Options

The stories and quotes we read this week talked about lots of different ways to learn and become educated. We are so blessed to live in a world that offers so many wonderful options to those that really want to learn.

Explore three different educational paths you think you might be interested in. Explain what you will need to follow these different paths successfully.

1. be a robot builder.


2. collage professor for a technology class.


3. go to mars.

True Education

Elder David A Bednar of the Quorum of the twelve apostles said, " I have spend most of my life involved in education. What I was younger, I thought education meant going to to school, taking tests, and getting good grades. But as I grew older I began to learn the difference between doing well in school and becoming educated. True education is learning how to learn. Once I discovered that lesson, learning became fun!"

1. What is "true education"?

True education is... learning how to learn.

2. What is the difference between true education and going to school? (Hint... both require the same things outwardly... the difference is something inside of the learner.)

The difference between true education and going to school is... weather or not you actually learn.

More Than One Way to Learn- part 3

Read Service in the Service. Then Answer the following questions:

1. Elizabeth originally had a different plan for her life... how did she decide what course she would take? fasted and prayed.


2. What did she have to do to qualify for her job? finish school and enlist in the military

3. Elizabeth says there are two things that are important in choosing educational and career paths... what are they? fast and prayer.

4. How do you feel about Elizabeth's job? is It something you would want to do? maybe.

More Than One Way to Learn- part 2

Read Serving up Satisfaction. Then answer the following questions:

1. What "work" has Laya chosen for herself? cooking.

2. What inspired Laya to do what she does? an edible swan she saw when she was a girl.

3. Was it easy for her to get where she is now? no. What steps did she have to take to get there? she went to school and worked without pay and practiced a lot.

4. Would you like to do what she does? well, I think it is interesting and I like it but it is not what I want to do.

More Than One Way to Learn

Today read Choosing the Outdoor Life. Then answer the following questions:

1. What was it about the family farm that Talon loved so much? it was nice and quiet.

2. Is Talon's "work" easy? Is his work enjoyable and fulfilling to him? its hard but its enjoyable

3. What did he do to prepare himself to be the best farm owner possible? work hard and "just deal with it.''

4. Is Talon's work something that interests you? its interesting but i wont want to do it.

Dream

One of the things I love most about my Mom and Dad is that they allowed me and encouraged me to dream. They taught me to set goals and to work hard to accomplish the things I wanted to do. They taught me to enjoy the hard work that got me where I wanted to go as well as the joy of a job well done. My Mom and Dad always supported me in my dream too. They provided me with opportunities to make my dreams come true (and that often meant some sort of sacrifice on their part). They talked to me about my goals and helped me to refine them. They struggled with me when things got hard or I made bad choices. They rejoiced with me when I succeeded.

I want to be that kind of parent for you Spencer. I want you to know that it is safe to dream- that is okay to want something extraordinary for yourself. I want to help you reach your goals. I want to see your greatest dreams come true. I hope that I can do that for you.

Write about a dream you have.

When I grow up I'm gonna build robots that fight other robots then I'll sell smaller robots so I can make money $$

10 Study and Testing Tips

Read the following list ideas for improving your study and test taking skills. Pick one to work on this week.

10 Study and Testing Tips

• 1. Take good notes in class. Focus on the important points—one hint is to make sure anything your teacher writes on the board is in your notes.

• 2. Attend class every day, and pay attention.

• 3. Complete all of your assignments, and do them on time.

• 4. If there’s something you don’t understand in class, ask about it right then.

• 5. Try to set aside a study area in your home where you can be free from distractions.

• 6. Don’t wait until the night before a test to study. Make a schedule with time to study regularly during the week.

• 7. As you study, try making charts, graphs, diagrams, and lists from your notes and textbooks.

• 8. Try studying out loud. Read aloud, talk to yourself about the important points, even ask yourself and answer the questions aloud.

• 9. Get a good night’s sleep before exam day. Eat a good breakfast that morning, and take a few minutes to review your notes and charts. But remember, this should not be a “cram” session.

• 10. Check every one of your answers on quizzes and tests at least once.

Walking the Extra Mile

Read the article Walking the Extra Mile. Then answer the questions.

What did Tor do to help Stein?

1. Set a good example. Then he went all the way to Stein's house to invite him to seminary.

Why were Tor's actions so meaningful to Stein?

2. Because Stein could feel the spirit and he was prepared somehow to respond.

Has anyone every treated you the way Tor treated Stein? When?

3. No... but maybe it will happen in the future.

Have you ever treated someone else that way? Explain.

4. Yes. I used to invite my friend Tyler to church. I tried to be a good freind to him and a good example. Maybe someday he will join the church.

Education- helping us stay on the straight and narrow path

Tanner Tupou also shared some of his thoughts about getting an education. He said, " With education comes a better understanding. Your mind is more open and you will be able to make smarter, wiser decisions based on the knowledge you have gained. Education with assistance from the Holy Ghost will keep you on the strait and narrow path. Education will help you reach your goals."

How is it possible for education (the kind you get at school) to help you "stay on the straight and narrow path?"

1. Education can help us stay on the straight and narrow path by... helping us solve our own problems.

How will getting a good education help you reach your goal to be a Robot builder when you grow up?

2. Getting an education will help me reach my goals by... helping us believe in ourselves and helping us get the knowledge and skills we need to know.

Learning for the Love of it

Scott MacDermott, a young man from Walnut, California, shared his thoughts about education in a recent New Ear article. He encourages us to, "Enjoy learning and work for the pure expansion of your mind as opposed to working just to get good grades." He says, "It is important to learn always, not just when we go to school- to keep our minds working."

Do you think this is good advice?

1. I think Scott's advice is... because...

What things to you enjoy learning most?

2. I most enjoy learning about...

Education- Q and A

In the New Era one of the readers submitted the follow question to be answered by Church leaders and by other youth. He wrote, "Some of my friends are dropping out of school to get jobs. I don't really like school either, but I know education is important. What should I do?"

Before we read the answers given, write what do you think this boy should do?

1. I think this boy should... get a job that can give him an education.

The Church leaders wrote this is response to his question, "Work and education are both important. But they should be done in the order. This is the time in your life to focus mainly on study and learning. Finishing high school is necessary to get more education and good jobs later in your life. After high school, it is a good idea to continue your education. For many that will include attending college but other possibilities include going to a technical school, taking online courses or enrolling in community education.

What kind of education plan do you want for yourself after you graduate form High School?

2. After High school I want to... study mechanical engineering with an emphasis in Robotics. I want to practice making robots so that I can enter them into contest- like the Maker's Fair. After I study those things I want to get a job making robots that can be used for entertainment (like the Lego Mind Storm) and robots that can be used to help with everyday chores.

Seminary- helping you become

We have talked a lot about Spiritual and Secular learning. We have learned through the scriptures and living prophets that both are essential to our happiness and success in life. For now most of the spiritual learning you get takes place in personal and family scripture study, family home evening and church but when you are in ninth grade you will get to go to Seminary. Seminary is like "spiritual" school. Depending on where we live you will get to go to seminary every school day and the subject you study will be the gospel of Jesus Christ. Seminary is awesome! If you are careful and wise about your seminary experience it will prepare you for many things. It will prepare your heart and your mind for learning at school. It will help prepare you to resist temptation. It will help prepare you to serve a full time mission. It will help you prepare for college learning. Seminary will help you become the person you want to be.

Here is a quote about Seminary that I love, "The way to become the type of person you are isn't by just listening to or being able to explain gospel principles. Its to have them in your heart and to use them when you deal with your friends or when you face challenging situations."

How do you feel about attending Seminary? Do you think it can REALLY help you become the person you want to be?

1. When I think about attending Seminary I feel... unsure because I don't know what to expect.

Education- miricles happen

"When we put God's purposes first, He will give us miracles. If we pray to know what He would have us do next, He will multiply the effects of what we do in such a way that time seems to expand."

Do you think this kind of miracle is possible? Have you ever experienced it before?

1. I ... that it is possible for God to multiply the effects of what we do so that time seems to expand. I ... experienced this in my life when... I cant remember any specific times.


What do you need to do to receive the miracle of "expanded time" in your life?

2. To receive the miracle of "expanded time" I need to... pray to know what to do.

Just 5 Things

Read the article 5 Easy Ways to Make School Hard and 5 Hard Ways to Make School Easy by my friend Brad Wilcox. Then answer the questions below.

What are the 5 easy ways to make school hard?

1. The five easy ways to make school hard are... use your cell phone, blame the teacher, play too many video games, focus only on your grade and try to do it alone.

Have does it feel when you do these things?

2. When I do these 5 easy things I feel... that even though they are easy now that something bad will happen in the future.

What are the 5 hard things to make school easy?

3. The five hard things to make school easy are... read, keep a journal, ask questions, learn anohter language and keep the proper perspective.

Pick one of these things to do this week.

4. This week I am going to work on... keepinhg the proper perspective.

Why do I have to get my hair cut and comb it everyday?

Mom's Thoughts
In the book "Way to Be" President Hinckley explains that our bodies are a gift from Heavenly Father AND that the way we treat them is an outward sign of our understanding of this important gospel principle. He shares the scripture in 1 Corinthians 3:16 - 17 that reads, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?... The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." Through our dress and appearance we can show the Lord that we know how precious our bodies are.

In the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet we are taught that we should "avoid extremes in clothing, appearance and hairstyle". We are encouraged to always "be neat and clean and to avoid sloppiness in dress, grooming and manners." Keeping our hair cut and combing it everyday is one way that we can show the Lord that we value our bodies and respect Him. The Lord, through His prophet has promised that when we follow the standards of the Church we will, "be able to do our life's work with greater wisdom and skill and bear life's trials with great courage. That we will have the help of the Holy Ghost. And that we will feel good about ourselves and will be a positive influence in the lives of others."

Spencer's Thoughts
I think that when you cut your hair it is okay and that when you wash it it is okay too. But I don't like combing my hair because I don't think it looks good (even though some people think it does). I think it would be best if I could leave my hair alone and not comb it. I think not combing it is not necessarily sloppy, really- it is just kind of in the middle of neat and sloppy. If I keep it cut and washed it is closer to the neat side but not all the way there unless I comb it too. So... I guess I am saying I don't think it is necessary to comb it.

God Knows What you Need to Know

Part of the tragedy you must avoid is to discover too late that you missed an opportunity prepared for a future only God can see for you. "Your life is carefully watched over. the Lord knows both what He will need you to do and what you will need to know to do it. You can with confidence expect that He has perpared opportunities for you to learn."

What are some of the opportunities you feel God has prepared for you?

1. Some of the opportunities God has prepared for me are... home school in 2nd grade to prepare for 5th grade.


What can you do to utilize each opportunity to your best learning and growth?

2. To utilize each opportunity to its fullest I can... ask for help, use them and not waste time.

Education- finding the proper balance

Putting spiritual learning first does not relieve us from learning secular things. On the contrary, it gives our secular learning purpose and motivates us to work harder at it. "To keep Spiritual learning in its proper place, we will have to make some hard choices of how we use our time."

What are some things you can do to manage your time so you have time to focus on spiritual and secular learning?

1. In order to have time for both spiritual and secular learning I can... pray for help, give up free time and work smarter not harder.

Education- a blessing or a curse

President Henry B. Eyring of the first Presidency of the Church said, "The thirst for education can be a blessing or a curse, depending on our motives. If we continue to seek learning to serve God and His children better, it is a blessing of great worth. If we seek learning to exalt ourselves alone, it leads to selfishness and pride."

What can you do to make sure your motives for learning are always good? Need help answering this question? See Matt 6:23 for one good idea.

1. To keep me motivated to learn the right things for the right reasons I can... study the scriptures, volunteer and pray for guidance.