I have found that meaningful prep times often result from meaningful companionship meetings. I like to think of companionship meetings in the same context of missionaries and their planning meetings. These meetings should not be moments to update on the very last class, but they should be revelatory, vision focused, and have concrete plans for the future. When this is how a companionship meeting looks, I find I can come in confident with where to go with class, and instead of taking the time to figure out needs and what I am going to teach, my prep time is like a personal study where I find resources to meet the needs of the missionaries.
For a greater explanation, I thought I would post some of the things that Zone 3 discussed in a zone meeting about how to improve companionship meetings. Enjoy these ideas and please post any other ideas on how companionship meetings can look more like a vision oriented planning meeting.
- Don't "discover" needs during the meeting, the meeting should be held to find solutions (planning sessions)
- What should your focus and goals be for the next week? Establish a bird's eye view for the missionary.
- Teacher Log must be up-to-date. Same view and same interpretation.
- Use the curriculum to find solutions.
- Teacher Log should be used as a "daily planning" like log. Communicate ideas for the next lesson.
- Make specific plans to meet the needs. Be aware of your resources (additional activities, studies, other teachers, branch president).
- Have faith in the doctrine.
