Today’s teaching tip is simple, but crucial – always have a backup plan.
This piece of advice can apply in several different ways. For example, you’ll always want to have more than one music choice. If you have a ballet class CD that you use all the time, be sure and pack another one–just in case. Scratches happen, as do simple accidents, and you don’t ever want to be caught without tunes. It’s so hard to teach that way.
Another “backup plan” suggestion…have extra shoes to teach in on hand. If an elastic breaks or you think you packed your shoes in a bag but didn’t, you’ll have another pair. I’ve thought my shoes were in the car (I’m lazy and usually leave them in the trunk) and found I brought them in the house. Not a great way to appear to your students. Teaching in gym shoes just isn’t pretty.
Pack a mini-emergency baggie. In it, keep a band-aid or two, an aspirin (or other painkiller), a granola bar or protein bar, nail clipper and hair band. Basically, items you may need and not have on hand. You don’t have to go crazy with this one, but if you find yourself needing something, toss it in the bag for next time so you are prepared.
Do you have any “backup plan” tips for dance teachers? Has something saved you from trouble? If so, tell us about it! You never know–you might save someone else from having the same issue!
Great ideas, Catherine.
I always had a back-up plan of dance games that I knew I could revert to if the CD player didn’t work or if the kids were bored or if there were a lot of absences that day. Depending on the age group and what style class it was, this could range from freeze dance to mirroring games to having kids choreograph and put on mini shows for each other. I also had a small drum that I could use if there were stereo problems, so I could at least keep the beat.
Oooh! The small drum is a genuis idea Shelly–I wish I would have thought of that! It would have saved me from snapping my fingers until they were numb to keep time!
Thanks so much for your comment!
Thanks Catherine! I never thought to have extra shoes. The elastic has never broke on me before, but I have seen this happen to another dance instructor a while back. Now i know that it wasnt just a fluke! I will have my worn out backups on hand just in case!
Also, now that you can store music online through ‘cloud’ storage, you can always access your music through your account if your CD’s skip or you forget them. This has saved the day a few times.