Hi, I`m new to this forum and also to teaching...tomorrow I will be teaching a seven-year-old absolute beginner. My first lesson was a good ten years ago now so I`m just looking for ideas as to where to begin?

I expect she will want to feel like she`s actually "played" something but that`s hard when she`s never done so before. I`m also expecting she won`t be able to hold the violin up for long or her arms will get tired. It will be a half hour lesson so I`m thinking of covering:
-correct posture
-how to hold the violin and bow
-names of parts of violin and strings
-playing the first pieces she will be learning for her so she can become familiar with them
-clapping rhythyms of these pieces
-playing open strings, especially A and E
-giving her recordings of the first songs she`ll learn

--when I first learnt I didn`t put my left hand on the fingerboard for a few weeks and was instructed to hold the violin on its "body" if that makes sense. is that a good idea?

Also I`m going to use suzuki volume one book because, well, honestly because it`s what I have and am familiar with! I won`t be teaching the suzuki _method_ as I`m planning to introduce her to reading much earlier than in suzuki and also because I`m not a qualified suzuki teacher and the lessons are fairly informal (sister of a friend). how soon would be proper to begin actually playing the twinkle variations?

Hmm, since you aren't going for the full on Suzuki method, try throwing in String Builder Vol. 1 as well. This method seems to work well. I don't know if you're familiar with it, but String Builder shows the notes in the corner of pages and the correct fingering. A lot of students find this helpful if they forget. It also has you play new notes over and over again which I find useful for learning to site read. You might want to also get her a manuscript book, or have her buy one so she can practice writing notes and naming them. Some younger kids seem sto like writing notes and playing them.

That's just from personal experience, just see what works best for her.