Classroom Order and Storage

Each student in my class has a plastic storage box.

Order in the classroom brings the Spirit and these storage boxes have contributed to our classroom routine and order that welcomes the Spirit.
Each box is tall enough to hold any size quad scripture set. ( 10 1/16" x  13 15/16"  x  4")
The width and length are just the right size for holding regular size notebooks, folders, binders, etc.
I have looked on-line at the IRIS site but have not seen this specific size, which is the best.
The high quality and dimensions make these ideal for student's classroom supply storage

The Scrapbook/Hobby storage container section at Michaels in the store, not-on-line, is the best place to find these. I have not seen IRIS brand plastic boxes with these dimensions, on-line or any place other than Michaels. With coupons, I usually pay a little under $5 per box. Regular price, they are around $8. They are high quality and worth the price.

As students graduate, they leave their box and it is assigned to a new student for the next year, unless it is broken, which I have only had one fall apart and it was due some accidental stepping on the box. They are sturdy, which is important. I have seen others for less money but they were low quality. These boxes get a lot of rough and tumble use, which is a consideration for quality. I have seen, in the past, Rubbermaid brand boxes just like these but not lately.


Each student receives a large sticker (I use the large shipping stickers from Office Depot) to cover the original product description sticker.
If they want a new one each year, I give them one. It feels like a "fresh start" and gets them excited about a new year of study.
They decorate the stickers with their names, doodles, etc.
This year, many of my students are writing their Hebrew name on their sticker.

Our room stays set up all week and when everyone cleans up their seat area at the end of each class and we can leave the room orderly (see photos below), we generally don't have issues with people coming in and moving, touching, taking, breaking, etc. our "stuff".

On Fridays we store them all in a locked cabinet, however, many weeks they have been stored out in the open, unlocked, and no one as touched them. I don't like to keep them unlocked or out over the weekend as their scriptures and journals with personal writings in their boxes. I am aware of another Seminary class that stores theirs in the meetinghouse library on weekends and long breaks.

This would be an ideal consideration for those who share their room in a busy meetinghouse and must pack up their supplies every day. The clean up is quick and the kids take responsibility for their own supplies.

My Hebrew Name

This idea came from a fellow teacher, Sharon Haynie.
I looked up the Hebrew  name for each of my students, printed them out from the My Hebrew Name site, and posted them on the walls of the hallway as the students arrived one morning.
As the students arrived, they had to guess which was their name.
Once they had the correct name, I had them look up the meaning of their Hebrew name.

Some of them are going by their Hebrew name in class and have had fun writing it on their supply box, paperwork, books, etc.
This can be used with any lesson emphasizing that we are children of God and that He loves us, He knows us by name, etc.
Great Old Testament introduction. Thank you, Sharon Haynie for this resource.
Click here for link for My Hebrew Name

Kiss or Cry- Scripture Mastery Activity

For the first 2 weeks of class, I have encouraged my students to mark all 25 Scripture Mastery verses.
As part of the "Studying Scriptures" lesson, we discussed various ways to mark scriptures.
Over the 4 years of Seminary, I encourage them to mark all 100 Scripture Mastery verses with a uniform color and method so when they are looking through their scriptures, those verses stand out as Scripture Mastery verses.
I show them several different examples and hope that they choose what works best for them and will develop their own system of marking scriptures as they study.

Today we played "Kiss or Cry", an idea I got from another Seminary Teacher.

How to play:
Call out any Scripture Mastery reference and the students all turn to it.
If they have it marked, they receive a Kiss (Hershey Kiss)
If not, they "cry" and no kiss is received.
Usually, those who don't have it marked start marking and by the time you play this in a few weeks, they don't miss out on receiving a kiss.

A nice aspect of this activity is that you can do it for 1 or 2 verses as a quick review on a lesson day or turn it in to a full activity for a flex day.

Today, I had our Bishop come in and play the game with them, however, you don't need to invite a special guest and this can take as much or little time as you determine to use.

Thank you, Amy Jones, for putting into writing what most Seminary teachers feel.
This is wonderful.
If you know or love a Seminary teacher, read  THIS 
If you are a Seminary teach, read THIS.
What do you think?
I think she said is spot on!
Happy Back to Seminary class!

Excellent Resource

It is July and my Seminary brain is gearing back up.
Truth be known, a Seminary brain never shuts down completely.

I just discovered this wonderful resource for Seminary lesson plans, organization, ideas, etc.
Smash Book Seminary blog and Oldfield Designs Etsy Shop.

Click HERE   and HERE for her blogs and HERE for her Etsy shop

Both a great resources offered by Melissa Oldfield.
Interesting that we live in the same geographic area and I had no idea her resources and support were out there until this week.

Succession in the Presidency

 After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, the Church was without a President. To teach how a new President was called, we studied the 4 possible "candidates". We learned how and why Brigham Young become the next President of the Church and Prophet in this dispensation. I had 4 students represent each "candidate" and read the reasons why they or someone else felt they should be he next President of the Church.

We read testimonies of the Saints who were present to hear Brigham Young speak and to see and hear him take on the appearance and voice of Joseph Smith.

As a lead-in to this discussion, I made a time-line of events leading to the martydom (see photos at the end). It helped set the stage for discussing the possible options of who would serve as the next President.

As an activity (see photos below) I set up chairs for each current member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We walked through what will happen when President Monson passes away and what happens to his counselors, President Eyring and President Uchtdorf.
We moved the pictures to the appropriate chairs to show the seniority of each Apostle and discussed how a new President of the Church is called and how new Apostles are called.

 Succession in the Presidency activity

 

 Time Line

Temple Socks

This morning, my  students LOVED  receiving their new Temple Socks so much that they could not wait to wear them. As they were putting them on, they were naming all the times and places they plan to wear their new socks.
One student said, "I am going to have the coolest socks in my entire school.. I will be the only person in my school with Temple Socks!"
A fellow Seminary teacher introduced these on the LDS Seminary Teacher Facebook group as an idea for an end of year gift. (I love that Facebook group and these socks!)

I reminded them to "Stand in Holy Places" and of this counsel from President Thomas S Monson
on the eternal importance of Temples:

"Why are so many willing to give so much in order to receive the blessings of the temple? 
Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. 

There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, 

or too much discomfort to endure. 

They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our Heavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort."

Order your own pair(s) HERE

Happy Teaching!