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YOUTH AERIAL Teacher TrainingsAbout
The following courses are part of the Born to Fly™ Aerial Teacher Certificate Program. All who meet the prerequisites are welcome to train with us, and the certificate is optional. Teaching Philosophy and Methods Teaching youth requires a clear understanding of the skills, progressions, technique, spotting, diverse learning styles, and classroom management to help students find success. It’s important to notice what a student is ready to progress, and then find unique ways for them to engage with level appropriate material. This allows you to reach more learners and to stay fresh in your own teaching over the long haul. By entering each class with a beginner’s mind, you will learn something new every time you teach. In the Born to Fly™ methodology, we expose our students to aerial theory early on through puzzles and challenge their artistry through creative tasks. Our goal is to develop an aerialist’s strength, intelligence, and artistry simultaneously so nothing gets left behind. We ask students to spend more time with each skill, which allows them to build strength over a longer period of time before progressing to the next level.
Prerequisites: One year of aerial experience that includes a minimum of the basics of a variety of aerial apparatuses including: vertical skills (such as footlocks, hip keys, crossback straddle, straddle climbs, basic sling sequencing) and hard bar skills (mounting a trapeze or lyra, etc). Must be at an intermediate level in general (can perform clean inversions). Previous experience in teaching is recommended but not required. Audition Video: Along with your application/registration, please e-mail us an audition video that demonstrates you can perform the following skills in a sequence in any order over a crash mat at least 6" thick:
Required Reading:
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Schedule:
What You Will Learn: This training prepares the aerial instructor to work more specifically with children. We will discuss child development in the physical, social/emotional, and cognitive domains to help you work with this group of students more effectively. We will also examine the age-appropriateness of various aerial skills, and identify teaching structures that keep kids engaged in class. Children especially love games - transforming traditional skill drills into rhymes, puzzles, and obstacle courses can bring new life into your youth classes. We will briefly address the Parent & Me class format for children ages 5-7, and then move on to ages 8-15 where developing technique and performance readiness are key. We will spend a large focus on the skills that kids most readily connect with on a variety of apparatuses, including fabric, sling, trapeze and hoop. Our greatest emphasis will be on classroom management for various age groups, and developing an age-appropriate curriculum that promotes both self-esteem and teamwork. Safety, spotting, and rigging will also be addressed. Safety Note: This training is meant to inform movement instructors of best practices in aerial teaching. Completing this course does not guarantee that participants will be effective aerial instructors. Experience, practice, and self-reflection are all important components in the process of becoming a competent aerial teacher. |
