Teaching, need input

melsbells · 08-27-2010, 12:07 AM

Tuesday I got hired to teach jewelry making classes for my local JoAnn store. (Yay!) I've taught a lot of things over the years, some in classroom settings, some more informally. Was an Education major for a little while in college so I know a thing or two.

Does anybody have any advice for teaching crafts? Stuff you had to learn the hard way? Problems specific to teaching jewelry making? Something you found invaluable? Maybe something you experienced in a class you attended - good or bad?

I'm really excited to be doing this; I'm feeling very confident and I have a million ideas already. But I'm also hoping to benefit from the wisdom of others! ;-D

**gma2rjc** · 08-27-2010, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melsbells

Tuesday I got hired to teach jewelry making classes for my local JoAnn store. (Yay!) I've taught a lot of things over the years, some in classroom settings, some more informally. Was an Education major for a little while in college so I know a thing or two.

Does anybody have any advice for teaching crafts? Stuff you had to learn the hard way? Problems specific to teaching jewelry making? Something you found invaluable? Maybe something you experienced in a class you attended - good or bad?

I'm really excited to be doing this; I'm feeling very confident and I have a million ideas already. But I'm also hoping to benefit from the wisdom of others! ;-D

Wow, that sounds like a fun job! Good luck with it.

I don't know about a jewelry class, but I had a bad experience in another craft class. There were about 40 people and one teacher.

She flew through the information so fast without giving us time to follow her directions. By the middle of the class, I was two or three steps behind and got so frustrated that, not only didn't I finish the project, but I really didn't enjoy the class at all.

I've been to a few card making classes at my Stampin' Up! demonstrators house. She had everything organized and we all did each step as a group. I really liked that.

Another thing I liked about it was that she had a lot of the cards she's made in the past displayed on boards around the room.

Barb

melsbells · 08-30-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gma2rjc

Wow, that sounds like a fun job! Good luck with it.

I don't know about a jewelry class, but I had a bad experience in another craft class. There were about 40 people and one teacher.

She flew through the information so fast without giving us time to follow her directions. By the middle of the class, I was two or three steps behind and got so frustrated that, not only didn't I finish the project, but I really didn't enjoy the class at all.

I've been to a few card making classes at my Stampin' Up! demonstrators house. She had everything organized and we all did each step as a group. I really liked that.

Another thing I liked about it was that she had a lot of the cards she's made in the past displayed on boards around the room.

Barb

Thanks for the input Barb. I'll watch for that.

40 people in a class tho? Is that normal for your craft and your area? This store has more like 4-6 people for the better attended classes, and they cancel classes every month due to lack of attendance! (That's going to be one of my first priorities, is making sure all my classes are well attended.)

Also, I like the idea of having other samples displayed. I'm planning to do several versions of the project, applying the basic technique in different ways to give guests more ideas. (And also to increase sales for the store!!)

Anybody else have thoughts? What bothers you? What have you seen or done that worked?

~ Mel

**gma2rjc** · 08-30-2010, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melsbells

40 people in a class tho? Is that normal for your craft and your area? This store has more like 4-6 people for the better attended classes, and they cancel classes every month due to lack of attendance! (That's going to be one of my first priorities, is making sure all my classes are well attended.)

~ Mel

A smaller class is ALWAYS nicer. The one I attended was at a convention and I'd never join one that large again. Let us know how it works out for you.

Barb

Angela · 08-30-2010, 07:03 PM

My husband "sent" me to an art clay silver class as a birthday gift a few years ago. I'm trying and trying to remember details for you, but I just can't. Here is what I liked that I do remember.

There were about a dozen of us and she had us do quick intros. Our name and what brought us to the class. No silly games or anything.

She had pieces that she passed around. Always two, slightly different. One she passed to her left, the other to her right. Then we got to see, touch and hold two pieces and we weren't waiting forever for our turn.

She smiled, laughed and made jokes. She was talking with us, not just to us. You know what I mean?

She didn't stammer, or pause and say "ummmmm" or "ahhhhh".... I remember that because it drives me crazy when people do that!

I really wish I could remember more for you because when I received the gift certificate to go to the class (the very next day!!) I was excited, but also a little scared because I was going all by myself. I had a great time and made three pieces while everyone else made two. I got to make an extra one because in my intro I stated my birthday was 'yesterday' and that the class was a birthday present! (plus the third piece that I wanted to make didn't take much material

) The class was at the bead store that I frequent and one of the staff members was also taking the class. That was years ago and she still greets me by name when I walk in the store.

I hope that is a little bit helpful to you.

scratch · 08-31-2010, 01:25 AM

Not sure if anyone said this before... but it's always important to model! This may seem almost too obvious, but when you get caught up in explaining, sometimes you forget (I know I do sometimes!). As an elementary school teacher, I know that the kids will be lost if I don't show them what I am telling them to make. This is also true for many adults. Seeing is knowing for a lot of people, especially visual learners.