http://bdinstruction.tribe.net/thread/a0b43a2c-98d1-4fec-b808-7a8abe635243?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/a0b43a2c-98d1-4fec-b808-7a8abe635243#52f0927b-86c4-4085-a4ed-3969cb52e4d9 oh.my.god. Somehow this year all 4 classes ended up as mixed level. Sometimes it's more about numbers in the class just to meet management expectations. Can't risk losing the space/time because of a slow month. I'm doing a lot of small groups within each class, it's really a new dimension for me. I feel like I'm juggling all the time. On the up side, I do believe it's advantageous in that the 'older' students like being an example; and the 'newer' students get to see "the next goal" for them. So it's worth it - Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:27:10 GMT http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/a0b43a2c-98d1-4fec-b808-7a8abe635243#52f0927b-86c4-4085-a4ed-3969cb52e4d9 Anthea 2009-07-03T15:27:10Z http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/a0b43a2c-98d1-4fec-b808-7a8abe635243#b6f6836b-aa12-4f22-bd3f-5d7ee1c59ad5 I do have various levels (beginners but varies levels of beginner) in one class. I have the more advanced beginners layering and zilling to challenge them while the newbies get to just work on the basic movement. My combos and drills in the class are the same way -- I challenge the more advanced beg to add zills to the drills. Also...have the girls in between the two levels working on perfecting the movement. Really....adding zills presents a new challenge to students and makes them have to really think so they are not bored at all. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:24:29 GMT http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/a0b43a2c-98d1-4fec-b808-7a8abe635243#b6f6836b-aa12-4f22-bd3f-5d7ee1c59ad5 Phoenix 2009-07-03T03:24:29Z http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/a0b43a2c-98d1-4fec-b808-7a8abe635243#e1d984f3-4ddb-40f5-b493-e289d2a3bcd9 Hi In your situation If a beginner came to me in january and wanted to start classes - I would offer her the option of private classes or if she could round up 6 friends who would like to try BD I would start a session for her (the number of friends required would depend on your minimum class size) or you would put her on the waiting list for the next beginners start to be sure she got in the class. Think through how you will word this first though. :) and beginners are usually the most playful Oh, I usually got about one new session a year this way - however- generally only one or two would stick it out to following classes. . I am accustomed to working with varying levels in one class as I am with varying abilities in one class. I found that working with advanced and professional in the same class was difficult though. Workshops work well with mixed levels in my experience. Dandy Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:13:28 GMT http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/a0b43a2c-98d1-4fec-b808-7a8abe635243#e1d984f3-4ddb-40f5-b493-e289d2a3bcd9 dandylion 2009-07-02T20:13:28Z http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/a0b43a2c-98d1-4fec-b808-7a8abe635243#e862dcc8-e7dc-4173-87e9-d1b2357412bd How do you guys handle this: Traditionally, new classes for beginners start in september... However I've noticed that I get a lot of questions from people wanting to start bellydance classes in januari, or even in april or the summer. Personally I like absolute beginners to begin from the absolute beginners classes, so I wouldn't put them in a class of people that have been learning for 6 months or so. My beginner classes are very structured, we start from zero and each class builds upon the previous one, which most people really appreciate. It would be hard to drop in after missing the first months of classes... What do you say to a student wanting to start in januari? Bad luck? You'll have to wait till september? Would it be a good idea to organise something like "introduction workshops for beginners" so they would be able to at least have some basics before they drop in? And another question: how do you avoid having too many groups? For example: say you teach wednesdays: 19:00-20:00 for beginners, 20:00-21:00 for intermediate and 21:00-22:00 for advanced. Now in an ideal world, I would have my students 1 year in beginners class and at least 2 years in intermediate before moving up to advanced. So practically, I would have to shift my beginners from 19:00-20:00 to the next hour (and thus putting them in the intermediate with other people) in september, if I were to be able to start a new absolute beginners class in september... I know students would rather have their classes on the same hour every year (and thus advance in the same group), but I can't keep on creating new groups every year! I've only been teaching for a year now, so I would love some input on this :-) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:35:51 GMT http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/a0b43a2c-98d1-4fec-b808-7a8abe635243#e862dcc8-e7dc-4173-87e9-d1b2357412bd Luna 2009-07-02T09:35:51Z