Welcome to the series, how to teach preschool ballet! Let’s continue the discussion on what to do right before your class begins and talk about communication with parents and guardians.
Communication is an important part of any relationship. Caregivers of your students want to feel they are leaving their children in good hands. They want and need to feel you are a trustworthy person and their children are learning. They are leaving their precious little ones with you. It’s key that the parents and guardians know you can be trusted. How do you do this?
There are a few ways to earn their trust. Following the few rules I have already covered in the previous videos is a good start. Be happy as soon as you arrive and say hello to families and students when you see them. This will make everyone feel relaxed and at ease around you. Being professional by looking refreshed and being on time is key as well.
The other step you can take to make families feel relaxed about leaving their children with you, is to constantly be in communication with them. Tell them what you are going to cover in class. If this is the first day of class, you can tell families what you will be covering that day and over the entire session. You can also tell them what the students should learn by the end of the session. This will let them know you are prepared and actually have a plan for their children. If the parents like you and trust you, their children will have more fun. Not only that, but they will be more likely to sign their child up for class again.
If you have open classes the families can more easily see what you are doing in class. If you have closed classes or if some parents drop their children off and pick them up after class, they don’t always see what their children are doing. Even if parents can witness what you are doing in class they will still need the material to be explained to them. In all cases, it is a good idea to talk to the families after class is over and when they are picking up their children. Talk to everyone about what happened in class. For example, “Today we started learning ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’. The children had such a good time! They learned first position and how to plié. Who can show us how to plié? Wow, that’s great!”
Another helpful idea for your classes is to make a handout that contains the dances, games and steps you will be focusing on. This can cover each day or the whole session. This way, families can read about what you will be covering and take it home with them. Then, at home they can talk to their children about what they are doing in class. You can also post highlights of your curriculum on the door, a board or on your website so they can read about what you are doing as they pick up their children.
Caregivers want to know what their children are doing and what they are learning, especially since it may be difficult for a preschooler to remember everything. It is important to them. Many parents want to feel their children are being educated as well as having fun. By being in constant communication with the families they will know you are accomplishing both of those points and you have a good quality class.
Now let’s move on to owning your dance space. When you are teaching a preschool dance class, or any class, you are in charge of the space. Think of it as your home. This means the space must be managed correctly as well as respected. How do you do that?
I like to think of myself as the mom of the dance space. I actually visualize I have long stretchy arms that extend all around the room and my students are in their protection. My energy flows through the whole room. I don’t sit back and let things happen. I am confident and in control.
If you are nervous before class, especially if you are new to teaching or if it is the first day meeting new students, that is okay. I am still a bit nervous when I meet a new class. Will they like me? Will they enjoy what I have planned for them? What challenges will I face? These are all things that go through my mind. However, I never linger on these thoughts. I know they are there, but I leave them in the back of my mind and go forward with confidence. I know I am prepared and I always give the best class I can. If someone doesn’t like it, so be it. Don’t give in to any negative thoughts. Go into your class expecting everything will be fine. If you are prepared, it will be fine. You may have a road bump here or there but that is to be expected. You will deal with any issues when they come up. Let’s talk about what exactly you can do to let everyone know you own your space.
The students need to respect your space. This means turning their listening ears on right away when they come into class. There is no running around in the classroom before or during your class. They must also keep their hands to themselves. This means they need to respect your things, such as your papers, devices and props. Respecting the other students’ bodies and the teacher’s body is also a must.
So when you greet the students, give them directions as to what to do right away. Again, this is your room and they have to respect it. Tell them happily and excitedly to sit quietly with you or on specific spots and tell them what you have planned for them in class. This way, they are more willing to sit quietly because they are excited for what is coming.
If you appear in charge, happy and confident, this will do several things: * The parents or guardians will see you are capable and will feel more comfortable leaving their children with you.* The children will see you are in control and will be more willing to listen during class.* There will be less chance of injuries from students running around.
The students are in my care at all times. I am in charge of all aspects of my class including the students’ safety and well-being as well as their behavior. Most of all, I am in charge of whether or not the class has fun! Think of yourself as a magician creating a wonderful magical experience for the students! Right before the start of class you have the opportunity to set the tone for your class. By owning your dance space and reaching out to your families, you will have the confidence and control you need to be successful.
In the next video in the series we will be talking about how to run your class so that it is super fun!