My Teaching Matters

Remember those times when your two year old wants to get herself dressed and  she does not want any help from you?  she gets to the point where she’s pulling the shirt over her head, but she’s stuck because she’s trying to push her head through the arm hole instead of the neck hole.  The harder she pulls the more frustrated she becomes until finally she cries  out “HELP!”

In today’s episode, we are going to talk about our new theme, “God Wants to Help”.  God really does want to help us, but sometimes we are too stubborn or proud to ask for His help.  Once we can humble ourselves enough to ask for God’s help, we will be amazed at how the blessings flow.

Join us today as we look at how we can learn for ourselves and teach our children that God does want to help.

If you would like to receive the monthly theme and experiences, email us at Linsey@myteachingmatters.com

What causes a lesson to be engaging versus boring?

In today’s episode, we talk about the four levels of questions and how we can use them to help elevate our lessons to be  more interactive and more meaningful for our families.

Asking the right types of questions can create a framework that allows us to help our children learn without giving them the answer.  Kind of like teaching your child how to figure out what 9 X 8 is rather than just giving them the answer.

Questions are a powerful tool for teaching.

What is happening right now in your family that is driving you crazy?  Maybe you have a child who has a problem not telling the truth, or maybe your kids aren’t getting their chores done in a timely manner, or getting them done at all.  Maybe you have children who are extremely concerned about everything being fair, (heaven forbid one child should get more fruit loops than another!), or maybe one of your children is afraid to try new things and it’s DRIVING YOU CRAZY!

What if your scripture study time was also time spent teaching your children things like responsibility, courage, honesty, forgiveness or love?  How would your family life be better if your kids actually learned to LIVE some of these values?

In today’s episode, Linsey and I look at how when we combine our physical challenges with spiritual principles, we can actually use the scriptures to help us combat things that are DRIVING US CRAZY today while at the same time, building a solid foundation of spiritual understanding for our children.

Have any of you ever asked yourselves one of these questions?  

How do I get my child to stop lying?  What can I do to help my child follow through on what he says he will do?  How can I teach my children to be more dependable and responsible?  Well, if you have….  You’re in good company.  I don’t know of a family yet who hasn’t had issues with one of these values.

This next month  we are going to be focusing on how we can teach our children to keep their promises.  Whether it is keeping their word when they said they would clean their room, or a commitment to remember to put their clothes away, or a resolve to tell the truth, or most importantly a promise to obey God’s commandments when they are baptized.

Whatever angle you want to address it, this month’s  theme and experience can help you, help your family .  Join Linsey and Dixie and myself as we discuss how we plan on using this theme to solve these typical problems in our own homes.

The other day my husband made the comment that God didn’t real give us much help when it comes to raising children.  God taught us a lot of things, but parenting wasn’t one of them. 

I told him I disagreed.  That the scriptures had all sorts of examples of how to parent. 

Like what?

Well today’s episode we answer that question , like what?  Today we share a sampling of some of the finest examples of how God interacts with His children and what we can learn from it.

If you are a bit like my husband and wonder what advice God has for us as parents, stay tuned as we reveal some of God’s greatest parenting tools.

Being a parent is hard.  Sometimes we second guess ourselves, are we doing it right?  Is there a better way?  Sometimes we straight up get told we are doing it wrong  (like in the story I share with you today), and sometimes, very infrequently, we get the confirmation that we are on the right track.

In today’s episode I share a couple of stories about how I found confidence in my role of a mother and how you can do the same.

The month of December can be a hectic time and keeping up with your family scripture study can often feel like one more thing on your checklist to get done.

In today's episode, Dixie Christensen shares how she is simplifying her scripture study to accommodate both Christmas and CFM.  She shares some great ideas of how to use our December theme of “ I Believe” to help her family connect the birth of the Christ Child to the Jesus we talk about in the scriptures and the principles of the gospel we believe in that will be discussed in our Come Follow Me for the rest of the year.

Dixie shares several easy ways to incorporate the Articles of Faith, Proclamation on the Family and the Living Christ into your daily Christmas time routines making your family scripture study, not only possible, but meaningful.

It's not enough just to teach our children the gospel, we also need to teach them how to teach others the gospel.  As a novice mother I made the mistake of thinking that just because my children had grown up going to church every week, having family scripture study every day and Family Home Evening every week, they would automatically know how to give a coherent ,well thought out lesson.  Oh how wrong I was.  

Knowing how to be an effective teacher takes practice.  Allowing our kids to practice at home where the stakes are low is so important for preparing them to teach outside of the home.  Whether its a talk in sacrament meeting or a young men's/young women's lesson,  you can help your youth give the perfect lesson by teaching them to follow these four simple steps when preparing their lesson. 

You can find the perfect lesson plan template at myteachingmatters.com/tools

What is driving you crazy in your family right now?  Is it that the kids are fighting all the time?

Is it 6 year old Abi   who is afraid to try anything new and constantly needs your help to do simple tasks?

Or Maybe it’s eight year old Max who loves to tease and harass the younger kids until they are crying and whining - causing constant contention.

Or  possibly the fact that Alex has a propensity to embellish the truth to the point you can’t trust a thing she says.

What is a parent to do ? Being a parent is hard.  It seems like there is always something or someone who is driving you crazy.

What if I were to tell you there was a systematic way to overcome these sources of frustration and irritation?

Today we share with you our system for dealing with unwanted issues that come up in every family.  A five step system that when used consistently, can create positive and sustainable change for your family.

A few years back I was visiting with a non member friend of mine.  We had just finished conference weekend and I was showing her pictures of the apostles and prophet who had spoken.  In sincere curiosity, she asked me, “Why are they all so old?”  I laughed not quite knowing how to answer that question. 

I have thought about that question over the years, and I would be better prepared to answer that question now.   I have come to understand that the wonderful wisdom and insights these men have is due in part to their many years of life experience.  There is something to be said about the wisdom that is shared from those who have gone through the refining fires of life.

In today’s episode, I share with you my personal journey of coming to understand 3 critically important things when it comes to teaching.  Things I have learned by trial and error, Things I have learned through years of experimenting and things I have been guided to understand from the Heavens above.

Henry B. Eyring stated, “To ask and to answer questions is at the heart of all learning and all teaching” (“The Lord Will Multiply the Harvest” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 6, 1998], 5–6; emphasis added).

What does it mean that asking and answering questions is at the heart of all learning and all teaching.   Well, this last week we hosted a council call with our “Teaching as a Fearless Mother of Faith” group, and we witnessed first hand how great learning and great teaching can be achieved by asking and answering questions.

Join Linsey and me today as we share some amazing insights we had about the importance of asking the right questions to help personalize the scriptures to ourselves and to our families.

Have you ever noticed how most of the scripture stories we tell are all about men?  Finding those femine role models within the scriptures is not easy.

Today I’ve invited my friend Amber Corkin to share with us all about her new book ,”Dear Divine Daughter:  Inspiring Stories of Bible Women".  She and her twin sister Aubrey scoured the bible for stories of women.  They found so many they had to narrow it down to the best 34 inspirational stories they found.  Who knew there were that many stories about women?

In today’s episode, Amber shares her amazing journey of this inspired book.  Nearly four years in the making, several rejection from publishers and finally a break that has placed her book on the shelves of some very prominent retail stores.

Conference weekend is a time for revelation and inspiration.  As we prepare for conference this year, I want to replay our most popular episode of this program.  "How to Recognize the Holy Ghost" with Julie Ferguson.  Julie walks us through her experience of really learning all the different ways the Holy Ghost speaks to her.  You will be amazed at how many different ways she has been directed and taught by the Holy Ghost.

As we prepare to receive direction and inspiration during General Conference this weekend, or any time for that matter, consider some of the ideas that Julie shares with us of ways we might not realize that the Holy Ghost can speak to us.

“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. “The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. … That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel” (Elder Boyd K Packer)

In todays episode we share some examples of this inspired truth.  Listen to see how parents and individuals are using their gospel study, to change their behavior and the behavior of their children.

What is holding you back from having Family Gospel Study?

If you’re like me, maybe it's just the lack of routine during the summer, or maybe you’re like my friend who is just too busy, or maybe you're like one our listeners who just doesn't know how to do it.

Maybe you are having family gospel study, but you're wondering if it's even making a difference in the lives of your children.

In today’s episode we look at some of the limiting beliefs people have about gospel study and how those beliefs are getting in the way of having truly simple, effective gospel study that will have a lasting impact on your family.

As parents it is our job to prepare our children for the future.  The more tools, and preparation we can give them, the greater chance they have to be successful.

In today’s episode, I share how I taught 150 girls that God still loves them even when life isn’t fair. 

Growing up I loved stories.  I remember during those long summer days when you were staying up late and playing outside all day long, my mother would often make us lay down for an afternoon nap.  The only way Mom could get us to hold still  long enough to fall asleep was to read us a few stories.  This is where I learned the childhood classics of the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the 3 bears, or Tortoise and the Hare, Brer Rabbit, and even nursery rhymes.

Stories that taught me the importance of building a strong house, the idea that slow and steady wins the race and the beauty of twinkling stars.

Today is our second episode in our series “Simplify Your Summer Scripture Study”.  Today we look at the power and simplicity of using stories to teach the gospel to our children and how we can use stories to reinforce our monthly theme.

I hope I’m not the only one who feels bombarded with the craziness of summer.  Don’t get me wrong, I love summer time, but at the same time, It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed the “Lazy Days of Summer”.

Trying to keep up with regular family scripture study can be a challenge during the summer but with a few tips and tricks you can still successfully teach your family and enjoy your summertime fun.

This podcast is the first in a series of several short episodes, giving you quick and easy tips on how to simplify your summer scripture study.  Today we talk about the single most important thing you can do to make your summer gospel learning simple yet meaningful.

As intentional parents, we care about how we can influence and teach our children.  Research shows that STORYTELLING is on of the most effective ways to influence, teach, and inspire.  

In today’s episode, we talk about the power of storytelling in connecting with and teaching our children.  

We explore how and why stories stick, and how we can use them more effectively in our teaching.

Join us today, as we explore the Power of Stories.

I often get asked the question, "How old should my children be before I can start teaching them the gospel?"  The answer might surprise you.  Sister Joy D. Jones in her conference address from April 2021 entitled Essential Conversations, tells us  that “There is a uniquely special time in children’s lives when they are protected from Satan’s influence.  It is a time when they are innocent and sin free.  It is a sacred time for parent and child. “

That being the case, we can’t wait until their 8 before we begin the teaching process. We need to start as early as possible!

In this episode Dixie Christensen shares with us how she is finding ways to teach her four small children ranging from 1 -6.  Much of her teaching centers around using a theme and creating experiences to help her children relate what they are learning to their own lives.

Listen to Dixie as she shares real life examples of how to take advantage of this sacred time.

Let's face it.  Summer is a difficult time to be totally consistent and diligent about family gospel study.  But what if that were Okay?  Summer may be difficult for regular sit down scripture reading and lessons, but it is the perfect time to strengthen your family in different ways!  Embrace summer and the opportunity to connect with your children and strengthen your family by playing together, working together and spending time with extended family and friends.  Plan now what you want to accomplish this summer.  With realistic expectations and a general plan, you may find that Summer is even better than you anticipated!

What do you want your children to be when they grow up? 

 Last week we had a zoom call with our Fearless Mother’s of Faith group. I asked a few of them a similar question.  One of the Mom’s said she wanted her children to be resilient, and self reliant, another wanted her children to be confident in their talents were and use those talents to serve others;  and still another mentioned how she wants her children to understand their personal mission for this earth life and to accomplish that mission.

All of these things are great desires.  Very much worth striving for.  But what is the method or the system or the path they are going to use to help their children get there?  It won’t just happen on its own!

In today’s episode, we talk about how the  the Children and Youth Guidebooks that the church has provided us, can help our children become all that they are meant to become. We talk how we can simply integrate this program into what we are already doing in our gospel study, and how we can ensure that our children are developing their own  unique gifts

How many of us really know what is going on with our kids when they are at school?  What kind of pressures are they having to deal  with?  What are the most difficult challenges they are faced with?

In today’s episode, we get a sneak peak into the day in the life of a middle schooler.  Corrine Kendall, a middle school/junior high counselor, talks to us about what she sees as some of the trends and challenges that our young people are dealing with and what we as intentional parents can do to help combat the trends of the world.

Do you remember back to your school days when you took a test and felt pretty good about it.  Then you get your score back and you realize to your horror that totally misjudged how well you did.  Your expected A turned out to be a frightening D?

Hopefully you don’t recall too  many of those experiences, but I think I’m not the only one who has experienced being shocked when faced with the reality of a situation.

In today’s episode, I share a moment where I was totally taken off guard at how well my teaching was being received by my children.  I was totally off base...  but the worst part was,  I didn’t even know it!

How do you  know if your  teaching is really sinking in?  How do you know if you’re doing it right?

In today’s episode, I share with you the mistakes I made, and the journey I took to find a solution.  I will share the solution I found with you, so you don't have to wait until your kids are teenagers before realizing you were going about it all wrong. 

You don't have to make the same mistakes I did. 

You can make the changes you need to now, before it’s too late.

It is common in the church to stand and testify that we KNOW the Church is True.

But what does that really mean?  Is it enough that our children know the church is true or is there something more that we are striving for?

In the October 2000 General Conference, Elder Dallin H. Oaks said this,  “ It is not enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something….  The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly father desires us to become.”  (The Challenge to Become, Oct. 2000 Conference)

In this episode, we talk about the importance of focusing on who we are BECOMING rather than what knowledge we are obtaining.

Let’s face it, as busy mother’s we don’t have a lot of extra time just for ourselves. How do we find time to devote to our own scriptures study when the kids usually get us out of bed in the morning and we fall into bed exhausted shortly after they go to bed at night?

Well,  what if I were to tell you that you could actually have a meaningful scripture study in one minute a day?  ONE MINUTE!  Do you think you could squeeze it in?

Cali Black is co-host of the podcast 1 Minute Scripture Study; a podcast that is truly only 1 minute long! (if you skip the intro and outro parts.)  In today’s episode, Cali shares how busy moms like you and I, can find ways to have meaningful scripture study that helps us progress and change without sacrificing our family or our sanity!

For those of you who need help getting started again on your own personal study habits, or if you just need a fallback idea for those days when it’s just not going to happen otherwise, this episode is for you.

Links to find Cali:

Instagram:  Come Follow Me Study - Daily thoughts and actionable take aways

Web Site:  Comefollowmestudy.com - Access to study journals, daily thoughts and podcasts

Podcast:  1 Minute Scripture Study - found on most podcast platforms

How we can teach our children intentionally but  practically.  You know what it is like to be a busy mother and yet want to make sure you are teaching your children in a way that is meaningful but doesn't stress you out in the preparation.

Engaging our littles in gospel learning can be simple and fun.  Singing songs, adding movement, repeating phrases and stories is all very easy and certainly age appropriate for our little learners.

Today Miss Lindsey from Miss Lindsey’s Come Follow Me for Kids, joins us to share some of her tips and tricks on what she does to teach the gospel in a fun and memorable way.

Link to Miss Lindsey's Come Follow Me for Kids

https://anchor.fm/lindsey-paradis#:~:text=An%20interactive%20podcast%20for%20littles,Christ%20of%20Latter%2Dday%20Saints.