On May 20, 2020, I decided that I am done losing sleep because I'm so worried about what other people think of me. I decided that I will no longer hide myself, my talents, or my accomplishments because I'm afraid that others will assume that I'm snobby or arrogant. I am committing to a life in which I do not have to hide all the wonderful parts of myself in order to feel that I belong in a space with others. And, if there isn't a seat for me at someone else's table, I will be building my own table.

Life isn't always easy. In fact, considering that we are still in the midst of a global pandemic, life may feel challenging more often than not. But it's up to us to make a choice, every day, to live for the day and to give our best. The world needs us. (PS: Interested in what's keeping me busy and dancing during the week? Check out http://online.dancedaze.org.)

What better a time to delve into the self-improvement efforts than during a global pandemic. Am I right? In this episode, I'm telling you some of the most challenging experiences that I deal with on a daily basis and how I'm working to improve these situations in my life.

I'm diving back into the educational theory in this episode. In Episode 35, I'm sharing some quick tips about how to train your dancers as learners and thinkers and how to view your dance-educator self as one who trains others to think critically and apply knowledge. If you'd like to dive deeper into these conversations with me, get on the wait list for my next digital course, What Dance Teachers Need to Know, at DanceEdStartup.com.

Life still hasn't yet returned to normal. We are still sheltering-in-place, social distancing, and doing everything online. I finally allowed myself to feel all the not-so-good feelings that I couldn't previously feel because I was too busy creating awesome stuff for about a month! In this episode, I'm talking about what I'm doing to avoid getting stuck in a negative space for too long.

In these uncertain times, I am grateful that I know myself well enough to know what I need to maintain a sense of order in my life. My methods may not be perfect, but it is in times like these that I'll cling to any sense of stability that I am able to create for myself. Thank you for listening to my story. Also, if you are a dance educator seeking a way to create an online membership program for your students, please consider the platform I use: https://www.podia.com/?via=saumirah

In this episode I'm talking about how COVID-19 is affecting my life plans, I'm telling you what has inspired me to recommit to assuming positive intent in most situations, and I'm sharing the strategy I'm using to plan the scope and sequence of my next session of dance classes. I hope you enjoy! How are you preparing for your next season in life or dance? Let me know! Email me at [email protected].

Constructivist teaching comes out of a learning theory that suggests that learning occurs when students are actively involved in the process of creating meaning from their own experiences. Constructivism in the dance classroom can aid in developing students' critical thinking abilities as well as their collaboration, analysis, evaluation, and creative skills. What do you think constructivist teaching looks like in the dance classroom? Email me at [email protected] and let me know what you think!

In Episode 29, I shared with you a bunch of questions that I'm considering as I delve deeper into my research about dance educator training. But, I didn't want to leave you hanging, so in this episode, I'm talking about a tool I've used to support and evaluate instructors who work within my dance programs. I'm also sharing about how I was inspired by a nonprofit organization that focuses on training youth development professionals.

Is there a best way to prepare dance educators for the work of teaching for understanding in the setting of a dance classroom? If there is a best way, what does this method look like and what theories about education and learning does this training include? These are some of the topics I'm exploring in this episode, from the lens of a dance educator, a dance entrepreneur, a teacher-trainer, and a third-year doctoral student! Let me know what you think: [email protected]