A Well-Oiled Machine

Something that Lisanne said in a recent new teacher meeting has been on a my mind a lot recently. It was in the context of teaching the lessons in chapter 3, and she said that often times teachers follow the outline exactly, but are still frustrated with the results. It is easy to do what the curriculum says, but difficult to get it to feel right. I have had several experiences lately that have given me further insight as to what the classroom experience should feel like. Not surprisingly, it is the Spirit. What a concept! I have noticed that sometimes I get too caught up in the mechanics of what will be happening, or throw around words like "experience" fifteen times a shift. Of course, the most important thing for teachers and missionaries to be feeling is the Holy Ghost, and that is what will produce the feeling or the experience we are looking for. The extent to which the Holy Ghost is present in the classroom is largely conditional upon the preparation done beforehand, both on the part of the teachers and the missionaries. Many times this boils down to preparation done by teachers, which prepares missionaries to be prepared. It is such a simple concept, but I have discovered that when teachers and missionaries go into a shift with the proper attitude and preparation, the Spirit will create the feeling, flow, experience, environment, etc, that we are seeking, and everything else comes a lot more smoothly. Sometimes I think I make it more complicated than it should be. Having the Spirit in the classroom is crucial to accomplishing the objective. While that is not the only requirement, He is the one that directs teachers and missionaries to know what to say, where to go, what to do, and how to teach. As we plan and properly prepare, we are promised that we will be given in the very (3) hours "that portion that shall be meted unto every man."