Teaching is definetely a science and requires experimenting with techniques and ways of relating what we as the teachers want to convey to our students. After teaching 4th, 6th, and 7th graders for the past ten years I learned that what worked for one group of students doesn't always work for the next. We all learn in different ways. Some of us are visual, or more kinesthetic while others may be more auditory learners. Some may prefer learning in a group, one on one or watching and then going home to try it alone. As a teacher its important to be sensitive to our students and understand that the learning curve will vary from one student to the next and there are so many variables to consider in the ways that we learn. The important thing is we want our students to have fun and feel good about just getting out there and trying it...especially when it comes to hooping. As teachers we will continue to develop these skills and will find more success at teaching with certain techniques but know that this technique won't always work, so having other ways of showing your students will enable us to reach a greater majority of our students. Also, as teachers we sometimes get stuck in a mode of teaching that it can be refreshing to visit other classes as a student, which can helpful in revealing how you learn and teach.

Wow what a great comment Diana. I agree, every student often does learn differently. Having taught over the last 10 years as well in a wide variety of settings from backyards to studios and gyms to UCSB in all sorts of things from cultural anthropology to hooping, I totally agree. However, I have detected a patten which has been very effective for my own learning from dance classes which I use for hooping classes as well...

1. Before class has even begun, I encourage students to read a description of what will be covered which is usually posted on my website or on a flier.
2. I always begin a class with a spoken description of what we did last time and what we will do today, while also physically doing those things at the same time so students can both see and hear.
3. I always demonstrate a trick/concept for the students to see at least 3 times while talking them through it before they try it. While they try it I constantly move around and model the move in front of students having problems.
4. After asking permission, I sometimes re-position a student's hand on the hoop to move it around them in slow motion so they can see it slowed down and feel it with their own hands, while I guide them.
5. I always pause mid class to recap what we have learned so far. I will again say each concept or move and demonstrate it. And then I do the same for where we are going.
6. At the end of class I recap everything we did speaking and demonstrating, sometimes having everyone follow each move or allowing a circle jam for freestyle combination of what was learned.
7. When I remember, I like to say what we will be doing teh next class and give a visual demonstration.
8. Throughtout class, I give descriptions of how moves/concepts feel using as much visual and sensorial deascription as possible, almost poetic to really bring students alive into their senses.
8. When I first started, I used to send students home with a xeroxed set of notes about what was learned, but I haven't maintained this ... however, seeing Rayna's of Hoopnotic HoopDance using this method recently reminded me that I should return to this practice again .. I am sure it is helpful to people who like to take home paper to review things in this way.

I'd love to hear what everyone else uses effectively. O.. yes, it is always helpful to have a teaching assistant who can continue working with the few having the most trouble so you can continue the flow for the rest of the class...