Thread: Question about taking time out

OK...I'm going to have take some time out of teaching bellydance for personal reasons. I'll continue teaching til the end of my current term (mid-July), then will stop for perhaps up to a year (may be less).

However, having spent the time building up students, etc, and considering that I do intend to start again after the break, what suggestions do you have for 'hanging onto' (I don't mean that literally!) students? Or should I just let it go and start all over again when the time comes?

I have considered asking another teacher to cover the classes, there is someone locally who *might* do that. I don't currently have any students that I could hand over to.

I'm really interested to hear what other Bhuzzers have done in similar circumstances.

You might want to post this on the Teachers forum, some teachers might not want to relate their specific experiences on the open board (like me!)

Good thinking!

I think it's best to plan for losing every one of your students and having to start over when you get back to it! A year is a long time between classes, and once students stop coming to you, they may find another teacher that they then stick with, or just get out of the habit of bellydancing and forget how much they enjoyed it. But starting over wouldn't be the end of the world - you've done it successfully at least once!

Can you perhaps teach the occasional workshop to keep your students interested? Most important of all, get their email addresses if at all possible, and contact them when you make your comeback. You could entice them to give over their address by saying you intend to offer a discount to previous students when you start up again. Perhaps you could even email out a few newsletters about bellydance related events, articles, etc, just to keep in contact. Or say that you'll be at particular events and would love to see them there.

Originally Posted by jewelbellydance

Can you perhaps teach the occasional workshop to keep your students interested? Most important of all, get their email addresses if at all possible, and contact them when you make your comeback. You could entice them to give over their address by saying you intend to offer a discount to previous students when you start up again. Perhaps you could even email out a few newsletters about bellydance related events, articles, etc, just to keep in contact. Or say that you'll be at particular events and would love to see them there.

These are excellent suggestions, Jewel!

Deborah

I'm also ITA with Jewel!

I think that there is a combo of thins you can do. Both of which have been stated. Handing your classes over to another teacher, or highly suggest another teacher to your students is step 1. Step 2 is what Jewel suggested and keep in touch with your students so that when you are ready you don't have to completely rebuild.

{{{HUGS}}}

Thanks all for the suggestions!

I've decided to opt for keeping in touch with my students, and starting again when the break is over. I've recommended other local classes/teachers, so they know what else is out there!