Administering Teacher Improvement in the Branch

The branch presidency is responsible for the quality of teaching in the branch.

Responsibilities of the Teacher Improvement Coordinator

As the branch membership increases, a member of the branch presidency calls and sets apart a teacher improvement coordinator to oversee teacher improvement. The coordinator may be either a brother or sister. He or she is a member of the branch council and serves as a resource to priesthood and auxiliary leaders and teachers in their efforts to improve gospel teaching. The coordinator helps leaders plan and conduct teacher improvement meetings and, when assigned, teaches the Teaching the Gospel course.

Leader Support of Teachers

Priesthood and auxiliary leaders are responsible for the quality of gospel teaching in their organizations. They model superior teaching and help teachers understand the importance of their callings. They extend appreciation, assistance, and encouragement to the teachers with whom they serve. The excellence of teaching in the Church will improve as leaders give caring support and encouragement to the teachers in their organizations.

Teacher Improvement Meetings

Each priesthood and auxiliary leader and teacher is to attend a teacher improvement meeting once every three months to learn principles, methods, and skills to improve gospel teaching and learning. The teacher improvement coordinator takes the lead in scheduling and planning teacher improvement meetings in consultation with priesthood and auxiliary leaders. The meetings should be held at times that are convenient for teachers and leaders but do not conflict with the regular Sunday meeting schedule. Generally, the meetings should not last more than one hour.

A teacher improvement meeting may include:

• A brief message from a member of the branch presidency or a priesthood or auxiliary leader about a principle of teaching or learning.

• A presentation of a teaching method or skill by a priesthood or auxiliary leader or a teacher.

• Time for teachers and leaders to share ideas and discuss ways to help specific class members.

As the number of teachers and leaders increases in the branch, one teacher improvement meeting may be held each quarter for:

• Teachers and leaders of members 18 and older.

• Teachers and leaders of members 12 through 17.

• Teachers and leaders in Primary.

These meetings may be scheduled so one is held each month.

The Teaching the Gospel Course

The Teaching the Gospel course provides a foundation to help members become better gospel teachers in their homes and in Church meetings. An outline of the course is on pages 21–22 of this guidebook. The teacher improvement coordinator teaches the course unless the branch presidency calls another branch member to teach it.

The branch presidency invites members to take the course. Generally, no more than 10 members are in the course at one time, allowing each one to participate fully.