SIP 071: Activity, Activity, Challenge

Get ready to experience the next supplemental guide for better swim lessons! We've been refining the general format of our swim lessons. Ever forward, and ever working on refinement we've been teaching lessons using this new take on an old favorite.   For a long time we've incorporated the "learn something, learn something, play a game format." you can see it in the lesson plans that you can buy on the website.   The last two weeks I distributed the first version of the General lesson plan guide for Level 2 and Level 3.   I've  been writing these lesson plans out for the last year on white boards for my veteran staff that might not want to think too hard at lessons and are more comfortable being told what to do. They might know the way to do it, and how to give feedback, but lack the experience and confidence to come up with a solid progression of skills to get the best results.   These lesson plans accomplish that. Here is an example of level 3 general guide.     Look a the picture. It gives instructors an easy visual cue how to set up their lanes and run their lessons.   The left side is the meat and potatoes. It has a range of activities drawing from the most important and should serve as a building block to iterate off of.   The Challenges are likewise level specific, but should serves as a general guide for lessons. You can read off the script, or make small changes to create you own personal challenges specific to your group and your pool.   The bottom has the level criteria. When in doubt, make it a quick reference for the teacher so they know what they should be working towards.   Finally in the middle are the specific language the instructor should use for that level. Take note this isn't the scripts for glides and backfloat, but more careful specific words to use in order to get the best results quickly.   "Start immediately in SL" means that you don't push off in 11, or like a wild person head first then do the streamline. It is deliberately crafted words to indicate that while the child is pushing off the wall it should be in streamline with no space between wall and water without it.   The instructor tips aim at general reminders for teachers of that level. It is like having the manager give those gentle reminders on the paper; like a whisper in the ear.