ABC’s of Instructor Appreciation

by Colette Danielski

Learn to Skate USA instructors impact our programs enormously, touching the lives of many with their approaches to relaying the wonderful sport of skating. For this blog, we want to highlight and celebrate the amazing qualities they possess. Below is what we call the ABCs of Instructor Appreciation! Remember to thank the instructors in your lives who help make skating possible, today and every day.

A- Always willing to help; Learn to Skate USA instructors are always willing to go the extra mile to help others.

B- Balances various student needs; Instructors work to balance all kinds of student needs/levels to meet students where they’re at.

C- Communicates and connects with students and parents; Our Learn to Skate USA instructors communicate with students, striving to connect them to skating. Additionally, they communicate with parents on how to best support their skaters.

D- Devoted to their class; They are devoted to helping skaters get better at each class.

E- Enthusiastically engages; These individuals enthusiastically engage with each student to promote an uplifting experience.

F- Fair; Instructors uphold Learn to Skate USA’s fair values and ensure that there are fair opportunities for all students.

G- Gives 100% every day; Instructors give 100% every time they step out onto the ice for class.

H- High expectations for students; They have high expectations, pushing their students to be their best selves in a nurturing environment.

I- Imaginative; They create imaginative lessons that inspire students, guiding them to imagine new possibilities and keep skating fun.

J- Joy; Instructors are the liaison for skating to bring joy to the activity of skating and students.

K-Kind; All instructors embody kindness and implement this into daily lessons, teaching their students to be kind to one another and themselves.

L-Laugh; Learn to Skate USA instructors know how to laugh and have fun with their students! Learning should always have fun and laughable moments incorporated to make the students feel welcome.

M- Motivational; Learn to Skate USA instructors motivate their students to be the best skaters they can be.

N- Natural; Instructors know that sometimes things don’t always come naturally to students at first, so adjusting and allowing for growth is important.

O- Organized; Instructors are always organized and have well-thought-out plans to help their students succeed.

P- Patient; Learn to Skate USA instructors are always patient with their students, giving them space to learn at their own pace and not pushing them past their limits.

Q- Qualified; Learn to Skate USA instructors are qualified to teach this sport and have honed their skills to teach skating, dedicating lots of time and effort to being well-versed in the subject matter.

R- Reassuring; Learn to Skate USA instructors are reassuring and aim to help skaters feel at ease, especially if they are brand new to skating.

S- Supportive; Instructors are supportive of their students and know when to push them forward and when they need additional guidance.

T- Thoughtful; Instructors are thoughtful and compassionate toward their students, knowing that learning to skate can be challenging at times.

U- Understanding; Instructors are understanding of their students and check in frequently to make sure students feel comfortable and understood.

V- Versatile; Learn to Skate USA instructors are versatile and use different methods of teaching to meet various students’ needs.

W- Warm; While it may be cold out on the ice, Learn to Skate USA instructors bring warmth with their positive attitude and friendly presence, showcasing they are approachable to students.

X- X marks the spot that instructors draw! Learn to Skate USA instructors incorporate fun games and activities like drawing on the ice to engage and entertain students.

Y- Young at heart; Learn to Skate USA instructors show off their playful and young-at-heart demeanor to relate to students and even connect with their own reasons for starting skating.

Z- Zestful; Learn to Skate USA instructors are full of zest, energy and enthusiasm.