Silambam Houston Student Instructor Program

Program Information and Expectations:

General Information:
- Our student instructor program is designed to give Advanced students the ability to gain invaluable experience as an Indian classical arts teacher. Teaching younger students is one of the best ways to become more aware of nuances of technique. Most students improve in their own dancing form and technique once they begin teaching!
- Being a student instructor helps you build character! Teaching requires patience, maturity, responsibility, dedication, professionalism, and work ethic.
- Student Instructor hours at all levels are eligible for service hours. If you would like to receive credit for service hours for NJHS, NHS, or other endeavors or organizations, please let us know at the start of the year, and keep track of your hours throughout the year! Please note: A student instructor can receive either a tuition waiver (if eligible; see Levels and Incentives below) OR service hours, not both!
- All student instructors must be currently enrolled as Silambam students.
Responsibilities of a Student Instructor:
- Student Instructors are integral to the smooth running of Silambam classes! They assist with many small and large tasks that help our faculty and students. These include:
  - Taking attendance; marking practices
  - Opening and monitoring the virtual classroom
  - Providing one-on-one pullout attention to individual students as needed
  - Providing an extra pair of eyes to observe and correct the students in the class as needed
  - Helping with classroom management
  - Teaching the class under the supervision of the faculty member
  - Ensuring the studio is left clean, thermostats reset, audio system turned off etc. at the end of each class
- We hold student instructors to high standards of professionalism and responsibility! When you accept a Student Instructor position, you are making a commitment to young, impressionable students, and taking on the role of a Silambam representative. This means that as a Silambam Student Instructor, you will:
  - Make sure to attend all classes for which you are a Student Instructor, in addition to your own classes. This is not an attendance-optional program!
  - Take the responsibility to confirm another Student Instructor to substitute for you, if absolutely unable to attend a particular week.
  - Be patient, calm, and encouraging in class
  - Be firm about standards, quality, and behavior, but also, be fun, approachable, and engaging!
  - Be responsive and communicative! Let your supervising faculty know as soon as you know about any conflicts. Respond to messages on Slack in a timely manner. Help out fellow student instructors when they ask for help.
Student Instructors: Levels and Incentives
- Trainee Student Instructor: The first year or two as a student instructor is viewed as the training phase, which complements your arts education. During this phase, full tuition is charged, The student may initially just observe classes and will eventually take on more of an active role in teaching.
- Junior Student Instructor: When the student instructor demonstrates the ability, responsibility, maturity, and disposition to successfully co-teach a class, they are eligible to receive a partial tuition discount to recognize their contribution and help.
- Senior Student Instructor: When the student instructor demonstrates the ability to competently and effectively teach a class unassisted, they are eligible to receive a full tuition waiver.
- Faculty: Senior student instructors who wish to remain on at Silambam are eligible to continue on as part of the faculty! A faculty position is a paid position with additional responsibilities.

Congratulations on being chosen to be a Student Instructor! This is an honor and privilege that you have earned through your demonstrated commitment, and will greatly help you in your own dance journey. Feel free to contact us with any questions!