Welcome to lesson & training materials for Diaper Dancers and Tiny Tots classes! Using this program can immediately help you become an even better early-childhood dance teacher.
It is imperative for all teachers to follow the lesson plans and teach all skills listed for the class in the order they are presented. Having consistency between teachers is what keeps our program strong and successful. Please take time to read over this material so you can better implement the curriculum into your classes!
Diaper Dancers is a parent participation class all year long.
They must be turning 2 between Sept 1-August 31 of this season.
Follow the Stage 1 Lesson Plans
Always end your class with "I Love You"
Tiny Tots is a parent participation class through January, and then we transition into an independent class.
They must be turning 3 between Sept 1-August 31 of this season.
Follow the Stage 2 Lesson Plans
Always end your class with "See You Later, Alligator"
Access lesson plans, Spotify playlists, and video trainings below!
Toddlers | Monthly Lesson Plans
September | Place
Spotify Playlists:
October | Size
Spotify Playlists:
November | Level
Spotify Playlists:
December | Direction
Spotify Playlists:
January | Pathways
Spotify Playlists:
February | Speed
Spotify Playlists:
April | Weight
March Spotify Playlists:
May | Body Parts & Shapes
Spotify Playlists:
Summer Classes | Relationships
Spotify Playlists:
CONCEPTS OF DANCE:
We focus on introducing a concept of dance every month. These concepts are: place, size, level, pathways, speed, energy, weight, direction, body parts, body shapes, and relationships. The classroom manual has a visual page to use when introducing each new concept. Get creative and incorporate these concepts as much as you can all year long!
WARM UP "BRAINDANCE" TRAINING:
Warm-up needs to include all 8 "Braindance" patterns. If you haven't heard about this, get educated on it quick! It will be a game changer once you understand how beneficial this is!
Warm-up Videos- Log into the Discover Dance portal: amysimkins@gmail.com seven777. You can see specific songs here focused on each of the 8 patterns.
Every warm-up in every class should include all 8!
HELLO & GOODBYE RITUALS:
We want to make sure to welcome each student and say goodbye at the end of class! You can let them pick from a few options as they enter and exit your classroom! Ideas for your rituals could be a hug, high five, fist bump, or smile. Keep it simple!
SUPPORT FOR WORKING WITH PARENTS:
Teaching requires you to be comfortable in working with parents. With toddler and preschool ages, parents are very involved, and you need to know how to work with two customers- the student AND the parent! Here are some very helpful guidelines to support you in this very important aspect of teaching- communicating with parents!
Benefits of Dance! Parents LOVE to know what their child is learning. Here is a great list of skills we are developing in our classes. (These are NOT tricks and moves either!)
PARENT TALKING POINTS:
If you want to look REALLY smart and amazing to your parents, read over these and start incorporating them into your teaching when you have parents present (for parent participation classes, observation days and for trial observers)!
We should always be giving explanations to parents of the "why" behind what we do so they can see the purpose and the benefits of what we are doing.
Come up with your own explanations too!
We will be incorporating this letter into our welcome emails to this age group for fall. It doesn't do any good unless teachers understand it and can re-emphasize the FAQ and the lobby rules! Consistency is key!
This is a great guide to help you put some language around how you decide if a dancer is ready. Sometimes pointing out one or two of these things helps a mom settle down and head out of the studio so that we can get little ones adjusted.
TEACHER TRAINING:
Watch these classes from Andrea Trench, founder of Discover Dance.
Login: amysimkins@gmail.com PW: Dance2express!
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
To keep getting inspired with great tips and tricks, I encourage you to follow both these account on Instagram: Discover Dance and Intellidance Method!