Hi, Tessa here. Since 2002, I've been writing advice articles for West Coast Swing from my perspective as a WCS Champion and 30 years as a professional teacher and coach. My mission is to help teachers #teachWCSsmarter and dancers #trainWCSsmarter, which we do thoroughly in our Swing Literacy training programs.
But these articles are my way of contributing some free, bite-sized education to the community to help inspire and motivate with practical, actionable advice for your teaching
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I highly encourage everyone to leverage these free resources by sharing them in your community groups and with friends you know who could use them. Enjoy!
Recognize this scenario?In starting to lead a whip or Under Arm Turn, the leader steps forward instead of back on count 1. Most of us know this is a mistake. But why? And how do we fix it?It’s not as obvious as you thinkI posed this question in the Train WCS Smarter Facebook group (by accident,
As creators of the Swing Literacy Development Method, we train teachers on a regular basis, and get asked all the time, “What do I need to do to start teaching?”. This question is quickly qualified with assuring statements like: “I know I’m not advanced level yet, but there’s no one else in my town who can
It’s great to see students all over the world taking the initiative to practice on their own. Practice of personal movement skills is part of a balanced diet of partner dance learning and skill development, regardless of your ambition level. We are strong advocates of “homework”: once you learn your skills in your lesson, you need
In Day 1 of the Elasticity Challenge, we included the “I Dream of Jeannie” drill. (Now would be a good time to go watch it if you have not gotten caught up yet). Here’s a way to extend this potent drill to a memorable and bonding group game:One of the foreign concepts that students need
Oooh… I have to pick just three? 😉Normally, I would need to first mention the mistake of “teaching patterns and footwork before fundamental movement skills”, but today I’ll stay focused on the first few drills from the Elasticity Challenge. They might seem obvious at first, but let’s explore them in the context of this week.1.
Whether you are a starving student or just fund-conscious, here are some practical tips for making your moolah stretch as much as your connection should… (LOL see what I did there? )
Did your community lose a dance venue? Maybe they closed permanently, had to sell the building, or they just no longer are letting you use the space? Or are you outgrowing the venue you’re in or you’re looking to expand into different neighbourhoods? Either way, sounds like it’s time to go on the hunt for a new dance
We invite you to enjoy these rare but super-effective teaching tools from our massive collection:GamificationTrained Feedback podsThe Missing W’sGood teachers are collectors, tinkerers, and experimenters. They hunt and gather for nuggets of tips and advice to scuttle home to their students in the hopes that it will entertain them and help them improve.We know, because
Since dancing tends to slow down during the summer and winter holidays, it can be stressful wondering how you’re going to pay the bills before classes start up again. You also may fear losing the momentum and enthusiasm that you worked so hard to foster in your community during the regular season.So how can a
Teaching Snack #8Your struggleSometimes students resist when you try to introduce them to a method, process, or technique that they are not used to. Sometimes this resistance is disrespectful. It can be hard to stand up for yourself under pressure and take charge of your business, your method, and your reputation. An interesting thing happened at
Teaching Snack #7Your StruggleYou’re teaching new material, and the students are focused, motivated, and capable, but you find that they are confused and learning slower than you would like.One critical piece of the puzzleWe help students every day who are lost and confused. We help them step back and focus on the skills they need
Do your students pester you with questions? Do you you wish they would ask more questions?Do you wish you could always find the right answer to give them?Do they distract each other and then ask about something you just said?How a teacher handles students’ questions proves their credibility, their maturity, their empathy, and their trustworthiness. All