Never taught a class before and don’t know where to start? Don’t hesitate to do something you’ve always wanted to do, check out this post to get the ball rolling.
The syllabus
The first step to preparing a course is making a syllabus. Who are your students? What are you trying to teach them? Write down your goals (a few short statements is fine), the supplies you’ll need, and start making your course schedule.
The lesson plan
Determine an objective for each class session, while keeping class time in mind. Some people like a more structured class, so consider including a beginning, middle, and an end to each session. Be sure that your lesson plans are flexible, you never know what question you’re going to get or what hiccups you may encounter along the way.
Managing your class
Talk to other instructors before you begin. Not only will you learn from them, but they can give you ideas too. Learning who your students are and what they want is incredibly important as well. Consider sending a Google survey to your customers to find out what they’re interested in learning. And during the class, be sure to reach out to everyone often, don’t assume that everyone will ask for help when they need it.
Keep in touch with your students after the class for feedback. What did you do right, and what could be done better? What other classes are they interested in participating in?
Teaching a class can be one of the most fulfilling parts of being a quilt retailer; take advantage of the opportunity and help your craft community grow.
If you’re looking for more information to guide you in owning a retail business, subscribe to American Quilt Retailer today. Already a subscriber? No worries—join our Facebook group for insights and dialogue from industry specialists like you.
