Teacher Training Program

If you are an established teacher interested in coaching, if you have feedback on this form, or you are interested in training to be a teacher, please contact Karissa Lightsmith at karissa.light@gmail.com

New Teacher Training Goals:

Lesson Planning/ Pedagogy:

  • demonstrate a clear organizational structure for a class
  • be able to clearly define and articulate objectives for a class
  • be able to create an effective scaffold for relating the objective of the class to the students
  • prepare material that can be taught to absolute beginners and be adjusted up to intermediate dancers
  • plan to employ kinesthetic, audio, and visual teaching techniques
  • know how to plan a class for a targeted level of skill
  • know how to generate class themes
    • relevant to your scene and yourself
    • to fit under a larger theme

Teaching the Class:

  • welcome students to Burn Blue
  • be able to correctly and clearly demonstrate material
  • observe class skill level and adjust material in real time accordingly
  • manage logistics of class (rotation, time keeping, voice level)
  • choose appropriate, even inspiring music for movement material
  • balance your use of kinesthetic, audio, and visual teaching techniques

Follow Up:

  • perform a demo later in the night to demonstrate what was taught in the class
  • invite students to ask you to dance at the end of class
  • answer any questions students may have immediately following the class
  • be available and open to participate in feedback from a Burn Blue host
  • when available to dance, ask students to dance and be open to students asking you to dance

Phase One: Find and observe a coach

Possible Activities:

  • Observe your coach teaching a group lesson
  • Discuss your observation and questions with your coach
  • Discuss your coach’s lesson plan after the class
  • Give your coach feedback on their class

Phase Two: Plan a lesson and teach it with your coach

Possible Activities:

  • Plan a lesson with your coach
    • generate class ideas
    • have coach explain kinesthetic, audio, and visual teaching techniques
    • brainstorm objectives for class
    • discuss scaffolding possibilities
    • identify expected and possible student skill level
    • discuss appropriate movement material for expected student skill level
    • decide on appropriate class music
    • talk about class logistics
  • Teach lesson with coach to a group of peers and other teachers and get feedback
  • Teach lesson with coach at Burn Blue and get feedback from coach and host

Phase Three: Find a partner, design a class and teach it at Burn Blue with them. Get feedback from your coach and the host

Possible Activities:

  • Find a partner
  • Design a lesson with your partner and have your coach review it
  • Teach your lesson with partner to your coach and a group of peers and teachers and get feedback
  • Teach your lesson at Burn Blue with your coach in rotation
  • Get feedback from your coach and the host
  • Have a wrap up meeting with your coach:
  • review training goals, have you met them?
    • do a self review
    • give your coach a hug