As mentioned in the BeadStyle e-newsletter, we invite you to share your tips and questions about teaching others in this thread. To read about my experience teaching a Brownie Troop, go to http://www.beadstylemag.com/bds/default.aspx?c=a&id=233

Thanks!
Linda Augsburg

editor at large
Kalmbach Publishing Co.

My one best tip is to try to always have an encouraging word for each person. If they are having difficulties then point out something that they have done well and go on from there.

Laurie
http://www.designerbeads.com

Always remind beginners that it takes practice to get a stitch or technique learned; it likely won't be perfect the first time they try it. Example: a friend of mine was bemoaning her difficulties with peyote stitch, and whimpering that she'd never achieve the evenness of my pieces. So, I gave her the first piece of peyote I'd ever done, lumps, bumps, warts and all... (and believe me, it was very poorly done!). After seeing that, she pulled herself together and practiced, and now her work is exquisite.

Aside from that, I agree with Laurie that an encouraging word is very important for a beginner.

AuntyNin

When working withi children, I always encourage them to try, try again! Many get frustrated when their project doesn't come out right the first time and want to give up. By offering support rather than stepping in and fixing it, there is a real sense of accomplishment for the new crafter.
On the other hand, I just completed Mom's day necklaces with my Daisy Troop. Yep, 5 year olds- and they just went for it and did fantastic pieces.

Linda, itsnt it a lovely warming feeling when you walk away after saying bye to an enthusiastic happy bunch - I know - I've done the Brownies.

Extra Hints:- Yes, know how many u have, age group (important in relation to helpers), enough seats for how ever many, how many helpers you deff. have if over 12 in number ie at least one or 2 mums. All these pnts need to be addressed before the actual day for a stress-free activity.

I supply Bead Boards (indispensible), they join in to label their own and you then know their names!, they then are instructed to chose their beads from trays and they can lay out on boards, older ones centralizing and in symetry.

After they have put designs on board I hand them a nylon monofilament fishing line with a clasp attached at one end, I modify a loop clasp then finalise with an enclosed knot. I tell them at beginning to keep thread and beads laying on table when threading as its poss. they will drop whole necklace on floor before the end of project.

After they have their completed necklace, they then go on to make earrings. These are earring hooks or clip ons with eyepins already attached, they then thread their chosen small beads on and I finish off with coil pliers (their is often a queue (helpers come in here).

They go on to make bracelets which I supply (metal ones with stoppers you superglue on).

The key to all the above is not to restrict any item, they can make as many necklaces as they want, bracelets or earrings, they really appreciate this; so do the mums. If you restrict then you get - but I wanted to make one for my sister whose ill and cldnt come, my aunt, my nana, etc etc.

Another beauty of this activitiy is reticent/shy girls can be encouraged by being more attentive towards them, their final products please them and you can open them up in the course of the activity, sometimes they cant keep up with the boystrous conversation of others and appreciate yr attentiveness.

I dont think I got a singing thankyou but they all joined together for a collective thank you, again v. heartwarming.

Anyone wishing to start doing "Kids Jewellery Birthday Parties" plse visit my site www.beadsgalorehk.com and post yr interest and I can answer questions or send you a starters kit and supply further supplies as necessary at a competitive rate.

Back in the '90s I used to teach Rollerblading. A few of my old coaching techniques work for just about anything.

1. When learning something new, everybody has at least one element that they naturally do right. Point out their natural strengths!

2. Each subject has its pitfalls. Before your students begin a typical problem area, let them know that people often find X hard. They may pay extra attention and get it right faster. At least they won't blame themselves.

3. For new skills that involve physical dexterity, try to break down a new maneuver into three basic elements. People usually succeed when they can practice in terms of A...B...C. Give a full demonstration, show the three component steps, and give a full demonstration again. Then have them practice immediately.

4. Spot check your students and give correction before mistakes become habit. When possible, sandwich each negative statement between two positives.

5. People learn best when they're relaxed and happy. Humor is great when it works with the flow of the lesson. When a student turns self-critical I've been known to bark, "We're going to have fun, durnit, whether you like it or not!"

6. Some of you gnash your teeth at this rule: get competent at demonstrating basic skills with either hand. Half of this rule is a courtesy to the students whose hand dominance is different from yours. The other half of this rule is for you, dear Teacher. Reliving the learning process yourself makes it much easier to empathize with people who try for the first time.

I have found that patience, encouragment, good bold instructions (lots of diagrams), and a lovely big smile is what is required.

When I teach beadweaving I use big beads. I like to use 15/0 which would be impossible to teach with. In that case I tend to use those big plastic pony beads.

i am 12 years old as of march and for my birthday we made earrings in honor of me and 2 of my friends getting there ears peirced. i have been beading since i was 8 or 9. i actually learned at a friends birthday so i know alot about teaching it.

about learning:
at my friends birthday, the place i learned to bead, she had a lady come and teach us. my friend had gone with Erin (the lady who taught us) and picked out lots of beads. sarah (my friend) already knew how to bead so she got some small and large beads in fun colors. at the party erin showed us how to everything then we were free to go! she had brought lots of tools and different kinds of clasps so we had a lot of choices. she obviossley had done this before. it was also nice beacause you could make a neclace or a bracelet or both! that party got me into beading which is now one of my many hoobies. a few weeks later we were going on a trip and i made my mom stop so we could get beads and my first pair of pliers![:)]

now about my party. most of my friends had some beading expierience and knew how to make earrings. others had never picked up a pair of pliers. me and my mom had picked out lots of beads and bought a huge supply of head pins and eyepins. i showed my friends how to do it and then they were free to go. on the invite i asked if people would bring their own pliers if they could. this helped beacause i don't have 11 pairs. i taught my mom how to do it so that she could help in the beginging and my friends helped each other as well. my tips? have lots of space and we put all the head/eye pins, pliers, earring hooks in the middle of the table in jars on a lazy susan. this helped a lot. also don't just do beading we made earring hangers. the kind that has mesh in a frame that you mount on the wall. we had lots of paint and brushes.

If you can control the size of your class, keep it small so you can get around everyone and no-one is left waiting for long. My shop accomodates a cosy half-dozen, tops, but even if I had a much bigger space I'd still limit my 'students'.
Leonie, Llangollen
www.beadz.biz

I wish some of my teachers at school had read this page....I don't think they knew how to be positive!

Karen beadsbydesign

All your odd beads you have left over, make a cha cha bracelet. The different beads make it interesting and colourful. Also have patience to start and start again until you get it right.

I'm 15 and I've been beading since I was about seven. I find that when trying to teach my friends (and adults) it's best to start with the basics and move into things that are more difficult to master. If you start them off trying to make a peyote stitched amulet pouch (which is naturally what I HAD to start with :) ) they become frustrated more easily. Encouragement is also good.

buginarug555, thank you for giving us a learner's perspective!

I Have taught one adult and 6 kids how to bead this year... they all just need to be inspired and encouragemnt... The adult is my best friend Shelly and she is handicapped in her hands... So if she can bead so can every one else ... they need accomodations too. Like a long beading needle and patients. Also there was a 3 year old owho I had taught... and he loved to learn to bead. He just needed bigger beads... But in the end the all did neat work.......

Love to all-
kitten_13 [:)]