The other day my eight year old asked me, “Do you think ten should be afraid of seven?” When asked why he said, “It would be wise, because seven eight nine.” If you think this is funny then you have an imagination that can relate to Concrete Operational thinkers – that’s pre-teen in Core Concepts speak.
PSIA-NW has been at the forefront in program development and growth highlighting how to best teach and understand children. Over a decade ago, the Junior Education Team (JET) was started as a means of addressing the training criteria that was developing for children’s snow sport instructors. The ACE program (Advanced Children’s Educator) evolved from this to offer educational events geared around curriculum highlighting mastery of theory and content pertaining to children’s development and needs as related to teaching skiing and riding.
Well, as Bob Dylan taught us, “The times, they are a changin’.” With growth comes evolution and the children’s program is now evolving to the next phase: Children’s Specialist. To participate in a children’s specialist program PSIA-NW instructors will need to be aware of the curriculum’s criteria and obligations. All of the specialty programs including Children, Freestyle and Senior, are highly-focused on education, not certification. As always, active participation and engagement in the two-day process is critical. This will be easy to do as the events are zero-stress (unlike exams) and are so much fun!
Children’s Specialist 1 (CS1) is designed to cover curriculum for the beginning to intermediate zone. Participants must have their Level I in order to take this two day clinic. The understanding and application of general children’s theory content will be explored including the Teaching Model, theories of Piaget, Maslow and Gardner as well as physical, cognitive and affective attributes. Despite the focus on beginning and intermediate zone students participants will still explore the entire mountain environment and be expected to show movement patterns appropriate to skill blending at this level of student.
Children’s Specialist 2 (CS2) is designed to concentrate on the student in skill zones intermediate to advanced. Participants must have their Level II as well have attended the CS1 (or ACE 1) in order to take this two-day clinic. Curriculum is more rigorous with a deeper exploration into the learning partnership, theories of childhood development, physical growth and attributes, and sensory applications. Participants will explore the whole mountain environment and be expected to show movement patterns appropriate to advanced zone skiing or riding.
Workbooks and a supplemental packet of information is available for both CS1 and CS2 and can be found on the PSIA-NW website by choosing either the alpine or snowboard icon and then selecting “children” on the drop down menu. As well, participants must have access to the Children’s Instruction Manual, Second Edition, 2008. Additional suggested supplemental materials are noted in each workbook.
For successful completion of CS1 participants must diligently complete the CS1 workbook prior to the clinic date with an understanding that CS1 is educational based and the clinician will be working with participants in areas requiring clarification. CS1 participants will receive personal written feedback to help guide future growth in children’s specific education.
For successful completion of CS2 participants must complete the CS2 workbook and have it turned in to the PSIA-NW office two weeks before the clinic date. Workbook details include a significant writing project that must be included. As well, participants will be asked during the two-day clinic event questions related directly to basic children’s theory or content with the goal of participant’s showing the ability to apply knowledge in practical settings. Because of the increased rigor and expectations, participants will need to meet all program requirements to be successful in the CS2. Participants will receive written feedback detailing areas of success and areas for further growth and development.
All of the specialty programs including Children, Freestyle and Senior, are highly-focused on education, not certification.
While the content is deep and expectations are high for participants to be successful becoming a Children’s Specialist, the goal remains to provide an educationally sound event that not only gives participants a higher level of applied knowledge for their profession but is fun and exciting as well. How many of us can approach, analyze and then successfully make it down a black diamond bump run all while considering what it means to be an explorer, an artist, a judge and a warrior? Each of these roles fits a certain personality at certain times; I wonder what role you would choose? Try CS2 and you just may find out! You may not want to “hop like a bunny” but can you come up with three other ways to balance over your outside ski using the language of a six year old? Try CS1 and you will!
As most of us are involved at some level with the sliding and gliding education of children in our snowsport schools maintaining an updated and practical awareness of critical teaching components is not only useful but smart. You always want to be one step ahead of those eight year olds! Please join your CS1 and CS2 clinicians this season at specialist event offerings available throughout the coming months.
For questions or clarifications you are welcome to contact Kim Petram or the PSIA-NW office directly.
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