Easter Holy Week

This morning was the start to our Easter Holy Week.
My students were greeted at the entrance hall with the floors covered in palm leaves.
This opened our devotional discussion on Palm Sunday.
During devotional time next week, we will discuss what happened each day during Easter Holy Week.
HERE is a wonderful resource for studying/teaching Easter Holy Week.

As a treat, we had Hot Cross Buns.

LDS General Conference Preparation

Making the Most of LDS General Conference

The week before LDS General Conference, I spend time encouraging my students to prepare their hearts and minds for the messages from our leaders.
As part of the preparation, I challenge them to write down one question they would like answered as they watch/listen to each session of LDS General Conference.
The instructions on this M&Ms tag are brief and to the point.

• Write down a question (s)
• Pray about it
• Listen for answers (I add...write down the answers and remember they are personal revelation)

The last day of class before General Conference, each student receives their own"Make the Most of General Conference" bag of M&Ms.
Once their question (s) is written down, I tell them to open the bag of candy and eat it as they enjoy General Conference.
Here  and Here are instructions for downloading the M&M General Conference tags (not created by me-see links)
HERE is a link for copying the M&M attachments
Here is a link to my Pinterest Board with additional General Conference ideas.

Re-Charging and Hitting a Wall

Welcome Back and Time to Finish Strong!

We returned to school and Seminary today after a much-needed Spring Break.

Prior to the break, I had hit a "Seminary Wall" and was feeling more burned out than I can remember feeling in the last 3 years. I recognized the burn out and that my students were not getting my best efforts. My students and I were tired due to the time change and the busy-ness of spring was pressing down on us from every direction.
Spring Break came not one minute too soon and I was able to re-group and refresh my body, mind, and spirit. I went in to Spring Break conscious of the need to slow down and charge up. I believe I did this and it felt good to return today.

Knowing that I set the tone for our class, I was determined to return fresh inside and out. I even made sure I wore bright spring colors rather than my usual dark skirts and tops.

What do you do to recharge?
Have you ever "hit a wall" in your Seminary teaching?
How do you/did you handle it?

This message from President Monson, "Finishers Wanted", was on my mind as I prepared to return to class and encourage my students to "Finish Strong".

These signs set the tone on the entrance door this morning:

Zion's Camp

Doctrine and Covenants Sections 103 and 105-Zion's Camp

As my students  entered the building yesterday and today, they were greeted by these signs:
We started class with our prayer and devotional.
We sang Hymn #250 We Are All Enlisted
After devotional, I called them all to attention, asked if they had their supplies and if they had made arrangements for the care of their families, homes, crops, and businesses while they were gone. Then off we marched from room to room (see more details below)

Entrance Door

 Walls

 Up Close

Yesterday, I showed the movie Zion's Camp
and today we marched from room to room discussing the:

1) Miracles witnessed
2) Trails experienced
3) Warnings given
4) Lessons learned
Our discussions came from D&C  Sections 103 and 105 and this lesson from the Church History and the Fullness of Times Manual

In each room, we discussed another aspect of Zion's Camp.
Ultimately, they were to answer these questions as part of our conclusion:
1) What was the true purpose of Zion's Camp
2) Would you have joined Zion's Camp?
3) Will you join Zion's Camp (the Lord's Army) today?
4) How can you be a member of the Lord's Army every day?

We had some great discussions and moving from room to room was very effective.