Teaching Helps
with Dr. Hank Smith
Teaching the gospel is more than just sharing a lesson—it’s about helping to light the fire of faith in your student’s life! Join Hank Smith as he unpacks essential strategies that will help make your gospel lessons more meaningful and memorable. From asking thought-provoking questions that may not have a “right” answer, to creating discussions that actually promote discussion, this miniseries will help you teach with confidence and clarity—whether you’re in seminary, Sunday School, or even at home.
Want to improve your teaching? Learn from great teachers, but don’t try to copy them. Your students will connect most when you bring your own personality into the classroom.
The first few days of class matter more than you may realize! Hank shares how to establish your class structure, get your students engaged, and invested in the material right from the start.
If your lesson starts weak, students tune out. If it ends weak, they forget. Hank shares tips on how to start with strength and wrap up with power that will help make your lessons stick.
Your class needs a strong heartbeat! Learn how to identify and use key students to build energy, engagement, and a positive classroom culture. Set them up for success, and the whole class will follow!
Getting students to arrive on time isn’t about guilt trips—it’s about creating a culture of consistency and accountability. Try these simple, positive strategies to encourage on-time attendance. Involving peers, starting on time, and reinforcing good habits can make all the difference!
When students feel encouraged instead of criticized, they’re more likely to change. Hank shares simple strategies that will help motivate your students to come on time—without making them feel bad about being late.
Mornings can be rough, especially for teenagers. If your early morning class feels like a room full of zombies, Hank shares some simple ways to bring energy back into the room!
The best lessons don’t just inform—they inspire. And inspiration starts with you. Find what excites you about today’s lesson, and let that enthusiasm carry into the classroom.
Most students don’t struggle with scripture because they’re uninterested—they struggle because they don’t understand the language. So if your students go silent after reading scripture, it’s not because they don’t care—it’s because they don’t understand! Hank shares a simple translation method you can...
Too often, students read scripture like a history book instead of a guide to life. Hank shares a simple trick you can use to help them find meaningful principles every time they open the scriptures.
Great discussions don’t happen by accident—they start with great questions. Here’s how to ask the kind of questions that get your students talking and thinking.
Ever felt like you're the only one singing in class? This fun and easy trick helps students loosen up and actually enjoy participating in the opening hymn. Soon, they’ll be singing loud and proud!
Talkative students can be a challenge—but also a gift. The goal isn’t to silence them, but to channel their energy into leadership. Hank shares how to guide them—without embarrassing or shutting them down.
When a student brings up a sensitive topic, remember: how you handle it teaches just as much as what you say. Learn how to respond with confidence—even when you don’t know the answer right away.
What do you say when a student tells you, "I just don’t get much out of the scriptures?" Not every student learns the same way—so why should scripture study be one-size-fits-all? Hank shares ways you can help them find a study style that works for them!
Cluttered slides kill attention. Stick to a clean design—one message per slide, simple backgrounds, and no unnecessary extras. When in doubt, remove distractions and focus on what really matters.
If you’re doing everything in your classroom, you’re doing too much! You can build a well-run classroom that will not only teach gospel principles, but also leadership! Hank shares how you can delegate meaningful roles to your students and watch your class begin to transform as they take charge of key...
You don’t have to teach everything—just what matters most. Learn how to identify the golden thread that will make your lesson relevant and meaningful.
Your students are quietly asking, “Do I want the life you have?”
They may forget the lesson you teach, but they'll always remember who you are and the way. you live. Remember, your life and personality may be the greatest message you share with them.
Imagine being handed a book written in a language you don’t speak and being told to “find a meaningful lesson” in it. That’s what scripture can feel like for many students! Here’s how to translate it so they actually get it.
If you want to dig deeper into gospel topics but don’t know where to look, these two websites can be game changers. One helps with scripture translations, and the other is full of scholarly insights.
Turn those days when you don't have time to prepare into an opportunity! This last-minute lesson idea helps students pull out key principles from the scriptures on their own.
When students know you care about them, not just their attendance or grades, everything changes. One of the most powerful ways to connect with them is simple: ask them to tell you their story.
Have you ever received a compliment that stuck with you for years? This simple classroom activity helps students experience that same lasting encouragement. Try it before a break or at the end of the year and watch it become a gift your students will treasure for years!
Students sometimes tune out when we start talking. But what if they were hearing the same message—from a peer? Here’s a simple way to help students engage with gospel topics in a more meaningful way.
Bored students aren’t always disengaged—they may just not see how a lesson applies to them! Instead of lecturing, let your students take the lead! Hank Shares a scripture study method that helps students discover gospel principles on their own and discuss them in groups.