Welcome to the Dance to Learn® Podcast — the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast! In this episode, host Jessica Strong kicks off a special 2-part series breaking down the 10 Essential Preparations Every Dance Teacher Should Make before their first class of a new season. Whether you're a studio owner or preschool dance teacher, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you enter your season feeling confident, prepared, and excited.

This week, Jessica shares the first 5 essential preparations, from lesson planning to transitions — all rooted in the Dance to Learn® Whole-Child, Conceptualized-Thematic approach. This episode also kicks off the Back to Dance Teacher Challenge, happening exclusively in the Dance to Learn® Community beginning July 1st!

🩰 In This Episode You’ll Learn:

1. How to plan your preschool dance class using dance concepts and themes
2. Why predictable routines reduce anxiety and help children feel safe
3. How to create a sensory-enriched environment that supports all learning styles
4. Proactive classroom management strategies to avoid behavior challenges
5. Tips to master transitions and keep energy and focus flowing throughout class

🎉 Challenge Alert!
Join the Back to Dance Teacher Challenge — a 30-day, drip-format experience designed to help you prepare your classroom, welcome new families, and start the season strong. Includes bonus resources like printable class visuals, nurture email templates, and more! Starts July 1st — link in the show notes!

📣 Want to be featured on the show?
Submit your question during Ask the Pod (Fridays–Mondays) inside the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Forum on Facebook, or email Jessica at podcast@dancetolearn.co.

📌 Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Join the Back to Dance Teacher Challenge → https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/back-to-dance-challenge
• Preschool Dance Teacher’s Forum (Facebook Group) → https://www.facebook.com/groups/preschooldanceteachersforum
• Email your questions: podcast@dancetolearn.co
• Join the Community → https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/join-us

Support the show

If you want your Questions answered or to provide feedback to one of our Listeners, Join us in the Preschool Dance Teacher's Podcast where you can participate in #askthepod and #podtalk every Monday & Tuesday!
Preschool Dance Teacher's Forum

Follow Us:
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Facebook

Our Membership:
https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/join-us

Shop our Curriculum:
https://library.dancetolearn.co/collections

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Welcome to membership insider a mini series available on the Dance to Learn® Podcast which gives you peek inside the Dance to Learn® Membership!

Dance to Learn® is an all inclusive library of dance resources made for dance teachers who teach the foundational years. The membership is designed to be your partner in dance education. Today I’m going take you inside our Teaching Tracks.

Last week I introduced you to the 4 week teaching track - ideal for Dance Educators who have some familiarity with the Dance to Learn® Method and/or who are looking to teach a single lesson during the course of 1 month. Today I’m going to introduce you to our 2 week Teaching Track which is considered our Fast Track.

Let’s Review what are the Teaching Tracks?

Teaching Tracks are a schedule for dance educators to apply the Dance to Learn® Dance EdVentures™ over a multi-week schedule making application of the materials easier to implement.

We created the Teaching Tracks to allow dance teachers more time to learn the Dance to Learn® Methods and Approach as well as to allow for adjustments to the materials to best fit into your classes and the needs of your students. Our Dance EdVentures™ are robust and detailed - which May feel overwhelming if you are new to our methods!

Therefore we created 3 teaching tracks:

The 2 week teaching track is our fast track - which allows dance educators to switch up the materials and lesson plans every 2 weeks! This track is ideal for someone who’s familiar with the Dance to Learn® Method and would like more variety in their classes!

The 2 week track breaks up the class structure over 2 weeks allowing more themes and materials to be covered throughout a dance season. The track includes video demonstrations and a downloadable planner to help you schedule your lesson plans!

If you’d like to see the 2 week track in action I’ve shared a link to the Membership Insider video available on the Dance to Learn® YouTube Channel!

https://youtu.be/QqZ25UUQ--E

Unlock your experience with the links below! I look forward to seeing you inside the Membership!

🔓 Dance to Learn® Membership 👉 https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/join-us
🔓 Creative Dance Curriculum 👉 https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/creative-dance-curriculum
🔓 Ballet Curriculum 👉 https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/ballet-curriculum
🔓 Hip Hop Curriculum 👉 https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/hip-hop-curriculum
🔓 Tap Curriculum 👉 https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/tap-curriculum

Happy Dance EdVenturing!

Support the show

If you want your Questions answered or to provide feedback to one of our Listeners, Join us in the Preschool Dance Teacher's Podcast where you can participate in #askthepod and #podtalk every Monday & Tuesday!
Preschool Dance Teacher's Forum

Follow Us:
Instagram
Facebook

Our Membership:
https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/join-us

Shop our Curriculum:
https://library.dancetolearn.co/collections

Hosted by Buzzsprout:
Join over a hundred thousand podcasters, like Jessica, already using Buzzsprout to get their message out to the world.

In this episode of the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast by Dance to Learn®, host Jessica Strong dives into a timely and often tricky topic: should dance studios allow children who are not potty trained to attend summer camps? Inspired by multiple posts in her Facebook feed, Jessica shares her approach to handling these common parent concerns with empathy, clarity, and professionalism.

She discusses the legal limitations that prevent most dance studios from offering diapering services, the importance of communicating those limitations thoughtfully, and why turning families away isn’t always the best solution. You’ll hear real-life examples of accommodations that worked, how to reduce class disruptions caused by accidents, and why it’s better to include than exclude—when done responsibly.

Key takeaways include:

• How to respond to potty training questions with empathy
• What licensing restrictions mean for your studio
• Ways to include non-potty-trained children safely and professionally
• Why a flat-out “no” may damage your studio’s reputation
• A free email response template to help you navigate this issue with ease

If you’d like to have your own questions featured on the show, join us in the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Forum on Facebook and participate in our weekly #askthepod and #podtalk threads. Check the show notes for your free potty policy email template and to learn more about joining the Dance to Learn® Community.

Links Mentioned:

• Join the Membership: https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/join-us
• Join the Facebook Forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/preschooldanceteachersforum
• Email your questions: podcast@dancetolearn.co
• Learn more about Dance Dance Hooray: https://www.dancedancehooray.com
• Free Potty Training Email Templates: https://dancetolearn.kit.com/30d4827074

Thanks for listening — and until next time, Happy Dancing!

Support the show

If you want your Questions answered or to provide feedback to one of our Listeners, Join us in the Preschool Dance Teacher's Podcast where you can participate in #askthepod and #podtalk every Monday & Tuesday!
Preschool Dance Teacher's Forum

Follow Us:
Instagram
Facebook

Our Membership:
https://library.dancetolearn.co/pages/join-us

Shop our Curriculum:
https://library.dancetolearn.co/collections

Hosted by Buzzsprout:
Join over a hundred thousand podcasters, like Jessica, already using Buzzsprout to get their message out to the world.