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Is TA good with kids? (pg. 5)
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| Joss Weatherby |
| quote: | Originally posted by boris_the_bear
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:wtf: |
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| couch-potato |
| I hate children. I disagree with them on a conceptual level. |
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| boris_the_bear |
| quote: | Originally posted by couch-potato
I hate children. I disagree with them on a conceptual level. |
then you must hate your past self, but since there is no past or present self, just the one self, you should kill yourself :conf: |
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| SYSTEM-J |
| quote: | Originally posted by boris_the_bear
then you must hate your past self, but since there is no past or present self, just the one self, you should kill yourself :conf: |
Actually there are different philosophies on this. One believes that you are the sum of all your accumulated experiences but the other believes we exist only in the moment, and we are free to change ourselves completely from one moment to the next. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
I used to teach Tae Kwon Do, and had several different age brackets, so I think I know just where you're coming from, zip. Of course, things are a tad different when there is an actual chain of respect to adhere to (unlike swimming... I mean, not necessarily in practice, but in the martial arts, respect is just one of those core tenets... you know what I mean), but I was still an instructor of an independent school, essentially dealing with customers, to a degree.
Anyways, just as you said, speaking as plainly as possible is the best way to keep things under control. One of the most important teaching methods I took from the experience was: praise, correct, praise. When demonstrating and observing, find what people did correctly, tell them what they did right, tell them what they can do better, have them practice this until they know just what to improve on. I know being in the water is a bit different, but you will build far better relationships with people - sometimes immediately - if you compliment their abilities, no matter how they compare to other students. I know this seems like utter cheese - like, I am supposed to compliment people no matter how much they suck? But getting them to listen to you, the leader, is your best way of keeping them listening, and perhaps more importantly, keeping them paying.
Maybe this goes without saying, but keeping a schedule in your classes is paramount. When kids begin to learn a regiment, and what to look forward to - example: the last 10 minutes of class are always fun/play/game time - it really makes a difference in how attentive they are in the preceding sections. Sometimes devoting an entire class to just playing games is necessary, don't be afraid to work with how everyone is feeling that day (especially yourself) - some days nobody can focus or listen, and sometimes you just have to work with this or integrate pattern interrupts. Just like back in school, sometimes you have to (proverbially) flick the lights on and off, ya know? I almost had to do this with my adult classes more, interestingly enough. But in the end, it's important to keep in mind that people are, yes, showing up to your class, and yes, you are the lead ape, but they show up for a multitude of different reasons, not all of them being just to be disciplined, but to exercise, to socialize, and in the end, be entertained. Kids can be different, because some of them do not even elect to be there, but above all, have fun with them and maybe they will learn something they weren't even expecting - their parents will be pleased at the very least.
//Oh right, the actual question at hand. I like to think I was great with kids, and people always said as such - being able to be a kid with them was so ing fun, and a complete release from whatever else was affecting you in life. I have been thinking about how much I miss it lately, and have most definitely resolved to go back in some form or another. |
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| ziptnf |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
I used to teach Tae Kwon Do, and had several different age brackets, so I think I know just where you're coming from, zip. Of course, things are a tad different when there is an actual chain of respect to adhere to (unlike swimming... I mean, not necessarily in practice, but in the martial arts, respect is just one of those core tenets... you know what I mean), but I was still an instructor of an independent school, essentially dealing with customers, to a degree. |
I absolutely know what you mean. Swim coaches receive much less respect, as there is generally a large number of children in my classes who manage to forget things immediately after I explain it, plainly and simply.
| quote: | | Anyways, just as you said, speaking as plainly as possible is the best way to keep things under control. One of the most important teaching methods I took from the experience was: praise, correct, praise. When demonstrating and observing, find what people did correctly, tell them what they did right, tell them what they can do better, have them practice this until they know just what to improve on. I know being in the water is a bit different, but you will build far better relationships with people - sometimes immediately - if you compliment their abilities, no matter how they compare to other students. I know this seems like utter cheese - like, I am supposed to compliment people no matter how much they suck? But getting them to listen to you, the leader, is your best way of keeping them listening, and perhaps more importantly, keeping them paying. |
This is one of the fundamental aspects of being a coach in any sport where your athletes are less than 13 years old. Trust me, it's hard to complement a student who is being a huge pain in the ass and is also definitely the worst in the group. I still do it, however, I tell them everything they did right, and how wonderful it was, as well as providing them tips on how to improve. Not only does this improve their attitude towards you, but it helps them become better at what you're teaching them. Often times, I will see children improve just because of the attitude I give them.
As I said in my original post, it gets a bit frustrating after you're cold, pruning, and tired from being in the water for 5 straight hours, when a kid is really giving you a hard time. But it's rewarding when you see them swim by themselves and the look of delight on their parents face to know that their money went toward something valuable.
| quote: | | Maybe this goes without saying, but keeping a schedule in your classes is paramount. When kids begin to learn a regiment, and what to look forward to - example: the last 10 minutes of class are always fun/play/game time - it really makes a difference in how attentive they are in the preceding sections. Sometimes devoting an entire class to just playing games is necessary, don't be afraid to work with how everyone is feeling that day (especially yourself) - some days nobody can focus or listen, and sometimes you just have to work with this or integrate pattern interrupts. |
This is also relatively important, I generally let the kids do dives when their lesson has about 5 minutes left. It's fun for them, and it's also educational.
I had a student a year and a half ago who simply would refuse to make any changes to his stroke, and never improved over the several months I taught him. It was a private lesson, so there were no other children for him to compare himself to. His mother was frustrated when one day I gave up on the child and told him to kick on the kickboard for the rest of the lesson. She asked why didn't I let him do dives or something? I told her plain and simple that "It is a reward for my students to do dives. They don't get to do dives unless they listen and behave during their lesson." She switched coaches, and his attitude remained the same, but he still hasn't gotten any better.
It's nice to know that someone else here feels my pain. Kids can be rough sometimes. You can be like Banora and run away from the thought of children, but eventually in your life you might want to pass on your genes. :p |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
It's so frustrating to see a kid with a bad attitude be removed by their parents, and then to be blamed, yourself. I went through that just a few times, and I hate to point fingers in the end, but it's sooooo obvious that a child's attitude is a direct reflection of their parents'. Kind of unrelated, but I remember one girl from my one of my teenage classes who was very... independent, let's say. She had so ing much talent though, but one day she was caught smoking pot after school and her mom removed her from martial arts! It was the exact opposite of what she needed, and was very frustrating not being able to just tell her mom- "hey, moron, she needs discipline and activity now more than ever!" I obviously still feel very strongly about the incident, she was an excellent student, she just needed to be tamed, and it was personally distressing being so powerless, but I guess being so involved in the school and my student-base, something like this was inevitable.
One of the most satisfying things though - just as you said - is remembering those first few courses with some, and all of the nasty contradiction some kids demonstrated, but then seeing your patience - and their determination - pay off. In my experience, those always made the best martial artists - the ones who had to learn the hard way. I guess it's just a testament to one of life's facts that no easy lesson is there to stay, and nothing truly earned is without value. |
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| Joss Weatherby |
| Actually I don't mind kids. Not looking to have some anytime soon, but I don't think I'd mind too much. Two guys I know (one of them my best friend, Adam, aka Wrzonance the TA) have like kids in the 6-14 month old range and they don't seem too bad off. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| I am absolutely petrified of having my own, to be completely honest. It's fear, plain and simple. Though I am kind of warming up to the idea anymore as my friends tend to go forth and multiply, yet still seem happy with their responsibilities. It's just such an irreversible thing, and the last thing I'd want to be is a head father. The world doesn't need any more of those. |
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| Joss Weatherby |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
I am absolutely petrified of having my own, to be completely honest. It's fear, plain and simple. Though I am kind of warming up to the idea anymore as my friends tend to go forth and multiply, yet still seem happy with their responsibilities. It's just such an irreversible thing, and the last thing I'd want to be is a head father. The world doesn't need any more of those. |
Ya, I am far too selfish right now. I barely want to do with my friends half the time if it involves me getting off my ass... :p |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
I'm with ya. :p
Though the upside is that you wouldn't be missing any parties or raucous get-togethers when you're a homebody in the first place. Seems like it would be good for kids, really, to have somebody who is actually around and not preoccupied with their own youth or whatnot. Tough call, but I have seen enough complete turnaround stories with people to believe that children change everything... though there's dismal evidence to suggest it is not always this way, unfortunately.
I'd teach my kids the virtue of selfishness, in any case.  |
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| Joss Weatherby |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
I'm with ya. :p
Though the upside is that you wouldn't be missing any parties or raucous get-togethers when you're a homebody in the first place. Seems like it would be good for kids, really, to have somebody who is actually around and not preoccupied with their own youth or whatnot. Tough call, but I have seen enough complete turnaround stories with people to believe that children change everything... though there's dismal evidence to suggest it is not always this way, unfortunately.
I'd teach my kids the virtue of selfishness, in any case. |
I take comfort in knowing I can go out and do anything I want still and not being tied down with a wife and kid/s. Even if I don't go out and do . I think the mental tie down, knowing that even if I wanted to I couldn't, would be totally demoralizing right now. |
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