I have tried a few different methods. For myself, I have found that providing kits and tools work best for me. The kits include all the supplies the students need. I did try once setting out all materials and allowing students to select their own individual items, but it became too much to deal with for me. I would rather spend time teaching than negotiating the cost of every single bead or ear hook. There are a number of advantages to kits. Students will have everything they need for class. You don’t have to worry about a student coming with the wrong supplies. (This is especially important when dealing with beginners.) Kits also save time. You don’t have to hand out 20 ear hooks, 20 head pins, and 40 beads. Instead, you can package up the kits into zip lock bags, put them in baskets, and pass them around. Finally, the best advantage to a kit is that the students often wish to purchase a few so they can make more jewelry at home. This is extra income in the teacher’s pocket.
You will probably need to supply basic hand tools for them to use, but this is not that big of an issue if you keep the class size down to no more than 10 or 12 people. Plus when you buy tools in bulk, pliers, wire cutters, and bead boards aren’t that expensive and only need to be purchased once though they’ll be used class after class.
