In the last post, I talked about why a trick is not a learning objective.
A trick is the thing students might accomplish. An objective is the bigger idea, skill, or concept you want them to understand.
But once you've written a meaningful objective, the next question is inevitable:
"Okay... so what do I actually teach?"
This is where the Pole Level Mapper becomes incredibly valuable.
Your objective becomes the filter that helps you decide which skills belong in your class.
Your Objective Is the Filter
Let's say your objective is: Today we'll explore hips-forward versus hips-back movements on the pole.
Now you have a concept instead of a destination.
Instead of asking, "Should I teach Back Hook?" you're asking, "Which skills best help my students understand this concept?"
Your Pole Level Map gives you the answer.
The Same Objective Can Be Taught at Every Level
Hips-forward movements might include:
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Front Hook
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Back Hook
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Figurehead
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Goddess
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Marley
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Dangerous Bird
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Rockstar
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Kneebocker
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Cupid
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Brass Monkey
Clearly, these don't all belong in the same class. They're completely different skill levels. But they all explore the same movement concept.
On my Pole Level Map:
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A low beginner class might explore this concept through Front Hook and Back Hook.
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A low intermediate class might use Figurehead or Cupid.
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A high intermediate class might explore Dangerous Bird or Brass Monkey.
Notice what stayed the same? The objective. The only thing that changed was the trick used to teach it. The exact tricks and moves on your map might be different and that's perfectly okay.
The Concept Stays the Same. The Tricks Change.
The same idea works in the opposite direction, too.
Hips-back movements might include:
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Chair Spin
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Attitude Spin
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Jasmine
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Genie
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Martini
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Secretary Seat
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Cradle
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Fan Kick
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Violator
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Ayesha
Again, these span multiple levels.
The point isn't to teach every one of these skills. The point is understanding where they belong. When your objective is clear, your map helps you choose the right skill for the right students.
One Objective. Different Classes.
This is where many instructors get stuck. They ask, "If my objective is hips forward versus hips back... what tricks should I teach?"
The answer is: It depends!
It depends on your students.
It depends on their experience.
It depends on what they already understand.
It depends on the skills they've already developed.
That's exactly why creating your own map matters.
A beginner class might explore this concept using spins and foundational shapes. An advanced class might investigate the same concept through more complex transitions and combinations.
Same objective. Different skills.
Every Part of Your Lesson Should Support the Objective
Once you've chosen your objective and selected the appropriate skills, the rest of your lesson starts to fall into place.
Your warm-up prepares students for the concept.
Your conditioning reinforces the concept.
Your drills give students opportunities to practice the concept.
Your tricks allow students to apply the concept.
Your choreography lets them explore the concept creatively.
Everything connects.
For example, if your objective is helping students understand hips-forward and hips-back positions, your conditioning doesn't have to be complicated.
You might use something as simple as squats.
Not because every class needs squats, but because they help students feel where their hips are, how their weight shifts, and what happens as they move between those positions.
The exercise has a purpose.
Every activity in class should.
I'm Not Trying to Create One Curriculum to Rule Them All
This is probably the most important thing I can say.
If you don't like my objective...
Write your own.
If you describe hips-forward and hips-back as tilt and tuck, great. Use that. If you have different terminology or a different teaching philosophy, that's okay too.
The goal isn't for every pole instructor to teach the exact same class. If I wanted to create a universal curriculum with fixed objectives and lesson plans, I'd publish a book.
That's not what the Pole Level Mapper is.
I'm not interested in creating one curriculum to rule them all. I'm interested in helping you build your curriculum.
Because your students are different. Your teaching style is different. Your studio is different.
You already have years of experience, a growing repertoire of tricks, and an understanding of your students that no one else has.
The challenge isn't that you don't know enough. It's that so much of that knowledge lives in your head.
The Pole Level Mapper exists to help you get those decisions onto paper, where you can see them, refine them, and build from them.
Your Map Gives You Options
When you lead with concepts instead of just tricks, the skills begin to fall into place.
Your map gives you options.
Your objective helps you choose among them.
Together, they help you create classes with purpose from warm-up to cool down.
Instead of wondering what to teach every week, you start making intentional decisions that support your students' learning. And that's the difference between running a class around a trick and designing a learning experience.
Ready to Build Your Own Pole Level Map?
If you haven't created your Pole Level Map yet, that's the perfect place to start.
The Pole Level Mapper is my free tool designed to help you organize the skills, progressions, and teaching decisions that are already living in your head so you can create a framework that truly belongs to you.
Use the free Pole Level Mapper and start building classes with purpose.