Welcome to the series, how to teach preschool ballet! Now we are going to talk about what to do right before your class begins.
We talked in previous videos about preparation when you are putting your class together. Now we are going to talk about it right before your class begins. Your preparation and professionalism are very important right before class. Before class is when your students and their parents see you for the first time. This is when they will create a first impression of you and what your class may be like. In this section, you will learn how to set the tone for your class in a positive way so everyone will be excited to take your class!
Now some of these things might be self explanatory and if you are watching these videos you are probably already conscious about how to come across as more professional and caring for your classes. However I think they do need to be stressed because sometimes we don’t realize how important these points are.
First, always be on time for your class. Not only should you be on time, but everything should be ready to go in plenty of time before your class begins. Do you need to pass out any notes to the parents? Is your music ready to go? Are your props easily accessible? Are you dressed? Shoes on? Hair out of your face? Do you need to go over any material? Do you know what you are going to cover that day?
Make sure you plan ahead for travel time. Living in a large metro area, my teachers and I deal with all kinds of road issues such as traffic, construction and weather. Check all the elements before you leave for a class in order for you to arrive with plenty of time to prepare.
By being on time and ready to go with time to spare, you will have more time to relax before class. You will also have more time to chat with your students and their families and make strong connections with them. This will create trust with your customers. When your students and parents trust you, they will be more likely to enjoy your class and come back for more!
Second, we all have days we would rather just stay in bed under the covers. However, when you are teaching a class of little people, you must leave all your troubles behind you. Once you are in the parking lot of your dance school, you must turn on your happy teacher face. The students just want to have a great dance class! If something is bothering me on a particular day, most of the time my students’ happy energy will cheer me up, and whatever was bothering me no longer bothers me by the time class is over. Be happy, positive and upbeat whenever you are in the presence of your students and their families. Why is this important? It is important because you want to give the best class you can. You owe your customers that experience.
So how do we then greet our students when they come into class? Always notice your students and their parents when they arrive at class. Think about them as your guests. When someone comes in, welcome them and ask them how their day is going. This makes everyone relaxed and confident that you are a responsible adult that will take great care of their little ones.
If this is the first day of class make sure to introduce yourself. You may have to remind students and parents of your name often, in fact. It is very easy to forget someone’s name especially if you are three years old. Everyone will be excited to know you as well as what your class is all about.
In addition, greeting someone when you see them is just the right thing to do. It makes people feel good when you notice them. It will also continue to build trust between you and your families. Then class will be off to a more positive start. The more positive you make your class at each opportunity the better the class will be.
If parents are bringing the students into class too early and you are still preparing for class, let them know. Still greet them with a smile, ask how everyone is doing but simply say you are not quite ready for the students and need a few more minutes. You can tell them you will let the students into the room five minutes before class. You can also have a policy that the door for the dance area does not open until five minutes before class. Your time outside of class does need to be valued. Even if you are trying to prepare for class, never ignore your customers. Always be polite and greet them. They are coming into your space and need to feel welcome.
Next, show interest in your students. Not only should you greet your students and their parents, but be genuinely interested in them. Everyone will appreciate it if you are excited to see the children and are interested in their lives.
Try to remember something special the child, or the parent, sibling etc. has told you before. For example, “I remember you had a birthday last week! How was the party?” or “How was your vacation? It is so nice to have you all back!” People like it when you show interest in them.
Remember you are not just selling a ballet class you are selling yourself. Again, parents will be more likely to sign their children up for your class if they like you, not just what you teach. I will have other videos about selling your class. Feel free to check those out. Of course however, always be real and sincere when showing interest in your families! In the next video in this series we are going to move on to communication with parents and how to own your dance space.