wrote in message
oups.com...
OK, I admit I am unable to teach someone. Sometimes you explain it
several times and they dont get it. What do you do? Years ago, I
taught College Physics and my students seemed to think I was good but
that is all abstractions. Teaching a skill is different. I have never
been able to teach my wife to steer a canoe either. I cannot explain
how to do it, I just do it. Its like explaining how to ride a bike.
Some people really want personal instruction and others just want to be
pointed in the right direction and let them go. My son is like my
wife, he craves instruction to the nth degree and he makes me crazy.
My 10 yr old daughter just wants some general directions and she'll
figure out the rest. Of course, my little daughter drives my wife
crazy.
Tacking in the channel was like that. How do I tell her "Steer up when
you feel power coming on from the wind and then down a little when it
goes away". "When you tack, you gotta feel when the wind begins to
catch the jib to help push the bow around in a tight tacking situation"
There is a lotta "feel" that goes into this that I cannot explain.

Doug has it right.
The classic vocational lesson plan:
1. gives the theory
2. enabling skills are taught (how to work a winch is taught as an enabler
to teaching how to sail a boat)
3. demonstrates the skill
4. allows for guided instruction (teacher intervenes as needed)
5. student practices
6. student is assessed
7. prepare to defend yourself against politicians who say everyone must sail
proficiently by 2010.
Scout