For those of you new to the blog, the handouts are written in a "worksheet" format, which I have found very useful as a teacher for several reasons:
1.-It is proven that people learn with a different part of the brain (the RNS) when they write things down--the process of writing helps us learn and recall things at a much higher level. Also, when members write things down, they are more ENGAGED in the class.
2.-People are more apt to answer more thoughtfully if they know where the lesson is going, or if the question is written on the handout and they have had time to think about their answer.
3.-Handouts are a simple way to organize my class, and often if I don't finish the handouts, people take them home and finish them on their own.
4. Members in other auxiliaries count on handouts and do the lesson at home--even the librarian who usually misses part or all of class makes sure to get a copy. It truly helps the ward feel more cohesive and the women in primary less isolated.
5. Often, people retain more knowledge and can digest it on a deeper level when they can read it. I find that as a teacher, I can teach multiple levels at once with a handout, simply because I can cover more information, without the class feeling lost.
Of course, the handouts are also a wonderful resource for personal or couple scripture study!
Feel free to use the handouts in any non-commercial way. I just ask that you comment on the blog if you visit or use the handouts!
Caroline Brock
carolinecbrock@gmail.com
