2024-08-14

Teaching my regular classes at the Ross Farnsworth - East Valley YMCA.

We had a small rank exam for the students who were eligible. As a reminder, I don’t give out same-day results. Instead, I take notes, go home, and write up individualized feedback for each examinee. They way they know what they did well, and what they need to improve before their next test. At the same time, I have a record of performance that I can use when judging the results of their next test.

Now that I’m starting to get more students, I’m planning to hold rank exams more often. This will primarily benefit the beginners, who are eligible to test sooner than more experienced students, but I think this may help retention. I’ve found that making a beginner wait four months for their first test can be a bit discouraging. They want to get a colored belt around their waist. I’ve also found that putting that belt around their waist tends to aid retention. Once they have a uniform and a belt, they’re “invested.” I find this this is particularly true for children.