We have had lots of new KCACR members in the Tonbridge District recently, and more new ringers are coming through! Teaching bell handling has largely fallen on a few people in our District who have volunteered to take on the task. It would be great if more ringers in our District had the confidence and skills to teach.
The Association of Ringing Teachers (ART) offers a course in ‘Teaching Bell Handling’. The course is suitable for those who already teach bell handling and want to update their skills AND for those who have never taught anyone to handle a bell. It provides the skills and techniques necessary to take a ringer from their first lesson to having competent bell control. You will learn through a mixture of practical and classroom sessions:
- How to teach a skill
- How to break down bell handling into easy stages that the new ringer can master
- About different learning types and how to adapt your teaching for them
- The benefits of intensive teaching
The practical sessions give plenty of time to practise new skills in a safe environment. Working in pairs you will also have opportunity to hone your observation skills and get feedback on your feedback.
ART is prepared to run a ‘Teaching Bell Handling’ course in our District if enough people are interested in attending. Please get in touch with me if you would like to find out more. I will organise a course if there is sufficient interest.
Ray Taylor
Tonbridge District Training Coordinator