It’s all about you today. You are the lead teacher!

Day 5 Graduation Day. Congratulations on working hard to get this far.

Your focus for today is:

• Teach the entire class
• Demonstrate different exercises throughout the lesson plan based on the level of the students in each class
• Demonstrate different ways to insert the FOW into each class
• Demonstrate cross teaching, loud, slow and clear instructions and knowledge of “the why’s”
• Be your amazing self. Bring your personality and joy to the class and ask for help anytime you want!

We know that being in the water with a baby is an amazing and rewarding experience. The goal at HFSS is to share our expertise and provide parents with the tools necessary to develop comfort and confidence in the water with their babies. We also want to deliver a strong SAFETY message to these parents, teaching them to respect the water and to be vigilant with their children around water. 

We are excited to watch you learn and grow every single day you are teaching. Never stop asking questions or sharing with other teachers around you. Never be afraid to ask a senior teacher that you admire if you can come in and shadow them for a few classes. Bob Hubbard taught for years. He was known for asking his deck for ideas of different ways to approach some students that were not responding to directions. 

Always practice patience. With yourself and with your students. A pool is a calming and welcoming place. Teach love for the water. Teach respect for the water. Take what your student can give you on any given day.

Always remember “two steps forward, one step back”. A period of progress is often followed by regression or a setback. Your energetic, never listening,” I can do it '' little student may get a drink of water or not quite make it back to the wall easily. You may have no idea of what happened but that student suddenly doesn't want to try anything. Normal physical issues may present a challenge. A teething baby may become uncomfortable when backfloating. Offer that student an alternative activity for a week or two. 

Take two steps back to the skills that are simple and fun. Patiently rebuild confidence and new learning will begin again. 

Remember that we are teaching the parents how to teach their children. The parent will be practicing at home and we will not be with them! Ask what the parents' goals are for their child? Articulating goals for each student is important as the students are all on different levels in their journey to become safer and independent in the water.

Welcome to the world of teaching babies to swim.