Learn

How do I prepare outside class?

Time:Set the timer to 60 minutes for the Learn section.

Read:Last week, we discussed how to learn by faith and also how to learn by study in the classroom. This week, we will focus on how to prepare outside the classroom.

Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6
What type of work will help me become self-reliant?	What education will qualify me for my work?	How will I pay for my education?	Should I apply for a Perpetual Education Fund loan?	How will I succeed in the classroom?	How will I succeed outside the classroom?

Read:This week, we will find answers to this question and we will take this action:

Read:QUESTION OF THE WEEK—How will I succeed outside the classroom?

ACTION OF THE WEEK—Strengthen my spiritual preparation and improve my study skills and habits, including working with others and completing assignments.

How do I prepare spiritually?

Read:We have a great advantage as we seek education. We can follow the Holy Spirit, who knows the truth of all things! Even if we are very busy, we must spend time each day to prepare spiritually. Then the Spirit can help us learn faster and remember more.

“You and I are here on the earth to prepare for eternity, to learn how to learn, to learn things that are temporally important and eternally essential, and to assist others in learning wisdom and truth [see D&C 97:1].”

David A. Bednar, “Learning to Love Learning,” Ensign, Feb. 2010, 27

“Spiritually Prepared” (No video? Read page 112.)

Discuss:How do we qualify for the guidance of the Spirit? How will the Spirit help us learn?

Read:Here are some keys to spiritual preparation:

• Pray morning and night; pray before and after we study; ask Heavenly Father to bless our minds and our efforts.

• Read the scriptures daily.

• Obey the commandments; keep ourselves clean and pure.

• Serve others; help others learn with us.

Practice:The chart below lists principles that will help you prepare spiritually and succeed in your studies.

Think about how you are doing in the following areas. Write ways to improve.

I feel the Spirit help me and work through me.
My desire to learn, my love for learning, and my ability to learn are increasing.
I obey God’s commandments and I apply the principles of effective learning.
I study every day; I plan my time and follow my plan; I do assignments on time.
I develop Christlike attributes and help others do the same.

Discuss:What commitments could we each make to improve our spiritual preparation? How will we help each other keep these commitments?

How do I prepare outside the classroom?

Read:Here are four keys to success as we prepare outside the classroom. We will learn about each one.

Learn by study: prepare outside the classroom

Plan for effective learning

Work and learn with others

Complete assignments on time

Read to understand and remember

How do I plan for effective learning?

Discuss:Why is it important to plan where and when you will study? Why is it important to carefully manage your time?

Practice:Get with another group member. Help each other decide when and where you will study once you start school.

1. Can you find a place to study each day that is clean and quiet? Where will you study?

2. Can you plan to study at a certain time each day?

Mon. Tues. Wed.

Thurs. Fri. Sat.

Practice:With a different group member, list any problems that could keep you from studying each day. Decide now how you can solve these issues.

WHAT COULD KEEP ME FROM STUDYING?	HOW WILL I SOLVE THIS ISSUE?
Neighbors making noise	Kindly ask them to stop from 3-5 p.m.

How do I prepare outside the classroom?

Read:Some people learn well in a group. Our self-reliance group is a great example!

Discuss:What makes our self-reliance group such a great place to learn? How does our group help you to act and to be accountable?

Read:When we are learning in school, we usually have classmates around us. They are also trying to learn. If we find the right people, they can help us and we can help them.

Discuss:Talk about these keys to effective group learning. Talk about a time when you gained much from a study group. Talk about a time when you did not gain much. What was the difference?

• Find the best students to work with—especially those who are as committed as you are.

• Set a regular time to study together.

• To begin each study session, agree on a specific goal.

• End each study session by making commitments—what will you each do and when will you have it done?

• Have fun together but stay focused.

• Be prepared and do your part. Help your group members learn. Learn all you can from them.

Practice:How will you use study groups to increase your learning effectiveness? Write down your ideas and then do them.

How do I understand and remember what I read?

Read:We will likely have to read a lot at school. There are many things we can do to understand and remember what we read.

Discuss:Talk about these steps that will help you understand, remember, and apply what you read.

1. Pray. Ask for the Spirit to help you understand and remember.

2. Make an outline. Write the main ideas you read about. Then add supporting ideas, facts, and figures. Review these notes again that day, a week later, and a month later.

3. If you own the textbook, underline or highlight key words and new vocabulary; write definitions in the margins.

4. Make notes in the margins; show connections and processes; tie new information to what you already know.

5. Quiz yourself; find ways to use and apply this information.

Practice:As a group, look at this article. How did the reader use all the ideas above? Review the reader’s study outline on the next page. What do you learn about reading effectively?

THE THREE Rs OF CHOICE

President Thomas S. Monson

I have been thinking recently about choices and their consequences. … As I’ve contemplated the various aspects of choice, I’ve put them into three categories: first, the right of choice; second, the responsibility of choice; and third, the results of choice. …

I mention first the right of choice. I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father for His gift of agency, or the right to choose. … We know that we had our agency before this world was and that Lucifer attempted to take it from us. … We who chose the Savior’s plan knew that we would be embarking on a precarious, difficult journey, for we walk the ways of the world and sin and stumble, cutting us off from our Father. But the Firstborn in the Spirit offered Himself as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of all. … Within the confines of whatever circumstances we find ourselves, we will always have the right to choose.

Prayer: Felt like I need this message.

“Agency” is the right to choose.

The Atonement can repair bad choices if I repent.

THE THREE Rs OF CHOICE (CONTINUED)

Next, with the right of choice comes the responsibility to choose. … Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal journey without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him God-given guidance to assist in our safe return at the end of mortal life. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice within each of us, and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, written by mariners who successfully sailed the seas we too must cross. … Decisions do determine destiny. …

Finally … I speak of the results of choice. All of our choices have consequences. … You are of a noble birthright. Eternal life in the kingdom of our Father is your goal. Such a goal is not achieved in one glorious attempt but rather is the result of a lifetime of righteousness, an accumulation of wise choices. …

May we be filled with gratitude for the right of choice, accept the responsibility of choice, and ever be conscious of the results of choice. … We are engaged in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We, like those of olden times, have answered His call. We are on His errand. (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 67–70)

I need to listen better when I pray.

I learned this on my mission.

How does this connect with my goals?

STUDY OUTLINE (IN STUDY JOURNAL)

1. Right to choose

   We have agency; the Lord gave us choice

2. Responsibility to choose

3. Results of our choices

   Meet goals by making good choices over time

4. Need to make good choices, important for life

Practice:On your own, turn to page 113 and read “Seek Learning by Faith.” Work hard to understand and remember. Do all five steps on page 104.

Without turning back to the article, take this quiz about what you read. Did you read to understand and remember?

1. What do we need to do to seek learning by faith?

2. Why is it important that we each seek learning by faith?

3. How did Joseph Smith show that he wanted to learn by faith?

Discuss:How will you use these five study steps to help you remember information better?

How do I complete assignments?

Read:How do we understand and complete assignments on time? How do we do our best? These are questions faced by every student.

Discuss:What have you done to understand assignments? What has helped you to complete assignments well and on time?

Read:It helps to remember that a good start usually leads to a good finish. When we receive an assignment, it’s best to plan and get started early!

Practice:Check yourself with this activity. Mark an “x” in one of the four boxes in each row to show how you are doing in these areas. Repeat this every few weeks to improve.

I ask questions until I fully understand an assignment.	Never	Sometimes	Often	Always
When I receive an assignment or project, I put the due date on a calendar and I plan the steps to finish it.	Never	Sometimes	Often	Always
I make sure I know how I will be graded, and I learn and do all that is necessary to succeed.	Never	Sometimes	Often	Always
I work toward completion of my assignments without delay. I do not procrastinate.	Never	Sometimes	Often	Always
If possible, I share my progress with the teacher and get help if necessary before the assignment is due.	Never	Sometimes	Often	Always

Commitment and perseverance

Read:Are we committed to learn “by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118)? Are we committed to keep trying and never give up?

Do we believe that the Holy Spirit can magnify us if we are worthy? Are we learning so we can go forth to serve?

Discuss:How can we help each other succeed?

Practice:At home, check your preparation to succeed on page 114.

Am I becoming more self-reliant?

Time:Set the timer to 15 minutes for this page only.

Read:Our goal is self-reliance, both temporal and spiritual. Getting an education and job are only part of that goal. Increasing our faith and growing spiritually is the other part.

Discuss:Have you become more self-reliant as you have practiced and taught the My Foundation principles?

Practice:How self-reliant are you and your family today? Open your My Path to Self-Reliance booklet to a blank Self-Reliance Assessment. Do the steps. Take three minutes to ponder the following:

Are you now more aware of your expenses? Can you now answer “often” or “always” to more of those questions? Are you more confident in the amount you have set as your self-reliant income? Are you closer to achieving your self-reliant income?

Read:Our goal is self-reliance, both temporal and spiritual. Getting an education is only part of that goal. We also become self-reliant through living the principles in My Foundation and through getting better work.

For the next six meetings, we will continue practicing My Foundation principles. We will finish the remaining principles and complete the final project.

We will practice getting better work by using the My Job Search workbook.