lesson and we can collaborate on how to better meet the needs of the class members.
R.A.C.E is a great tool and I want to make a goal to take more time to evaluate after the lesson is over.
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