ADJUSTMENT PERIOD

Depending on the student's level of ability, the reasons for change and the student's age, the adjustment period can be as short as 6 months or as long as 2 years. Only through regular consultation with the teacher can the student/parent understand the progress being made during the adjustment period. Although the teacher will usually list many things she/he wants to address right away with the new student, there are likely to be many other issues in the back of his/her mind which are not appropriate to mention until more time has passed and the relationship is more solid. As with many things in life, the adjustment period is more likely to end as a wimper - rather than a bang.

Since the adjustment period can be so long, it is quite likely the student will not seem progress for several weeks SO the parents and student must be patient during this time. The various issues that determine what happens and how long the adjustment period takes are discussed in greater depth as part of "A Good Transition". From the beginning, your new teacher will formulate a plan and provide you some clear progress indicators throughout the transition period. After reading these pages, you should have your own questions which can be incorporated into the plan and progress evaluation.