As a home-study seminary teacher, your students will need to have a copy of the seminary student manual or access it on the Gospel Library app or online at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. 

You will need to communicate with students about which lessons to study at home and which you will study together virtually or in-person. The lessons in the student manual correspond to the same lessons in the teacher manual.

When deciding which lessons to teach in a face-to-face class, consider which of that week's lessons would be especially effective in a group setting. 

You could extend invitations to students that will help them prepare for class. The student preparation suggestions included at the beginning of each lesson in the teacher manual can give you some ideas about how to do this. 

As you plan the learning experiences of face-to-face classes, spend some time in class reviewing the references and key scripture phrases of doctrinal mastery passages students recently have studied.

Students should complete the assignments from the student manual and turn them in to you at least weekly. Students can submit their work electronically (via email, a messaging app, or something similar) or in study journals. If students submit their work in study journals, they should have two study journals so they can leave one with you as needed and continue working in the other, exchanging the journals each time you meet.

As you review students’ work, provide specific and meaningful feedback. Find ways to encourage students and help them grow in their learning. You can also help students by identifying ways to communicate with them throughout the week. For example, if you are studying the lessons in the manual while students are completing the same lessons at home, you might be inspired to share a question, video recommendation, or other resource. These suggestions can be shared with students via email, group texts, messaging apps, or other forms of communication. You could also send reminders or encouragement that can help build class unity, increase students' sense of belonging as they study the gospel and grow together.

Before beginning home-study seminary with a student, you will want to welcome them and introduce them to what they will be doing. One way you could do this is by using and adopting the following introductory communication:

Welcome to home-study seminary! This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about Heavenly Father, His plan, Jesus Christ, and His gospel.

Seminary is a program you participate in throughout the week. Most weeks, you will complete study activities on your own using the Seminary Student Manual. 

You can use a printed copy of the Seminary Student Manual or access it in the Gospel Library app or online at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

I will let you know which lessons to study independently and which lessons we will study together as a class.

As you complete lessons on your own, you can do your work on paper or electronically. You can submit your work electronically or in a notebook or study journal. If you use a printed notebook or study journal, it’s helpful to have two—one to turn into your teacher that week and one to keep working in.

You won’t meet with our class as often as other seminary students, but you are not on your own. I will contact you regularly to see how you’re doing, answer questions, and support your learning. You’ll also have opportunities to connect with your classmates.

Home-study seminary is designed to support you as you learn and grow, one week at a time.

To provide feedback to the seminary curriculum team, email us at ces-manuals@ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

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