How to Teach Preschool Ballet: A Guidebook for Teachers
by Gina Mayer
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Mayer Arts, Inc.
Connect with Gina Mayer Online:
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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For my graceful and creative Juliana. Who teaches me new things everyday.
Chapter 1 ~ Before You Even Enter a Classroom ~ Preparation
Curriculum ~ What Are You Going to Teach?
Know the Material ~ Ballet Technique
Know the Material ~ Your Curriculum
Chapter 2 ~ In the Classroom Before Class Begins
Be Happy to Be at Your Class as Soon as You Step Foot at Your Location
Greet Your Students and Their Parents as Soon as You See Them
Show Interest in Your Students
Be in Communication With Parents
Chapter 3 ~ How to Run Your Class
Learn the Students' Names Quickly
Start Class With Something Interesting
Be Willing to Change Your Plan
Have the Students Add to the Activities
Chapter 4 ~ How to Teach Dance to Preschoolers
Chapter 5 ~ How to Keep the Class Listening
Part 1 ~ Know Your Audience ~ Going Inside the Mind of a Preschooler
Be One Step Ahead of the Students
Know What is Fun for a Preschooler
How to Tell if the Students Are Having Fun
Part 2 ~ Special Tricks of the Trade
Sitting “Criss-Cross Apple Sauce”
The Second You Are Finished With an Activity Move On to the Next Activity
Let the Children Know Your Expectations
Part 3 ~ If You Are Still Having Trouble ~ Special Situations
Don 't Be Afraid to Look at Yourself As the Issue
The Child That Just Won't Listen
How to Handle Different Ages in the Same Class
What to do if Your Class is Out of Control
If You Have an Issue With a Parent
Introduction
Teaching preschool dance, or any kind of teaching for that matter, is an art. I remember when I lived in New York teachers of the arts were called “teaching artists”. I liked that title and I always thought that it meant that not only are performers artists but teachers who teach the performing arts are also artists. This is because teaching is an art. It is something that has to be learned and developed over years of experience. It frustrates me when I hear the phrase, “People who can't - teach.” What an untrue statement. If you can't dance, sing, paint, act, etc. you shouldn't be teaching those disciplines to other people. I don't consider myself a “Prima Ballerina”, however I have studied ballet technique for many years and I have a good grasp on the subject. I am able to communicate what I want to my students, have a controlled class, and create good dancers. That is something that not everybody can do. This is the art.
Let's elaborate on this subject. You can't just say, “point your toes”. Well, you can and many teachers do just that. But how do you really communicate what you want? For a preschooler it is not fun to be told to just point their toes all the time. You need to make it creative. Maybe they can they pretend to dip their toes in a pond like Sleeping Beauty? For older students that can grasp technique the subject becomes much more complicated. The “toes” are really the whole foot or a continuation of the whole leg which is not just pointing it is stretching from the center. So first you need to know your technique and know your audience. Don't try to force technique on preschoolers. You will lose them. For preschoolers technique needs to be fun.
The second point is those who “can” meaning those who have professional careers as artists can't all teach. I remember when I lived in New York I took a master class from a very well known dancer. Unfortunately, I didn't learn much from her as far as dance. That day in particular she not only forgot her music but she had one of the students who knew her material teach the warm ups and the combination. She just watched. However she did give a lot of good advice about being in the business and I would've paid more than the $15 I paid to just be in her presence so I am not complaining too much.
My point is, teaching someone to dance is not easy. You can show someone how you do a particular movement, but how do you teach someone to have their body do what your body can do? You need to learn to communicate like a teacher. You can use words, you can actually move the students' bodies to where you want them to be and you can demonstrate. Really good teachers are able to see what each individual student needs and teach them in a way that helps each student learn and grow.
My name is Gina Mayer and I teach preschool ballet and have been teaching since 1996. My students call me, “Miss Gina Ballerina”! I love preschoolers. They can be the most fun to teach. Nobody just wants to have fun more than a preschooler. They twirl and spin like they are ready for the American Ballet Theatre. They leap around the floor with the utmost enthusiasm. Their smiles are infectious and their giggles are contagious. However, they can also not listen to a word you say. They can be more interested in an ant crawling on the floor than a tendu. If you are not sure how to teach them, they can be frustrating to a point that you want to cry.
I remember very well the first year I taught preschool dance. I was employed by a company that taught tap, jazz, ballet, and creative movement to preschoolers in preschools. I traveled from preschool to preschool teaching children from all walks of life in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area. Some classes were very easy and I would have a lot of fun. Other classes I would pull my hair out trying to get the children to listen. I did actually break down and cry in one class. No matter what I did it seemed the children would not listen. It is interesting to look back at it now. I remember crying but I don't remember how I taught the class. It would be interesting to have my present self at that class to help out my past self. I know that I have changed a lot as a teacher and would be able to have a much different experience today.
The interesting thing is that I continue to change. I think I have been very successful as a teacher through my career. Even though I was not the most trained teacher when I started, I still had a passion for teaching. I loved kids and dance and wanted to pass my love of dance to my students. This was a good start. You need to have those attributes if you are going to be a good teacher. Now however, I know the preschooler. I know what makes them tick so to speak. I usually know what they are going to do before they do it. I know how they are going to respond in different situations. I know what they like and don't like. This comes from experience.
Now I am going to pass that experience on to you. If you are reading this you also have a passion for teaching young students and want to be the best you can. Good for you! These children deserve to have a great experience. We want them to have fun. This is a gift you can give these children that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Most of my memories of being three are from my first dance class. Not only can you create wonderful memories for your students but you may create future ballet dancers and ballet appreciators. We need to keep the art of ballet and other arts alive. We can only do that with great teachers. You have a responsibility to your students and the arts!
Follow this guidebook and you will have a fun and smooth preschool class. The comments that I receive from parents are that their children have so much fun in my classes and they can't believe how much their children learn. They also can't believe that I can get a whole class of 15 three-four year olds to follow me and do exactly what I say. If you follow this guide book you will have the same success! Remember “Those who can - TEACH!”
Chapter 1 ~ Before You Even Enter a Classroom ~ Preparation
There is much to be done before you even enter a preschool dance class. What are your goals for the class? What are you going to teach? How are you going to teach it? How are you going to present yourself? These are all elements that you need to consider before teaching a class. Let's go through exactly what you will have to do before teaching a class.
After you have decided that you would like to teach dance you need to have clear goals for yourself, your class and your students. If you are not sure what your goals should be I will let you know what my goals are when I go into a dance class.
There are a few objectives that I keep in mind for myself. The most fundamental one is I want to be the best teacher that I can be. That sounds cliché but it really is something I strive for. I constantly try to be present when I prepare for classes and when I am in the middle of my classes. This way I can monitor how I am doing and how I can improve. How can I be a better teacher today than I was yesterday? To be honest another one of my goals is to have fun too! I know if I am having fun the students are having fun.
For my classes I have specific goals as well. When I am planning my classes I want my curriculum to be fun and engaging. I choose material I think the students will love and will help me teach the subject I want to teach.
Most importantly, I have goals for my students. The first goal is I want my students to have fun. The second goal is I want my students to learn. Lastly, I want my students to feel good about themselves in my class. It is not only important to have them learn and have fun but I want to increase their confidence and self-esteem as well.
The intentions you have for your classes are very important. If you go into a class without knowing what you want to accomplish, the class will reflect that. If you have a clear direction for your class you will not fail in carrying it out. Your intentions will always be present in your mind.
Let's talk about how to be professional when you are a dance teacher. In fact we must be professional in any job. But what exactly does that mean?
When I think about being professional, I first think about my demeanor. This means how you come across to others. Are you upbeat and happy? Do you appear confident? If you feel good that's great! Your demeanor will show that. If you don't feel good you will need to figure out why and change your attitude. This way you will come across as more professional. I have more to say on being happy when you see your students in Chapter 2 of this book.
How you dress is another factor in being professional. What is the proper attire for a dance teacher? This depends on where you teach and what discipline you teach. You will need to ask the director of the studio, at which you are teaching, what they prefer. If you are working on your own it will be up to you.
For pre-ballet teachers a leotard, tights, skirt and ballet shoes are the most appropriate. If you are more comfortable in other dance attire be sure to ask your program director if it is alright to wear an alternative outfit. You could wear dance or yoga pants and a t-shirt or tank top if that is acceptable. You do want to be comfortable however just make sure you still look like a dancer.
To help me feel happy and upbeat in my classes I wear bright colors, especially pink! I make sure whatever I wear is clean, looks new (no holes) and is not wrinkled.
Remember you will be dancing in front of children and their parents. Don't wear clothes that are too revealing and make sure what you wear does not expose anything that you don't want exposed. Don't wear shorts that are too short or shirts that show your stomach or fall off the shoulder too much. Be a good judge of what is appropriate. You may have to look in the mirror at home and dance around to make sure that everything stays put.
Make sure you are clean and smell okay. Don't wear too much perfume. It can be over powering and you never know if a child will have an allergy to a certain fragrance.
Be sure to get enough rest before class days. Don't go out partying the night before. Go to bed and wake up at a reasonable time. This way you will look refreshed and ready to go! You will also have the energy you need to give a good class.
Lastly, know your material and follow the rest of the guidelines in this book. If you do, your students, their parents and your studio directors will be impressed!
Curriculum ~ What Are You Going to Teach?
Before you can teach a good ballet class you need to have a good and creative curriculum. How you come up with your curriculum may depend on where you teach and whether or not your program director provides you with your curriculum.
I provide my teachers with the curriculum because I have created a preschool ballet program that I believe in. Places at which you teach will either have a curriculum or they will expect you to come up with your own. The curriculum for your class may also depend on the kind of school at which you are teaching. A program may want a traditional ballet class or they may want a class that is freer to let the children explore.