Re--That center line issue---

Got tape? If you put your student in the seat then take a little black
plastic tape and mark the cowling (towards the front) you will give the student
a chance to see / learn that the sight picture of the runway should not be over
the "spinner". Also you might have them try to see the extension of the center
line in their minds eye when still a 1/4 mile from the end of the runway. Then
stay "on it" to the landing. Tape on a wing strut (most often the left one)
can teach them the proper place to be on the downwind leg. Leading edge for
them low wing airplanes. Neat thing about using an angle downward towards the
runway for the downwind is that if they are a little low they will be closer to
the runway and if high it puts the aircraft farther out from the runway. The
angle method is used by sailplane pilots and for good reason. It works for
airplanes too.
I used to land an Aeronca Champ on a grass runway used by the radio
control guys that had two Badger holes with two feet between the mains and the
holes on each side. Learning to be the "master" of the airplane all the way to
the chocks is not a bad idea. Way to many student pilots quit flying the plane
once they feel they have the landing made. Flying a tail dragger will soon
remove that fault--or else! Put the student in the right seat for a flight.
Teach them they are flying the airplane not the seat! A poster here flys
glider tow planes, "Bill Tiz" or BT he, and I land with 200 feet of rope
dragging behind a Pawnee. That adds a bit to think about. Like the airplane
waiting near the runway edge to take off. What is the cross wind, which way is
the rope blowing behind the airplane. Can't land short and rip out the end of
runway marker lights.
All in all it seems like getting them to land on the center line comes
with time. At first all they want to do is get it on the ground without
breaking anything. Yet at some point I think one can move on to getting them
to landing on the center line every landing. And why not do it? It's good
practice even for the higher time pilot. Mac (not a cfi but a good "stick")