| One of the most important elements of a martial | | | | 4. Decide how many classes you need. How many |
| arts school's operations is the class schedule. Deciding | | | | students do you currently have and how often do |
| on an appropriate and effective schedule that | | | | those students come to class each week? For |
| matches the needs of your students and your | | | | example, if you have 100 students and the average |
| curriculum can often be a very challenging task but if | | | | student comes to class 1.5 times per week then you |
| this is done right then the benefits are well worth the | | | | should plan your classes as if you have 150 students |
| initial effort. | | | | coming once per week. If you want 15 students in |
| Have you ever had problems trying to design an | | | | each class then you need 10 classes. |
| effective schedule? If so, then this article is for you. | | | | 5. Available timeslots. When are you and your |
| Here are the six simple steps for scheduling your | | | | instructors available to teach? If you are operating a |
| classes: | | | | professional school, you will set your schedule based |
| 1. Decide how you will arrange your classes. Will you | | | | on which hours are best for your members. If you |
| organize your classes according to program, age, | | | | are running your program part-time through a |
| rank, or all of the above? Most schools have | | | | community center or a YMCA and have volunteers |
| different programs such as a Little Dragons or Tiny | | | | as assistants, you may need to be more flexible |
| Tigers program, a junior program and a Teen & | | | | when it comes to setting your schedule. Find out |
| Adult program. Often family classes are offered too | | | | which hours are available and fit your lessons into |
| as well as various other programs including a | | | | those slots after you have completed steps 1 |
| Leadership and an Instructor Training program. | | | | through 4. |
| The programs are usually structured by age but | | | | 6. Tracking methods. How will you track your |
| within each program are different levels such as | | | | attendance in each class so that you know which |
| beginner, intermediate and advanced. How you | | | | classes are working and which are not? Are you a |
| structure your schedule depends on the size of your | | | | state-of-the-art school with pre-printed membership |
| school and your membership but the different | | | | cards and a scanner system? Do you use a name |
| programs directly affect the type of schedule that | | | | box system where the student hands his or her |
| you need to offer. | | | | name card to the instructor or the desk person that |
| 2. Size of each class. How many students do you | | | | day so that attendance can be manually inputted, or |
| want to have in each class? For the 4 - 6 age group, | | | | you do the good old-fashioned head count each class |
| 10 to 15 students in one class are enough. For the 7 - | | | | to get a feel for how many members show up each |
| 12 age group, 15 - 20 students is a good size and for | | | | week? |
| the teenagers and adults it is not usually a problem to | | | | Either way is fine but you do need some kind of |
| go up to 30 students in one class. | | | | method for tracking your attendance otherwise you |
| There are other strategies for teaching more | | | | have no idea which classes are working (i.e. well |
| students in one class by using additional instructors | | | | attended) or which classes are failing (i.e. the ones |
| and assistants or by implementing a rotating | | | | that have all but turned into private lessons for the |
| curriculum, but if you are on your own and your floor | | | | same monthly tuition fee). |
| space is limited, it is probably best to stick to these | | | | So use these six simple steps for setting your class |
| suggested numbers per class. | | | | schedule and if you need more tips on how to |
| 3. Length of each class. How long will each of your | | | | become a great instructor get my FREE Report on |
| classes be? Keep in mind that young kids have | | | | "Instructor Mastery: How to Become a Great |
| shorter attention spans and probably only need 30 | | | | Instructor Right from the very First Lesson." You can |
| minute to 45-minute classes. Older kids, teenagers | | | | download it at |
| and especially adults are looking for a good workout | | | | Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate. |
| and will usually need at least an hour. | | | | |