Teacher Tip: Invite a Friend, Gain a Helper
We’ve been talking to HourSchool teachers, listening to their stories, and asking them for tips to share with the community.
One thing we’ve known at HourSchool HQ for awhile now is that classes are always more fun with friends, so we’re always encouraging people to invite their friends! Teaching and learning from your friends breaks the ice and increases the comfort level of any class. But we also found that for teachers, a side benefit of inviting a friend to class is having an extra pair of hands during set up and an extra dose of friendly during class.
HourSchool teacher Monet, a food blogger who taught a Bread baking class earlier this year told us she had planned out the timing of her class very carefully, since she had prepared multiple doughs to be used at specific moments during the lesson. She was grateful for the extra help her husband provided on class day. She held the class at her home, and while she was setting up, her husband made sure the students were comfortable, got drinks, and met each other.
“My husband was around, and he’s great at talking to people and interacting on that level,” Monet said. “It was good because I didn’t feel like I had to bear the weight of making sure everyone was connecting. There’s something to be said of tag-teaming a class. Even if they’re not teaching it, have someone help with getting people fed, getting them drinks, talking to them. Have somebody, even a friend, come just hang out with you—someone who knows the space and can help people get what they need. Have a friend come over and help you with the hospitality aspect so you can focus on teaching.”
So the next time you teach an HourSchool class, invite a friend or two—and don’t be afraid to ask for help! It’ll make the experience better for everyone, including you!
P.S. Monet’s teaching another class on Homemade Bagels on June 16—sign up before the seats fill up!
[Photos by Monet, from her blog Anecdotes & Apple Cores]
