The Assistant Teacher Advantage

Rhee Gold

 

Excerpt from The Complete Guide to Teaching Dance

 

Assistant or apprentice teachers can be very helpful to your faculty, and using them provides a great opportunity to develop teaching skills in your students. You may train a student teacher who ends up becoming a future employee of your school! An in-studio teacher-training program is a great way to expand the learning opportunities available to your students. Those who work as assistant or apprentice teachers may find their interest in dance recharged, and they may feel even more connected to the school.

 

However, a qualified and experienced teacher must be in control of all classes at your school; at no time should an apprentice or assistant teacher be left to teach class on their own. It is acceptable to allow an assistant teacher to teach a particular part of class or present a combination as part of their teacher training; however, the primary teacher should be present and ready to evaluate and make suggestions to the assistant.

 

Teacher-training programs are best offered to students ages 14 and over. Advertise your program in the school brochure and other literature, and encourage dancers who show an interest in learning teaching skills to participate. Make sure the students understand that they don’t have to be intensive dancers to participate; often, the recreational students make the best assistants. Plan to have monthly meetings where faculty can evaluate and make suggestions to the apprentices and discuss issues or problems within the classroom, plans for the recital, and any other teacher-related concerns. Try to schedule all apprentice teachers to work with the same classes during the entire season.
 

TIPS: Recommended Guidelines for Apprentice Teachers

Apprentice teachers
• must have the permission of their parents to participate.
• must make a commitment for the entire season.
• must attend monthly apprentice teachers meetings from September to June.
• will comply with the studio dress code at all times.
• will arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of their first class of the day.
• will dance full-out during all classes.
• may be assigned to tutor students in need of extra help.
• will set the right example for younger students at all times.
• are required to learn the choreography performed by their classes.
• will assist with their classes at all rehearsals & performances.
• may be assigned to teach a class on their own to be evaluated by the faculty (older or more advanced student teachers).
• will abide by all studio policies and act appropriately and  professionally both inside and out of the studio.

 

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