Learn to Teach - Skateboarding - A Certification Course

A review of the methods we've used for teaching: video, text & live sessions as well as how to get your skills test and practical teaching tests completed. We sum it up with a review of what happens when you graduate, including the T-shirt, Membership Card, placement on our Instructor Search Engine and other help we offer to insure that after completing this course, we can help students find you!

In this lecture you will get a chance to better understand what it takes to be a good and great teacher. We will review the common characteristics which include: responsible, safe, credible, trust, fair and more. You will get the opportunity to think about who you want to be as an instructor and have a checklist of skills you want to obtain as a part of your own teaching style.

When you put wheels under the feet of students young and old, you had better be prepared to keep them safe. This lecture is all about where to stand to keep your students safe, when to let them on their boards, how to start them off (on the ground or the grass, for instance), what to do in case of an emergency and how to keep them safe easily by getting them (and you) to wear the gear.

This lecture is the key to teaching individuals in the class--everyone learns differently and this lecture is all about helping you figure out how different people learn, what to look for and why. Watchers, thinkers, doers and feelers will all be in your classroom, how you help them learn is up to you. This lecture will give you the necessary tools to set them, and yourself, up for success.

This lecture is all about explaining why you need to do a proper introduction, what it entails and how to do it. Whether you are teaching brand new students or returning students, you need to start the class somehow and this lecture explains what you need to do in a step-by-step method. NAGS/Falling/BREW are your ticket to success.

This lecture is all about what it actually looks like in the classroom. Join Jeremy and his brand new students Zoe & Lindsey for the beginning of their journey in learning how to skateboard. This was filmed with two actual students, neither of which had ever had a lesson.

This lecture is what you need to know about positioning yourself in the classroom. When you have a sport that includes wheels, you need to be able to watch all your students at the same time, even if you are focused on one. Safety mandates that you always keep an eye on them. Further, we discuss best practices for letting them get rolling, whether one at a time (a good idea for beginners) or letting them all do the moves at once. Where you stand during the entire class matters. The directions in which you demonstrate your moves also matters. You will learn how to be position yourself for their learning and everyone's safety.

The Teaching Model is the foundation for every move you will ever teach. In fact, many certified instructors use the teaching models to run meetings. The first aspect is "Setting the goal", you need to let them know what the class is all about. So, you tell them what they are learning (beginners) or you ask them what they want to work on (for more advanced students. But setting the goal, then demonstrating the moves immediately afterwards are the two keys to getting going. The entire Teaching Model is explained in this lecture in a step-by-step sequence with some repetition in order for you to begin to assimilate the information: S.A.P.A.R.S (The Teaching Model's acronym) is your ticket to teaching every move!.

In this lecture, Jeremy teaches Zoe & Lindsey how to break down the first move. Sounds simple, just push & glide? Yes, but if they don't do it right, you will need to keep them practicing. Here Jeremy has them learn how to do it statically, then moves onto the dynamic moves allowing them to practice on the board, moving. In a true class, the students would get more practice time. Watch how he uses 3 steps (3+3s) to create this important move. Push + Glide + Return.

Here Jeremy teaching Zoe & Lindsey how to turn using their edges (heel or toe). He answers her question of why it seems that the Frontside is really more like going backside and why. You will see how well Jeremy encourages the students, using positive words. It was January 4th in Seattle and cold and yet they were having fun. Jeremy again uses the 3+3s (three static/not moving + 3 dynamic/moving) steps to make it all happen seemlessly. Rotate + (Lean + Edge)

Again, in a real classroom Jeremy breaks down how to do a manual. First he sets the goal by telling them what he is teaching, then he shows them, then he breaks it down to three steps (Weight + Unweight + Balance) so they can more easily figure out how to get this move for themselves. He uses some innovative ways to help them with the tricky balance.

In this lecture, Jeremy teaches Zoe how to Tic Tac on the skateboard. He uses the introduction and B.R.E.W. fundamentals to set her up with success. The 3 steps: Unweight + Shift + Rotate both statically and dynamically (on the ground, then on the board moving) help Zoe get it. A fair amount of practice and she finally gets it. He also does a great job giving her feedback and homework and selling her on more classes when explaining what the current move is used for in a later, more difficult move and what move they are doing next week when she returns.

In this lecture we see the challenges Jeremy has when the student doesn't have the talent for the move, yet. While we always believe our students will get a move, what to do when they don't yet have it? Jeremy uses a fence to help them, statics, practice with the jumping (plus some feedback so she can make some corrections). The three steps: Pop + Jump + Roll will eventually get her the move. We never let our students say they 'can't' do something, we suggest they just are not getting it 'yet.'

This is simply a visual lecture on what the Nollie looks like so you can insure you have this skill by the time you take the skills exam. What would you guess the three steps to doing this move would be?

This is simply a visual lecture on what the Kick Flip looks like so you can insure you have this skill by the time you take the skills exam. What would you guess the three steps to doing this move would be?

This is simply a visual lecture on what the Heel Flip looks like so you can insure you have this skill by the time you take the skills exam. What would you guess the three steps to doing this move would be?

Here I give you the criteria for how your skills test will be evaluated. Body Position, Rotation, Proper Edging and Weight Transference. It will be reviewed by a certified skateboard instructor, one of your peers.

Here I discuss all the points you will have to gain during the course of your teaching. The scorecard notes all the aspects of teaching you will need to insure you do during your Practical Teaching Exam. This includes proper feedback, being professional, checking for gear, being safe and then using the 3 + 3s. Also, a proper introduction, using the Teaching Model, and finishing up the class with the review and the sell.

I will send you the scorecard prior to your teaching.

You may do your skills test and teaching test in either of two methods: One is via video. You will first video tape yourself and send it to us via Youtube or Vimeo of you completing the 8 skills. For the teaching test you will need to get two friends and teach them a skill that we give you to teach. Just like Jeremy did with his two students.

The second way for you to take your tests is to do them live. If you make mistakes, we happily will give you feedback on what the mistakes were and give you a free chance to do it a second time. With our feedback, if you've made it this far, you should succeed.

Prior to doing either, contact us for what we are expecting, so you can be sure to do it correctly. Again, if you make mistakes, either from a miss-understanding or simply not done correctly, you will have a chance to do one repeat.

Graduation day will be an online class, where we'll celebrate your success and then answer any questions you have about being a member, listing on the instructor search, how to get you your t-shirt, and how to start teaching. We want to insure we set you up for success after you leave this course so we like to help you with marketing materials, pricing, and any other way we can help long after your certification happens. Skateboard
IA is a membership organization and once you are certified, we are here to help.