Methods of Teaching Dance (K-12)

I believe teaching dance is meant to imbue students with a means of self-expression. At the end of the lesson, I expect each student to walk away with a sense of accomplishment. I strive for students to feel as though they were able to tell a story, to convey an emotion, or to share their personality through their movement. I do not wish for students to agonize over minor flaws in technique or lapses in memory of choreography. I would rather focus on the students’ ability to feel open and emotive when performing their dances. To do so, I plan to incorporate improv exercises in each lesson to allow for the student to develop their own style. By creating such a vulnerable learning environment, where students must be willing to express themselves on the dance floor, I plan to instill a nonjudgmental space where students feel safe letting go of their emotions and sharing them with the class. To do so, I plan to compliment students to act as an example of how to interact with other students...

As a teacher I strive to: Educate while collaborating with others students and peers, while Making sure my teaching style is diverse enough to resonate with every student. Dance can be very opinion based and can resonate with people differently, teaching students that that is okay is very important. I need to make sure that the students appreciate and understand the true art of dance and not just the sport. Students must take time to warm up and cool down before and after classes to help the students to physically and mentally cleanse before the next task. I want to make sure my students are present and mentally prepared to take the class. I will acknowledge that every student is different and they won't always learn the same way or have similar strengths to other students. It is important to brainstorm and have my students really understand rhythm, musicality, choreography, and artwork.

As a dance teacher, I strive to communicate and share my passion for dance with my students. Practice is at the heart of this sport, of which encouragement is necessary and motivational in  building this passion. Not all students will feel the same, as they also will not learn the same, but I believe building a passion for dance first and foremost allows the students to learn/practice as they please and take it one step at a time. I maintain an inclusive space for all students and want them to work towards improvement at all times. Effort is how I base my grading system, not by level of skill or how quickly a student picks up something. Effort reveals passion and drive, two of the things I value most as a dancer, teacher, and a student. 

 My goal for teaching students is to focus on each student's needs and wants to the best of my ability. Therefore, I follow a student-centered approach when it comes to teaching because this approach, in my opinion, is the most successful for both students and teachers alike. This is because it makes each student feel important, appreciated, and that they matter. There is no room for favoritism with a student-centered approach because all students are treated with equity in mind, meaning that I cater to what each student needs, rather than treating all students the exact same, or showing clear favorites. There are many different learning approaches, and every child learns in their own way, so having one teaching approach is not ideal for every student to succeed. I will ensure in my classroom that each student thrives by slightly altering the material based on if any students are struggling to understand. 

Mindfulness pre and post-dance break, journaling what to improve on and what you're getting better at, presenting these ideas so as to not be embarrassed of weaknesses, helps to not just focus on negatives, complimenting each other to boost confidence and bring students together, sense of community. End class few minutes early to take a break and reset Name of program: Mindset Matters