Fall 2009 Show Week thoughts...

Show Week for the Fall 2009 semester (our Mid Year Show) is almost over.  It's always a very bittersweet week.  During Show Week, the children we've been working with for 19 or 20 weeks perform gymnastics, karate, sports skills, or dance routines they've been practicing.  They've been working on growing their skills from week to week, and then starting about 8 weeks ago, we link together the skills they're performing for their parents, siblings and grandparents this week.  We only practice the full routines in the 2 classes prior to Show Week.  We do not spend the whole semester teaching "to the show." 

I'm always impressed at how so many of the children rise to the occasion and over perform parents' (and my) expectations.  The Preschool/Kindergarten beam gymnastics routine is my favorite to coach.  From doing an inchworm across the low beam to getting into a plank position, and then balancing in a tucked body on the beam, so many of the 3, 4 and 5-year olds finally "get it" for the first time, during the show. 

Of course, there are also students who are more goofy during Show Week or decide to not perform for their parents.  The growth that takes place in the previous weeks of the semester is more important than one individual performance, and hope parents know that.  And of course, my 2 kids are probably some of the goofiest in class.  I'll try to upload a video to our Facebook page if I can!

This year, in our gymnstics classes, we're starting the show with the parents in the gym and the children in the lobby. After the Lead instructor introduces the show and The Little Gym's philosophy, the children run in, run across the gym and do a forward roll down a cheese (wedge) mat and then sit with their parents.  We've been practicing various roll progressions with the different age groups, but even the Funny Bugs (3-4 year olds) are doing higher level progressions. (Maybe not on purpose!!)  They throw their little bodies at the cheese mat, and most of them remember to tuck and roll, ending up with a nice dive roll and a thunderous round of applause. (The others get saved from a splat by their teacher catching their hips as they speed by and help them tuck.)

I love all of the grandparents who come visit.  As we say good-bye at the door, so many of them tell us how great our program is and how much their grand children love coming.  Many comment at how they wish there was something like this for their children.  (I wish I had a place like The Little Gym to go to when I was younger.)

But we do have a percentage of families who won't be coming back next semester.  We don't know when we'll see them again.  There are lots of reasons, like trying other programs, or taking a break.  In 20 weeks with a child, you can really bond with them and it makes us sad to see them go.   This morning, I saw a 2 year old doing amazing donkey kicks in the lobby, something I hadn't seen him do all semester.  I hope I get the chance to see him again!

But so many of them do come back again.  And when their parent calls to re-enroll, or we see their name on a class roster, we get a little surge of happiness/excitement knowing we'll have another semester of fun with our now-older students.  

A few parents have posted some photos of Show Week to our Facebook page.  Take a look... or post some of your own!

And I hope to see you at The Little Gym in your own child's Show Week!
 - Teacher Ron