Loving Tennis- Beginner Flex Class

Students will learn to score a game of tennis, practice correct hand grip, find the sweet spot on the racquet, and swing the racquet.  In class, we will review the rules of the game, lines on a court, and tennis etiquette.  We will watch short clips of tennis instruction and talk about how the student can practice the new skill.  The student should try to practice at home, hitting on a wall, or go to the court and practice his/her swing.  

This course is scheduled in flex time for your convenience.  Flex class means there will be no live meetings.  The work is asynchronous and all activities will take place in the classroom portal not in zoom.  The course is great for busy families.  The student may access the materials at any time during the course.  The teacher will answer emails within 24 hours.  
  
Each week I will post class session videos and links to print outs for practicing skills learned/discussed in class.    After watching the videos for class, the students will participate by doing activities for the week.  Activities include submitting videos or recordings of ball toss, practice strokes, etc. Students will also answer review questions on the discussion in the portal.  The teacher will provide feedback to the students individually and as a whole class.  

Time Frame for the Week:
Mondays - Teacher will post the information needed for the week.
Tuesdays-Wednesday - The teacher can answer any questions pertaining to the topic of the week.  The students will need to complete any practice activities and answer any questions in the discussion.
Thursday - Students need to have all tasks completed and uploaded in the classroom.  
Friday - The teacher will provide feedback to the class and individual students.
Saturday - Sunday - Teacher will be available to answer any questions that the students may have for the week or the next week.

In Class 1, Students will learn tennis etiquette and scoring a game. Students will listen to the teacher and other instruction videos that share about the content for class 1. The teacher will introduce the verb "ser."   Students will be asked to print out practice activities and also submit recordings or videos to the teacher. Students will be asked to type into the discussion thread to answer questions such as, "What does “LOVE” mean in tennis? How do you decide who serves first in a tennis match?” 

For Class 2- Students will review info. from session 1 and also add new info. about lines in tennis. Students will need a racquet for this session, so they can learn the grip types they can use to have proper form in he court. They will watch the teacher demonstrate how to hold the racquet and how to stand in ready position.  The same procedure will be followed as with class 1.  Teacher demonstrates the skill herself and students have a chance to practice.   Students will be asked to c demonstrate skills and then upload the samples of work to the classroom.
  Students will be asked to type into the discussion thread to answer the question, "Why does the tennis court have lines on the side?  Where should you stand when receiving the ball from your opponent?"

Class 3-  The teacher will show how to hit the ball with proper form.  Students will either practice without a ball in front of the computer and then practice outside or on a tennis court later (if parents can take them). The teacher will also show students how to find the "sweet spot" on the racquet.  Students can practice with the racquet and ball, finding the "sweet spot" and seeing how many times they can bounce the ball on the racquet for practice.  Students will make video recordings of them practicing proper swinging techniques, as well as bouncing the ball on the racquet, to find the "sweet spot."  Students will be asked to type into the discussion thread to answer the question, "Tennis is said to be a life-long sport.  Why do you think this is true?  How is tennis different from other sports?  What sports are similar to tennis?"

Class 4- The teacher will review the concepts from sessions 1-3.  The teacher will show how to toss a ball for a serve and proper form for serving a tennis ball.  Students can pause the video and practice and then practice at a tennis court or in their driveway, garage, basement, etc.  Students will be encouraged to go to the tennis courts and practice all the techniques that they have learned from sessions 1-3.  The homework this week will be to upload a video and share what you have learned about scoring, lines on the court, tennis vocabulary, and proper form. Students will be asked to type into the discussion thread to answer the question, "What was your favorite part of class?  How will you practice the tennis skills you have learned from class?"