I prefer teaching out of the "Piano Adventure" series, but am familiar with most method books out there.
Learning the notes is vital! Flash cards are a great way to accomplish this and are available at most music stores for a nominal price.
I encourage students of all ages to learn scales -- the more advanced the student the more octaves and difficulty. Scales help students learn the note families of songs. It trains their fingers to play correct note groupings along with many other valuable skills.
My lessons are generally 30 minutes in length, though I will occasionally offer longer (or shorter) lessons depending upon individual needs. Parents may stay and listen or drop students off depending upon comfort level.
