Oct. 2, 2001, 9:04 a.m. (Message 27650)
Top of the day to you! This would interest me and maybe a few others have wondered about this. Please inform me of any reading refernces that might answer my questions!!!!! 1. What does your RSCDS Branch and RSCDS affiliate clubs do to encourage and support prelim and full certificate teachers from their own clubs? 2. What! IF ANY ! qualifications should a RSCDS teacher coordinator of a RSCDS Branch have? 3. Prelim and Certificate teachers, [ new or seasoned] what has been YOUR experience for support and encouragement.? 4. Teacher coordinators - RSCDS Branch - what is the agenda to support and encourage new and seasoned teachers? 5. What is the procedure in your area for RSCDS teacher coordinators and RSCDS teachers?. e.g.: do you rotate or do the same people stay at the helm. xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Happy dancing Marie
Oct. 2, 2001, 5:21 p.m. (Message 27663, in reply to message 27650)
Marie, I'm not sure what you mean when you mention "teacher coordinators," but here are some responses to your questions. > 1. What does your RSCDS Branch and RSCDS affiliate clubs do to > encourage and support prelim and full certificate teachers from > their own clubs? Our branch subsidizes the cost of attending teacher training/certification workshops whenever possible. The board also supports teachers by assigning other people to do some of the logistical/maintenance tasks that often fall to teachers in other groups, such as: booking space, unlocking & locking up the space, cleaning up, etc. Although our teachers are not paid, the branch does reimburse us (up to a set amount each year) for expenses such as dance books we may purchase. The branch purchases music recordings for us to use (although some of the teachers in the group purchase their own); the branch has a huge collection of LPs and CDs and also provides the equipment to play them. > > 2. What! IF ANY ! qualifications should a RSCDS teacher coordinator > of a RSCDS Branch have? Not sure what you mean by a teacher coordinator. Do you mean a teacher who is coordinating a class? In order to run a class I think the most important qualifications are: 1) Dancing proficiency 2) Ability to clearly break down and explain steps and figures 3) Ability maintain the social nature of the activity while still actually teaching stuff (i.e. keep things fun, while at the same time educational) 4) Ability to convey the joy of dance 5) People skills -- tact, diplomacy, leadership, etc. 6) Flexibility/Adaptability 7) At least a minimal sense of humor > > 3. Prelim and Certificate teachers, [ new or seasoned] what has been > YOUR experience for support and encouragement.? As a newly certified teacher (August 2000) I have been fortunate to receive a lot of support the people in our dance group, on many levels. In addition to the things listed above under question #1, I have also received a lot of encouragement and positive feedback from the dancers. That's really what makes it worthwhile. > 5. What is the procedure in your area for RSCDS teacher > coordinators and RSCDS teachers?. e.g.: do you rotate or do the same > people stay at the helm. In our branch, there are about 6 or 7 teachers (not all of whom are always active in a given year). We usually switch off teaching duties, each teacher taking about a 6-8 week long series of classes before another teacher takes over. Since there is basically only one class in our area, no one wants to teach all the time (as you don't get to dance much while you are teaching), so we don't mind switching off. Hope this helps. Regards, Lara Friedman-Shedlov Minneapolis, MN USA ******************************* Lara Friedman-Shedlov xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx *******************************
Oct. 2, 2001, 10:27 p.m. (Message 27676, in reply to message 27650)
Hi Marie, In the San Francisco Branch, we have never had a single person assigned to the role of teacher coordinator. Instead, we have a Branch-sponsored Teachers' Committee (TC) that meets approximately once a quarter and is responsible for putting on teaching workshops, choosing candidate class tutors, planning programs for Branch-wide dances and balls, and other related items to support teachers. All Branch members who have passed either the Preliminary or Teacher's Certificate RSCDS exams are invited to participate, but of the 30 or so active teachers in the Branch, perhaps half that number get involved in the TC on a regular basis. The Branch Executive supports the TC with financial assistance to cover operating expenses, subsidize workshops, and provide scholarships for individual training. Officers who serve on the Executive or in the TC leadership are elected to one- or two-year terms and sometimes serve 2 or 3 terms, as there is a learning curve implicit in these roles, but in general individuals rotate out of these positions after that. I can provide further details if desired, but don't want to go on at length on a topic that may not be of interest to the general list. -Alan Twhigg.