I’ve been thinking about the 2013 youth curriculum, Come Follow Me, and how we are going to work with this new system of teaching within our Young Women group. I started out by wanting all the topics for the month’s theme printed out to share with my presidency and with our class presidencies, so we could discuss the topics and what we wanted to focus on in our classes. After investigating further, I really liked the spiritual preparation questions to help see where the discussions might progress, and where the young women may be having thoughts and questions. I also looked at the “Live What We are Learning” section, to see if there might be ideas for mutual night activities that we could plug into our calendar for that month.
You can download what I came up with for January here. Young Women leaders, please let me know if this is helpful to you, or you have any ideas or suggestions for how you will be using the new curriculum!
It seems like this is going to be a real paradigm shift! Sounds like we should get a bunch of us bloggers to talk about our experience using the new curriculum…I’m gonna need help, I think! 🙂 Can still not believe that the girls in YW are still using the same books that I was taught out of in YW!
Great idea, Jocelyn!
Thank you so much for this. I have been stressing about how all of this is going to work so many thanks for what you have put together. Please keep it coming!!!
I applaud your efforts for your own girls, but doesn’t publishing this go against what the church is trying to do? The whole point of not having a published “lesson plan” and “questions” is so EVERY leader will take the time to study, ponder and be lead by the spirit for their own girls. My fear is that others will use your beautiful set up as a crutch and not follow through on their assignment and stewardship. Just something to think about before you publish more of them.
Carole – everything on this sheet is taken directly from the church website. It is the same jumping off point they have already given us – just all in one place so it’s easier to look at and reflect on as we counsel with our presidencies and classes.
I have to agree with Kristin, that the Come Follow Me lessons provide a framework full of ideas for us to come to class with. We will still be teaching a lesson every Sunday but we will be presenting the lesson in a different format than what the majority of us are accustomed to. We will still need to come to class prepared with content and prepared to ask open ended questions to get the youth talking and then let them guide our conversation with the Spirit leading us, as into what prepared material we can incorporate. I love the document that Kristin posted and, as the YW president, I have already printed this document and am prepared to take it to my Presidency meeting to discuss the needs of the YW and which lessons will fill their needs. It may be that every YW class will have a different lesson form the months topic but at least we will be following the counsel of using the topics based off of the needs of the YW and by listening to counsel we receive in prayer.
I agree. Thank you. I am going to need a lot of help and I’m very nervous of this big change. I am in a group of leaders who do not communicate very well and do not like to meet. I am just so grateful for any help I can get. Thanks.
I think this is awesome! Even though we are all teaching the same topic each week, the girls participation will spin the lesson into a direction that applies to our girls in our ward, thus making each Sunday unique and different. I think it is fantastic you are willing to share your talent to help others have a starting point for the new lessons.
Our stake has been in the church’s pilot program for the new curriculum since July. I admit, it has been a difficult transition. When you are used to teaching a certain way it is hard to change! Here is what we have discovered over the past 6 months, I hope this information will help someone.
STOP preparing material. It is not needed. When we stopped preparing material the discussions really flowed. Let the girls lead the discussion! All you need to do as leaders is guide them in the direction they want to go or in the direction you have felt prompted to go. Really!!
Just in the past month have we really figured out how this works for our girls. As a leader it can be difficult not having things “prepared” to talk about. But trust in the Lord and have faith in your girls. When they see that THEY get to discuss, share, and testify they will step up to the plate. This happened to us this past fast Sunday. The hands were flying up to speak, testimonies were being born, compliments were being shared among the girls, and the Spirit was so strong you could cut it with a knife. Oh it was glorius. And all that was said among us leaders were guiding questions. It took several months for us to get to that point.
Also, another thing we have learned is don’t be afraid of silence. Let them ponder, think and take the time to share their thoughts. When we as leaders jump in to “fill the silence” that is going far away from the objective of this new curriculum.
One thing I love about this new curriculm is that it really does take less time. As a leader I no longer have to worry about cute handouts, stories, etc., to prepare. I do my personal scripture study, pray for my girls, and be involved in their lives. That with guidance of the Spirit and input from the class presidency meetings is all the prep you need for the discussions.
Remember, what works for one ward may not work for another. Each girls’ needs are so different, that is why we need to forget all the fluff and just spiritually focus on them and what they need. Since doing that I have noticed a difference in myself as well. What is important now is them growing in the Gospel…and they will do that through each other. This program is truly inspired by God!
I am so glad you took the time to give direction here and share your experience. I’ve served in the YW program 3 times and have always felt pressured to fill the girls with treats and fluff because of all the “super handout” blogs. Like most of us, I am nervous about this new change, but only because of my own insecurities about myself spiritually. I agree, ladies, we have wonderful YW let’s have faith in them and in ourselves to just allow the spirit to guide us. If we continue to “prepare” the purpose of the curriculum will be lost on all of us. Lets have faith and move forward. Please understand, that my note is intended to love, not criticize.
Mandi, don’t be nervous! The new curriculum is so easy to teach! I was also involved in the pilot program and agree 100 percent with everything Marne said. My YW have commented about how much more they are getting out of our discussions. I know it has nothing to do w my teaching but more to do with listening to the spirit and giving everyone a chance to feel of that spirit.
Good luck!
I appreciate your efforts, and especially like the ideas of how to use Mutual to enforce what we talked about on Sunday. I have to admit I have been a fluff teacher in the past, but having also taught early morning Seminary, I feel to really be able to lead a discussion or ask the appropriate questions, you need to have thoroughly studied all the topics yourself. Your information was used as a guide to help me accomplish my own studies. THANK YOU
Thanks for all your efforts! I really appreciate it!!!!
Thank you so much!!!!
I LOVE THIS! Thank you SOOOOO much! Do you have plans to keep this going? I would even PAY to have you keep this going!
Awesome.
Jen
I love to have key doctrinal points to start from like you listed, along with the bullet points on the curriculum website. This just makes it easier to get things in our minds so that we can modify them for our own YW. Thanks for any and all insights toward making this wonderful teaching transition work.
I like your idea, thank you for sharing. I love the new curriculem and have been using it since October when the announcement came. We have already seen a great improvement in the spiritual nourishment for the Young Women and us leaders. The lessons are richer and more relevant to what they are going through today. I hope that you continue to share your ideas for the rest of the months! Thanks!
Kristin,
Thanks for your idea. I am very excited about the change. I taught early morning Seminary for 6 years and now I am in YW for the first time. I was fortunate in my Seminary Leader training to be taught to teach with Seminary the way this new curriculum directs. I always let my students share after I presented the doctrine and I was really the director and not let them get off the subject or doctrine too far. I taught them how to use the scriptures in their life. They learn from each other and I NEVER lectured. And like someone said above, silence is great sometimes, it gives them time to ponder and feel the Spirit then they will share amazing things. They will have “ah ha” moments. I still have students tell me when I see them, that they loved Seminary and how I let them share and open up and it was never boring. No one EVER slept once in my Seminary class and it was at 6:00am. So I am grateful for the new curriculum. I can’t wait to see testimonies grow. Just remember to make sure every young woman has scriptures and brings them and uses them. They will grow to love them and use them in their lives.
I love this outline and especially the activity suggestions. I am excited for the new curriculum but it is coming up with mutual night and personal progress activities that correspond with them that will be a bit challenging for me. I would love a copy of your outline and look forward to seeing them for each month.
Yes, this is very helpful. Now I just want it for the entire year, or atleast a few months in advance. You have such a beautiful way of putting things together. I printed it out for our entire presidency. They took it to their class presidency meetings and asked the girls what lessons they should teach. It sure helps us when we are tring to do everything that the new plan askes us to do. Thank you very much.
Thank you for taking the time to put this together! I love the idea of being able to have a “one page” guideline to put in my study journal as I prep for my lessons. This will also be a great help for the YW in our class presidency meetings when helping decide the topics of discussion for our lessons…a huge THANKS! Please keep sharing these wonderful outlines.
I echo everyone else–thank you for putting this into such a nice format. I’d love to have you post the other months as the year goes on.
The new curriculum is awesome. I’m so excited to get to teach my first lesson. This handout was incredibly helpful for our presidency meeting and for sending home with a couple of the girls to look over with non-member/in-active parents so they know what we are learning.
Thank you for this! And for all your other handout ideas, they’re all incredible. I don’t know how you com up with these ideas or find time to create them.
I am teaching my first lesson with the new guidelines this upcoming Sunday and am excited to see how things go. I have been searching for insights from other YW leaders who have been implementing this new outline and your site has been very helpful. Thanks for sharing.
I just wanted to share a few ideas. We have been lucky enough to get to participate in the preliminary pilot program to help give feedback ect. on it before it was announced in conference to everyone else. We knew from the start we were going to love it and sure enough it has been a great blessing in all of our lives. I have a few simple suggestions to help make it an enriching experience. 1. Leaders need to be excited; your enthusiasm makes or breaks the success. 2. You really need to embrace the entire program not just bits and pieces. Prepare yourself spiritually and listen to and follow the promptings you receive. If you are spiritually prepared you will know what you should do. I love this scripture; Luke 11:9-10 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
3. Text the girls 2-3 days before with either a reading assignment or other activity to help get them involved in preparing them for the upcoming lesson. Some may hesitate at first but as they start to see how it really is suppose to go they will prepare and be willing to share. At this point you will really see the beauty of how it is set up to work. 4. Have real discussions with them and use the scriptures and conference talks as references. The earlier assignments really help them in this area. Get them involved as much as possible. (I don’t know about you but I don’t want someone always telling me what I should do but if I feel I am in a safe environment I learn from talking about things and finding answers together. I am much more willing to listen if I feel I am actively involved rather than be told what to do. I tend to tune people out when I don’t feel connected). 5. Teach them how to find their answers and when the spirit is strong recognize it and how it makes you feel. Share experiences and share your testimony with them often. The Holy Ghost will testify to them. 6. At the end of each lesson give them a challenge that enriches the topic you were discussing and follow up the next Sunday at the beginning of class asking the girls to share any experiences they may have had as they completed the challenge. 7. Involve your girls and other leaders in the process of picking topics that will best fit each class. If they are interested or feel a need in the topic they are more willing to participate. 8. Have your girls teach lessons occasionally. They are always more willing to participate once they have been in your shoes. 🙂 9. Don’t be afraid to have it be silent for a few minutes. They will talk if you wait and let the Spirit touch them. If you are having girls hold back talk to them privately and encourage them to share when they are prompted. You will be surprised at what a difference it makes to just verbally recognize their worth and in a way give them permission to share. Maybe recognize that you noticed they were holding back and ask them if they would share with you or their parents to get comfortable before they open up to their peers. Some girls are more private and it takes them longer to open up, never force them or embarrass them into sharing. They will, on their own time if you are patient and encouraging. Talk privately with a few girls who are less shy and invite them to share in class to help get things going. If they are encouraged they will share and soon others will follow. 10. Most of all Love the girls! Recognize that we all have trials and we all make mistakes but we are all Daughters of God and he loves each of us equally.
D&C 8:10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. As they feel of your love for them and for the Lord and feel your enthusiasm for this amazing inspired program they will want to be part of it and their lives will be changed for the better. You will be surprised at what they have to offer and share and how their experiences will help others in your class. I testify if you will embrace the new program and listen to the promptings that you feel that not only will the girls be blessed but you will be as well. Each week I feel that my testimony is strengthened and I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of such an amazing experience. Ask yourself, “Is my cup half full or half empty?” The success you have will be greatly impacted on your response. I hope you all may experience the love and success we have had. Great blessings are in store for all who truly embrace it and take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity to grow and prepare for great things to come. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Jesus Christ is our greatest example of teaching with love. By reflecting on his example you will be inspired and directed in what you should do. This is so exciting!! Embrace it and I promise you will love it as much as I do. Don’t be afraid to share success and trials, that is how we learn. This is not intended to come across in a bragging or preaching manner. I just wanted to share some things that have worked for us and share my enthusiasm for this amazing program. I love ideas and suggestions of different things that have worked so thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Thank you so much for the effort you have put into helping each of us and the young women. I just found your web page what a Blessing I have received today.
oh dear. I just came to hunt these down because I spotted it a long time ago, but I was in Primary. Now I have a daughter going into young women next month and I wanted something easy to look at so I would know what she might be learning and be able to engage her in conversation and prep her for the lessons a little…but I can’t find any recent month! Does November exist?? I’m so sad…or stupid. Can someone help me?