As I had mentioned before I'm a 2 new (much more professional) studios and remained at one studio where I've been for 4 years. This change although very positive has me with less teaching hours. All this talk about hours had me realizing how much time I put into dance outside the studio. So I've been teaching about 14 hrs per week....that I'm paid for! I spend about 3 hours per day doing class notes and choreography. Is this normal? I'm not complaining because it is usually a "labor of love" and the studio has been paying me 30 per hour which I'm VERY happy with. I know some of you seem so busy outside of teaching, and I think to myself, "when do they find time to create lesson plans, review class, and choreograph." I've never had the gift of doing this off the top of my head. Then I start putting myself down saying, "only I need all of this time." Which I know I shouldn't put myself down for putting time into my passion/job. I also choreograph in the car (in my head)...haha.

The amount you receive per hour should cover the costs besides teaching. Like preparing classes, talking with parents, class reports, etc.
When you receive $30 (sounds good to me), you may consider about $20 for actual teaching that class, and about $10 for all the time involved to teach that class (before and after).

Or, when you teach 25 hours a week, and consider 15 hours a week as 'outside' time, you have a fulltime job. The balance 25/15 is 'normal'. (But what is normal in life?)
Like schoolteachers. Their salary also includes talking with parents, teachersmeetings, extra time for students, etc.

Sorry I have to but in here,

lidwina wrote:

(But what is normal in life?)

Normal life is being half asleep on the settee after teaching and murmuring to your husband 'Would you like to do some lovely skipping ?'

I only do the teaching except in the summer when I get a normal job working at a friends fabric store, they laugh at me doing my choreography and tell me off for using the cutting table as a barre, I enjoy it, but I'm so glad to get back to my teaching. And yes, it takes over, when your passionate about something it will always take over !

This is very normal. Just like a school teacher, they are paid what they are paid. But then they have to create lesson plans, read and grade papers, etc.

Welcome to teaching.

I like looking at it that way...20 dollars for the class, 10 for the prep! the difference between us and schoolteacher is they don't need to buy their own health benefit etc., and they get paid summers...lol.

I only do the teaching except in the summer when I get a normal job working at a friends fabric store, they laugh at me doing my choreography and tell me off for using the cutting table as a barre, I enjoy it, but I'm so glad to get back to my teaching. And yes, it takes over, when your passionate about something it will always take over !

sounds good. You're very right when your passionate it's like it's always a part of you. I think about dance....excessively..lol!

Thank you for your question! I was wondering whether it was normal to spend more hours preparing to teach than hours actually teaching. Even though I have been teaching for several years now, I cannot walk into class without a lesson plan and a clear idea of what it is I want to accompish with them. Then there is also choreography and other administration work for recitals and competitions.