Valiant 9

I got a new calling last Sunday. I'm the new teacher of the Valiant 9 class in the senior primary. At first I was a little disappointed because I really didn't want to be in primary. I've never felt like much of a "kid friendly" type person, except of course with my own kids or those of my family or close friends.
However once I let it sink in a little and pulled up the first lesson I actually found myself getting excited to teach this past Sunday. I have had a heightened interest lately in the scriptures and found myself more interested than before in Sunday school lessons etc. Well, that is exactly what these lessons are, they are studying the Old Testament this year. Very different than the fluffy lessons that the junior primary gets taught about love one another or telling the truth etc. Not that those aren't good lessons that they need to learn, but I believe that Heavenly Father really had my needs and my current interests in mind when I was given this call.
The kids are good kids and they were so excited with all the new things I shared with them on Sunday. I made each of them their own journal with their names on them and passed them out at the beginning of class. I told them they could jot notes or thoughts down during the lesson and that I would also give them a few minutes at the end of class to write what they had learned about that day. I'll give them their books at the end of the year and they can keep them as a scripture journal. They were all so excited and actually wrote in them, even the boys! I also set up a chart for them to memorize a monthly scripture, bring their scriptures to class and teach the lesson as an FHE to their family. When they do these things they can collectively as a class earn enough points to meet the goal. When they do I'll bring each of them their own plate of cookies to their home which they thought was super cool.
I love sugardoodle.com and was able to find some really neat things on there that I let them glue into their books that had to do with our lesson, I also was able to find a powerpoint presentation that someone had done on the lesson which they really enjoyed, it included pictures as well as a few primary songs. I'll be using those each week too, a big hit and made teaching much easier.
Never thought I'd say it but I'm really grateful for my calling in primary and I'm really enjoying it!