[smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/swimmingideas/SIP_059.mp3″ title=”SIP 059: Planning at home swim lessons” artist=”Swimming Ideas” ]
An Interview with Teresa Stewart of Safe Splashes Swim School in Arizona
Safe Splashes Swim School in Arizona with Teresa Stewart
<a href="mailto:safesplashesswim@gmail.com">safesplashesswim@gmail.com</a>
Teresa has been teaching swim lessons most of her life. She uniquely finished her lesson program while young, and they made her a co-teacher to give her something to do while at lessons.
She has contributed to the
<a href="https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/blog/advanced-lessons-lesson-swim-team-bridge/">Swimming Lessons Ideas</a> website, and has two posts you should check out too:
- Freestyle Kick Drill: Motorcycle
<a href="https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/2016/8/23/freestyle-kick-drill-motorcycle-teresa-az/">https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/2016/08/23/freestyle-kick-drill-motorcycle-teresa-az/</a>
- How to Teach Treading Water
<a href="https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/2016/6/17/teach-swimming-lessons-treading-water/">https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/2016/06/17/teach-swimming-lessons-treading-water/</a>
What We Discussed: The Art of Planning Swim Lessons
In this conversation, we dive deep into how Teresa approaches lesson planning. She runs a successful swim lesson program over the summer, teaching 6 hours a day in her backyard pool. Her lessons are defined by two main, powerful goals:
- Be a positive voice in the child’s life.
- Teach young to survive when they fall in the water.
These two goals permeate Teresa’s lessons and shape how she crafts her
<a class="wpil_keyword_link" href="https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/shop/" title="lesson plans" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">lesson plans</a> and determine her overall purpose. She shared a poignant story about a time when they heard about four children dying in pools, reinforcing her commitment to doing everything she can to prevent drowning through fun, effective instruction.
Key Topics Covered in the Interview
We go into depth on several critical areas of swim instruction, including:
- Assessing new swimmers and understanding their starting point.
- Using American Red Cross levels as a helpful guidepost for early instruction.
- The importance of using games to teach skills and introducing new abilities without fear.
- How low-cost prizes (like those from Oriental Trading) can encourage learning and effort.
- How positive confidence boosting enhances the entire lesson experience.
- Essential insurance needs for running a small business out of your home.
At the end, Teresa shares a wealth of great games and activities that we found incredibly valuable!
Our Favorite Takeaways
My favorite parts of our conversation were where Teresa talked about updating her lesson plans and adjusting mid-week for each child she works with. I’m also fond of her wealth of games and activities she reviews at the end—it's a fantastic resource for any instructor!
<h3>Resource: Welcome Letter & Pricing</h3>
Teresa shared the welcome letter she sends out to her potential clients, which includes prices and waivers. You can download the 2017 version here:
<a href="https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017-SAFE-SPLASHES-INTRO-PRICES-as-of-4-16-17.docx">2017 SAFE SPLASHES INTRO-PRICES as of 4-16-17</a>
Thank you again, Teresa Stewart! We hope this conversation gives you fresh ideas for planning your own successful swim lessons.