Teacher and Parent Councils are very effective tools especially when used as intended. President Holland gave some great instruction for these council meetings. He says, “what they are not, A lesson or presentation. A course with a set agenda and number of weeks.”
Teacher Councils
Introduction to Teacher Council Meetings
In the videos below he outlines best practices including how they should be broken up into three sections.
1. Share: Discussion & Council
a. What’s not/working, challenges
b. What can we do to teach more like the Savior
c. Encouragement/mutual support
d. Teachers share thoughts and ideas, new approaches
2. Learn Together Christlike Principles
a. Teachers help set agendas based on needs
b. Ongoing, no end date or agenda
3. Practice & Invite
a. Practice a principle you’ve learned
How to Conduct a Teacher Council Meeting from Start to Finish
New Teachers
Teacher Council Meetings for Parents
Under the direction of the bishop and ward council, the Sunday School president helps organize teacher council meetings for parents. These meetings follow the same format and frequency as regular teacher council meetings, but in this case parents are invited to attend. The purpose is to help parents become better teachers in their homes. Teaching in the Savior’s Way and the introductory materials in Come, Follow Me should be used as resources (see 17.4).