Hi, I’m Jocelyn!
I’m super excited to be a part of The Dazzlers, and am so happy to be writing here for The Dazzler Pop! Over here in quarantine, I’ve definitely had less to do, so am really excited to have The Dazzlers crew to get going amidst all of this craziness. Cuddling with my dog Buttons is about all I’ve got to do.
I love the creative process of coming up with a conceptual piece of art and watching my vision come to life. I’ve been dancing since the age of one with my studio Encore Dance Academy, where I’ve become well versed in all styles of dance, and have been competing for 14 years. I’ve danced professionally since I was 8, and have been modeling for Costume Gallery for 8 years as well.
Currently, I am a Lead Dance Instructor at my home studio as well as a certified USAA Gymnastics Instructor or Dream Chasers Gymnastics. I’m also a member of the Varsity Dance Team and the Senior dance Company at my high school.
Now that you know a little bit about me, let's get down to business!
I know just as well as anyone how the pandemic has affected our teaching. I teach dance classes regularly, and it is a struggle to keep up virtually. It’s hard to keep your student’s attention on zoom. Here are some helpful tips to have a smooth and productive class.
That being said, with a little bit of tinkering, my Zoom classes are running smoothly. Check out what works for me!
7 Tips for a Smooth Zoom
- Everyone gets a name tag!
Make sure every kid enters with their first and last names visible on the screen, so you know exactly who they are and who is in your classroom. It also helps when responding to questions throughout the zoom meeting and helps create a rapport with each student.
- Mute EVERYONE!
As people are joining, make sure to mute everyone! Tell students this helps the teacher have clear sounds of communication, so there aren’t overlapping voices interfering with your voice and the music.
- Thoroughly explain and specify your steps!
When you begin your class, make sure you are thoroughly explaining each step and specifying which hand or leg to use when you are explaining the movement. Zoom does not mirror you, so this is very important.
- Take it nice and slow.
Sometimes you will lag and your students will miss something important. It happens, and we have to accept some limitations, and give ourselves a break! This also helps you be a more effective teacher and allows your student the opportunity to perform the piece their best.
- Use age appropriate music in your classroom.
Clean versions only!
- Make sure your music is close to your computer or phone screen.
This will ensure that the music is heard by your students in the class.
- Zoom hackers are a thing.
Make sure that you privately provide students the Zoom meeting codes to ensure that no intruders are present. If it is on a public forum, the first step in the zoom tips listed above is crucial. Use the same zoom id for all your future classes. It makes it easier to keep track.
I hope this was helpful for you!
Expect to see more of me this year. Looking so forward to hopefully getting back out there soon, and meeting more of my Dazzler cohort! Costume Gallery is taking applications still of Dazzlers on a rolling basis. Really easy application process.
Til then,
Joci x
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Follow Jocelyn on Instagram @jocelynmastro to keep up with what she’s up to! Definitely keep a look out for more of Joci. We can’t wait either, thanks for the tips!
