Teaching problems / Pan fish

Especially when working with a group who have turned up with
their own tackle I have often found that what might seemingly be a
"tough student" sometimes turns out to have mismatched or poor tackle
that they just can't "get it" with, and this is something I'll always
look into first. If its clearly the issue I'll always have a stand by
rod and or reel ready to go. Its surprising how often this can turn a
light on.

Although not in the same basket as the student who can't "hear" you,
or interpret what you're saying into muscle movement, it can certainly
remove them from the negative to the positive.

Peter Morse

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Comment: Jim Valle has pointed out the value in casting with your student's tackle before a lesson. Problem is that it becomes impractical to do that when teaching a group.

Joan Wulff provides teaching outfits to her students at her school. Some other schools do this, too.

I always bring an extra outfit when teaching. I do that even when coaching a Master candidate.

I believe Sage and Temple fork still have programs where they provide teaching outfits to schools at a very reasonable price. Same with Scientific Anglers. Perhaps other companies do that, too (??).

Speaking of negativity .... I've learned never to criticize a student's tackle. Especially in front of other students. Lend him/her another outfit and let the student see the difference, THEN discuss it. Even then, I try to use terms like "rod-line mismatch" or "balanced tackle" rather than "bad outfit", "lousy rod" or similar derogatory terms which insult the tackle ..... and the student.

A true expert caster can make a credible cast with almost any rod or mismatch. For the student, its impossible.

Some of us have even thought of adding another task to the MCCI exam .... This would entail providing the candidate with a grossly mismatched outfit to see how he/she handles it.

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Gordy,

I think the group may be worn out on slide, but wanted to share this with you -

http://www.sexyloops.co.uk/cgi-bin/theboard_07/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=16;t=10031;st=0;&#entry176105

Was able to track Jay Clark over on Sexyloops and ask about Guy's video clip. 50' high density shooting head - We may have found the only use for sliding forward!

Difficult student? I think for the most part that students are innocent, and this issue is more about how the instructor reacts to each situation... I'll bet you could write a book on difficult instructors!

Jim

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Jim.....

Your second paragraph gets to the heart of good teaching ! This is why we emphasize the glaring differences between good instructors and poor ones in our CCI pre-testing workshops. It's why we cover this topic in the FFF Master Study Guide.

Fortunately, there are lots of good instructors. The BEST instructors are those who are great at inspiring their students by infecting them with well directed inthusiasm.

A poor instructor can really turn students off !

My wife, Priscilla, had a bully of a Nazi ski instructor as a youngster right after WW II. (Her father was a colonel in the US forces in Germany ). She was so turned off that she never wanted to take another lesson or ski despite the fact that I did. This can happen with fly casting, too !

Gordy

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Lou Bruno asks about teaching difficult youngsters:

Gordy,

To present an even greater challenge an instructor could have a difficult youngster. Do we use the same methods with a difficult youngster?

Lou

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Lou: Brief answer. : Sometimes.

1. Go back and read Jim Valle's note on handling a difficult youngster.

2. Al Crise is one of the very best teachers of youngsters . Well invite his comments.

3. Let's hear from others in the Group who have pearls of wisdom on this topic.

Gordy

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From Rick Whorwood:

Hi Gordy

I've been very fortunate not to have any real problem students. I've had a few who don't learn as quickly as the rest of the group.

A couple of things I practice:

First I ask my students what they would like to get from the lesson, so I have a clear understanding what it is they want. No point giving them a lesson if their not going to benefit from it ! Don't over load my students with information (I'm there to teach, not impress). I teach a step, go to the next, then recap, and continually praise your students ( if they make a good cast let them know it). I leave enough time for self discovery between cast.

At the end of my lesson (mostly with groups), I will have a show and tell, get each student one at a time to demonstrate a cast the they've learnt during the course. Make sure everyone feels good about what they've learnt !!

I think many instructors give students far more information then they can possibly handle.

It's got to be fun !!!

Rick
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Rick... I highlited an important message within your note. Many of us are guilty of this ..... Including me !

Gordy

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