Teaching Children - A class outline

[Voltage]

I have written up a "teaching outline" for the childrens class that I teach.

I am posting it here for comments, advice and constructive criticism.

The ideas are based on knowledge gained on these forums, through my instructors and my own interpretations and experience.

What do you think?

.....

Teaching outline

Kids class: Age 5 to 14

Duration: 1 hour

General guidelines
- Kids have a short attention span, keep things moving
- Reward them for positive behaviour (Hi 5’s, sparring with the instructor, skill games)
- Make the class rules known and clear
- Teach them fitness, technique, sparring, self defence, balance, speed, strength, flexibility
- Tell them what there goals are (at each level)
- Demand good technique (Hands up, good power, good balance)

How to introduce a new technique (Thankyou excessive force)
- Tell them what you are going to teach
- Show them what you are going to teach (slowly, fast, power)
- Teach them
- Tell them what you have taught them
- Ask them what they have learned
- Practice

Class rules
- Try
- Listen
- Show manners
- Have fun

Instructor Behaviour
- Lead by example (Follow the class rules)
- Plan classes in advance (even a very general plan is ok)
- Show/Exude confidence
- Practice you own technique
- Practice memory of curriculum
- Practice correct terminology
- Improve your classes/teaching skills regularly (weekly)

[Voltage]

Last night I tried a tip that I found here....http://www.4kicks.com/?tabid=28&view...rills&CatId=22

The goal is to get the kids to stand at attention, with their eyes to the front without moving or talking..... even when there are distractions.

I told them that we would be playing the "Joonbi Game", and that the winner would choose their favourite kick to do on the bag.

When I called Joonbi, they would stand at attention, and I would then call out the names of the kids that were moving or talking, and they would sit down. The last one standing wins.

The first time through, there was an easy winner. So we played again.

The second time through, they really wanted to win, so they were all standing to attention and really trying to win. So I had to start trying to distract them. Calling their names, pulling faces etc...

All in all, a great tip.

The kids loved it, and I loved the results.

[Gurokevin]

First off, if I may say something. Your class is to long. a kids class should be no longer than 45 minutes at the most. I have 3 different programs. Our Basic Program which is 30 minutes long, and our Black Belt Leadership Program which for white belts is an additional 15 minutes. Anyone over white belt is just 45 minutes. Our third program which is our C.I.T. (Certified Instructors Training) Program is just one class per month. And it is 45 minutes long. I think the reason that people make classes an hour and tell people that they can come for unlimited classes per week is that they think it will add value to their program. And it doesn't. In fact, when you do, your attrition rate (how many people drop out) goes up. People burn out much faster that way.

Also, one more thing that may make your classes better is this, "don't talk differently to your kids than your adults". this may not be the case with you but most people will automatically switch to a Mickey Mouse type talk when they are talking to kids. Kids are not stupid. And parents notice this talk. Speak the same way to your kids as you do your adults. I am sure I will have more later, but in the mean time the rest of your outline looks ok.

Kevin

[Gurokevin]

First off, if I may say something. Your class is to long. a kids class should be no longer than 45 minutes at the most. I have 3 different programs. Our Basic Program which is 30 minutes long, and our Black Belt Leadership Program which for white belts is an additional 15 minutes. Anyone over white belt is just 45 minutes. Our third program which is our C.I.T. (Certified Instructors Training) Program is just one class per month. And it is 45 minutes long. I think the reason that people make classes an hour and tell people that they can come for unlimited classes per week is that they think it will add value to their program. And it doesn't. In fact, when you do, your attrition rate (how many people drop out) goes up. People burn out much faster that way.

Also, one more thing that may make your classes better is this, "don't talk differently to your kids than your adults". this may not be the case with you but most people will automatically switch to a Mickey Mouse type talk when they are talking to kids. Kids are not stupid. And parents notice this talk. Speak the same way to your kids as you do your adults. I am sure I will have more later, but in the mean time the rest of your outline looks ok.

Kevin

[Voltage]

According to your website you have roughly 20 years more experience than me in martial arts, so, firstly thank you for taking the time to reply.

Regarding the length of lessons, we have actually extended the time to 1 hour 30 minutes, due to the fact that this is a once a week class at this stage. In retrospect (so far), this has only affected one student negatively. The student in question is a young 6 year old, and he spends a lot of time staring at the ceiling fans and not listening to me. I had a chat to his mother, and her perspective was that if she let him quit, then that would set the standard for any future endevours that she put him on. So, I do what I can with him in class, and let him be too young to train at other times in class. Time will tell with this student I think, it's only early days.

Regarding the way I speak to them, for the most part I teach them the same way that I teach adults (I'd like to think). But, I guess there is some room for improvement.....there is always room for improvement. I'll take this onboard.

What I am finding out, which surprises me, is that kids love complexity, and they will rise to the challenge most times.

The thing that I'm not happy about with my school, is that I was never taught to teach, I was just shown the syllabus and given some students. That being said, I'd like to think of my self as a decent teacher and martial artist anyway, and I'm always looking to improve (hence this thread), but what if others come through the same training and end up been mindless robot clones, without looking to improve or question anything taught to them?

[Gurokevin]

According to your website you have roughly 20 years more experience than me in martial arts, so, firstly thank you for taking the time to reply.

Regarding the length of lessons, we have actually extended the time to 1 hour 30 minutes, due to the fact that this is a once a week class at this stage. In retrospect (so far), this has only affected one student negatively. The student in question is a young 6 year old, and he spends a lot of time staring at the ceiling fans and not listening to me. I had a chat to his mother, and her perspective was that if she let him quit, then that would set the standard for any future endevours that she put him on. So, I do what I can with him in class, and let him be too young to train at other times in class. Time will tell with this student I think, it's only early days.

Regarding the way I speak to them, for the most part I teach them the same way that I teach adults (I'd like to think). But, I guess there is some room for improvement.....there is always room for improvement. I'll take this onboard.

What I am finding out, which surprises me, is that kids love complexity, and they will rise to the challenge most times.

The thing that I'm not happy about with my school, is that I was never taught to teach, I was just shown the syllabus and given some students. That being said, I'd like to think of my self as a decent teacher and martial artist anyway, and I'm always looking to improve (hence this thread), but what if others come through the same training and end up been mindless robot clones, without looking to improve or question anything taught to them?

Voltage, I am sure that you are a fine teacher. Just remember that great teachers are made not born. It takes time to find your style of teaching. Just make sure that your style of teaching is agreeable with most people. As for the mindless robots. I thought the same thing when I first started teaching in the 90s. But what I do now is in almost every class I talk just a bit about how one should be towards the martial arts. Always trying to improve upon some aspect of what we do. Finding out new ways of dealing with problems. I tell them to not take what I say as the 'gospel' but to experience it for themselves and find out if it is right and works for them. This gets them into the mindset of a true martial artist and not a 'clone'.

Just posting this threat shows me that you have what it takes. You are trying to improve. That makes a great martial artist, and teacher.

PS: Have you ever thought about taking a teaching course. Or even better, a really good communication course?

Kevin

[fire cobra]

I cant understand it when people say 1 hour classes are to long for kids,kids in Thailand train 3 hours 2 x per day,before and after school sometimes!.

[treelizard]

I do, we do, you do--
First, show the technique, then you do one together, then they do it on their own. Have them demonstrate physically before retelling them what you've taught and asking them what they've learned.

[Voltage]

... As for the mindless robots. I thought the same thing when I first started teaching in the 90s. But what I do now is in almost every class I talk just a bit about how one should be towards the martial arts. Always trying to improve upon some aspect of what we do. Finding out new ways of dealing with problems. I tell them to not take what I say as the 'gospel' but to experience it for themselves and find out if it is right and works for them. This gets them into the mindset of a true martial artist and not a 'clone'. ...

This was what I was taught when training TKD with a particularly exceptional instructor. Every lesson was different, every lesson we were asked to question our beliefs and under standing of what we knew, and of how well we thought we knew it. "Ok, that kick is looking strong, and correct. Now do it faster, or with more balance, or while moving, or while under attack, or while distracted, or from a seated position, or on a slippery surface etc"

I can see this lacking in my current instructor, even though he is a great fighter. /blasphemy To some degree we don't discuss when to use what, why we should use it, how to avoid using it in the first place, situational awareness, etc. It's all mostly physical.

This is what I want to teach, along with the physical skills taught to me by my current school. I want them to become fully rounded martial artists, one step at a time.

[dredd1990]

if ur looking for them to keep motivated, my younger students enjoy using the clapper pads, they are designed for TKD i believe, but, they are pretty awesome for the little ones, they make a certain sound when hit correctly, if a student flubbs up and hits incorrectly you get a dissatisfying thud... ouch... but, my students have seen me administer over 40 punches successfully in a minute to the pad, all with the clapping noise, therefore my students can identify and get that " OHHHHH, so THATS how you do it... " feeling, and it works, when they hear the clap continuously, they get excited, and they are happy, keeps them motivated and interested. sometimes, its the small things about a big thing that keeps kids interested. just from my experience, hope it helps my friend!
~Strick~

[KirkhamsEbooks.]

Do you think the age group is spread out a bit too much?

Rick