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:
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.

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.

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 6 week teaching track - ideal for Dance Educators new to our method and/or who are new to implementing a ready-to-teach Curriculum. Today I’m going to introduce you to our 4 week Teaching Track!

What are 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 4 week teaching track helps a Dance Educator implement a single Dance EdVenture™ over a 4 week period. This track is for a Dance Teacher who has some familiarity with Dance to Learn®, and/or someone who has implemented a ready-to-teach curriculum in the past but would like to explore the same materials for at least one month.

The 4 week track breaks up the class structure over 4 weeks allowing you time to become familiar with the material as well as make changes to suit the needs of your students. The track includes video demonstrations and a downloadable planner to help you schedule your lesson plans!

If you’d like to see the 4 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/U5ujPEhNkCc

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 Dance to Learn® Podcast—the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast—host Jessica Strong introduces the show’s brand-new format, which centers around real questions and stories from the dance teaching community. This week’s episode features a listener question from Kristina C: “Where do you find good preschool dance teachers?” Jessica shares her firsthand experience hiring teachers for her mobile dance program and offers practical strategies to help studio owners and directors find the right candidates for preschool and recreational dance classes.

Listeners will hear community-sourced tips, including how to write effective job descriptions, where to post listings, and how to connect with local colleges and dance programs. Jessica emphasizes the importance of hiring intentionally, targeting the right talent pool, and being upfront about the position to avoid high turnover. She also shares her success using platforms like Facebook community groups, the Nextdoor app, and in-person job fairs at local colleges.

At the end of the episode, Jessica invites listeners to submit their own questions for future episodes and teases a follow-up exclusive episode for Dance to Learn® members. In that members-only podcast, she’ll dive into the most common hiring mistakes studios make—and how to avoid them. Tune in to learn how to build a strong, passionate teaching team from the ground up!

👉 Want to go deeper? Join the Dance to Learn® Membership to access exclusive Dance EdVenturist Podcast episodes filled with actionable strategies and classroom tips.

📎 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

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.

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 dance in 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 Dance EdVenture™ Library the home to more than 100 ready to teach lesson plans. Today I’m going to introduce you to our 3 Teaching Tracks focusing on our 6 week track!

What are 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 6 week teaching track is the longest implementation of our materials breaking up a single Dance EdVenture™ over a 6 week period. This track is for a Dance Teacher who is new to Dance to Learn®, and/or someone who has not implemented a ready-to-teach curriculum in the past.

The 6 week track breaks up the class structure over 6 weeks allowing you time to become familiar with the material as well as make changes to suit the needs of your students. The track includes video demonstrations and a downloadable planner to help you schedule your lesson plans!

If you’d like to see the 6 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/fzoiOTJrDb0

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.

Mythbusting Thematic Learning in Preschool Dance

Welcome back to the Dance to Learn® Podcast — the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Podcast hosted by Jessica Strong! In this episode, Jessica dives into one of her favorite topics: themes — and busts five of the most common myths about thematic learning in early childhood dance.

Discover why themes aren’t fluff, but powerful tools for brain development, child-centered engagement, and meaningful connection. Learn how the Dance to Learn® Curriculum uses themes to support whole-child learning through real-world experiences, movement, and play.

🔥 In this episode, Jessica busts myths like:

• “Themes are teacher-directed and teacher-owned”
• “Themes are meaningless or just about holidays or unicorns”
• “Themes block original thinking”
• “Themes lead to imitation, not interpretation”
• “Themes and transitions limit challenge and engagement”

🎧 Plus, hear how you can be featured on the podcast through our weekly Ask the Pod thread in the Preschool Dance Teacher’s Forum on Facebook.

👉 Want to go deeper? Join the Dance to Learn® Membership to access exclusive Dance EdVenturist Podcast episodes filled with actionable strategies and classroom tips.

📎 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

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.

Welcome to Membership Insider - a mini series available on the Dance to Learn® Podcast which gives you a peek inside the Dance to Learn® Membership.

Dance to Learn® is an all inclusive library of dance resources made for dance teachers who teach dance in the foundational years. The Membership is designed to be your partner in dance education.

Today I'm taking you inside our Dance EdVenture™ Library!

Last week I introduced you to the 5 membership options and 4 Curriculums available in our membership.

The Dance EdVenture™ Library is home to more than 100 ready-to-teach lesson plans, which we call Dance EdVentures™.

If you are a Dance to Learn® Member you will have access to Dance EdVentures™ in all 4 curriculums.

If you are an a la carte member, you will have access to the Dance EdVentures™ in the Curriculum you choose with an option to grow your library using a coupon code.

The Dance EdVenture™ library utilizes a filtering system that allows our users to filter items based on Dance Style, Theme, Season, Month or Holiday!

If you'd like to see the Dance EdVenture™ Library in action check out this video on the Dance to Learn® YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Ac8-JapaY3s

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

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.