Glenn Kellum
5/5
Shaolin Institute does an amazingly successful job fulfilling its promise as a learning experience for both the body and mind.
As we have so far experienced it, Shaolin Institute indeed teaches a “way of life” in which students can experience gratifying physical achievement, whether in Tai Chi or Kung Fu, while also exercising and expanding mindfulness.
One of the most appealing aspects of Shaolin Institute is the frequent reference before and after classes regarding how specific cultural, historical, medical, and scientific achievements are directly relevant for learning and appreciating martial arts.
Shaolin Institute exceeds expectations in basically every category used to evaluate teachers. Below are summaries of strengths in different categories:
Curriculum:
• SI teachers follow the SI curriculum.
• SI teachers choose activities for each student relevant to the SI curriculum and each student’s level of achievement.
• When feasible, SI teachers sometimes helpfully group students together to learn and practice as a group the forms they have previously learned.
Instruction:
• SI teachers provide direction so that each student knows what to focus on during class.
• SI teachers present new forms clearly and logically, and helpfully demonstrate new forms.
• SI teachers provide feedback and re-teach forms when necessary. Teachers provide opportunities for students to practice new forms both with and without supervision.
Motivation:
• SI teachers show genuine concern for the students.
• SI teachers project a positive, encouraging tone for the classroom experience.
• SI teachers establish a level of difficulty, suited for each student’s level, which encourages success. SI teachers provide good verbal praise, as well as critique as needed.
Communication:
• SI teachers always demonstrate enthusiasm in what they are teaching.
• SI teachers explain and demonstrate forms clearly.
• SI teachers respond graciously and substantively to questions.
Expectations:
• SI teachers communicate expectations to students.
• SI teachers listen to students’ feedback during class and adjust their teaching pace and content accordingly.
• SI teachers encourage students to participate in extracurricular community opportunities, which is important for the students’ confidence as well as the school’s exposure.
Methodology and Materials:
• SI teachers often vary how they conduct classes, for example by describing the forms, including their origins, applications, etc., and/or by physically demonstrating the forms. Both methods are helpful, especially for students who learn in different ways.
• SI teachers sometimes provide supplemental resources, such as video recordings of the classes, which can be exceptionally helpful for students who want to practice at home.
Evaluative Activities:
• SI teachers monitor and give feedback on student progress during each individual class.
• SI teachers give oral evaluative comments, as well as sometimes grades or scores.
• SI teachers are available for and sometimes proactively create opportunities for one-on-one progress discussions with students.
Class Environment:
• SI teachers clearly communicate requirements for attitude and behavior, notably by emphasizing the SI student creed and the rituals of class beginnings and endings.
Teacher-Student Interactions:
• SI teachers make an effort to know each student as an individual.
• SI teachers routinely work to promote positive self-image in students.
• SI teachers routinely create a classroom climate in which students are encouraged to grow and assume personal responsibility for their growth.
Leadership Behavior:
• SI teachers are observed routinely cooperating graciously with their teaching peers, demonstrating authentic respect for one another.
• SI teachers are often observed sharing ideas and methods with their fellow teachers.
• SI teachers are observed regularly seeking to advance their own growth. This continuing education, observed by the students, is motivating to the students and demonstrates how we are all learning and growing.