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Tag: Summer Enrichment

Jul182021

Envision (Day 5 and 6)

This week’s course focused on application of learnings from last week, which can be accessed here. Students applied their verbal, writing and visual aspects of communication to their culmination end-of-course project. In the coming days, we will centrally focus on the nonverbal aspect through practice, individually and with a coach.

Leadership and Public Speaking:

Purchase your poster board and note cards for your presentation. If you desire to move ahead, the following can be completed in preparation for Tuesday’s session:

  • Print visuals large enough for someone at the back of the room (based on our room size) to see
  • Write, or type your paragraph about the individual whom you consider to be an effective public speaker. Include why
  • Select a significant quote from each person selected. The quote will be included on the poster board
  • Start envisioning how you will design the poster board to be most reflective of your authentic and creative self

Takeaway from day 5 and 6: Envisioning how you would like to represent yourself according to the four aspects of communication is an important start for preparation. One must select which individuals most represent his/her/their idea of quality communication and leadership; this is especially the case for one who desires to learn/adopt the same qualities. Who is your epitome of a great leader and/or communicator?

Jul132021

Nonverbal Communication (Day 2)

Day 2 of the Leadership and Public Speaking course centered on the importance of nonverbal communication. The following is an overview of today’s session:

Leadership and Public Speaking:

  1. Students introduced each other based on what they recalled from yesterday’s introductions. We gave a round of applause for each student presented
  2. Students continued note taking based on the visual and written aspect of communication
  3. Students learned that nonverbal communication takes up 70-93 percent of communication received from an audience
  4. Students learned the importance of body language through Amy Cuddy’s talk
  5. Students shared an individual whom they believe is a great communicator/public speaker (and they will explain why, tomorrow)
  6. Students research the top questions asked by interviewers seeking job candidates and students answered the following:
    • What are your greatest strengths?
    • What are your greatest weaknesses?
    • Tell me a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at school, and how you dealt with it?
  1. Students shared their responses with the group as their takeaway for the session

Takeaway from day 2:

Out of the four major categories of communication—verbal, nonverbal, written and visual—it can be argued that nonverbal communication is most significant. Professor Amy Cuddy is a leading researcher in the power of nonverbal communication. Cuddy’s TED Global talk (2012) is an excellent resource for understanding how body language can make a negative or positive impact.

Jul122021

Confidence (Day 1)

Today was the first day of the Leadership and Public Speaking course. As mentioned in my earlier post “Summer Enrichment,” I’ve been in regular communication with parents about all that takes place in the classroom. Through summary, I hope to engage parents in further conversations about the curriculum in connection to student learning. The following is a summary of our lea

Leadership and Public Speaking:

  1. Students defined leadership and public speaking in journals and through class discussion
  2. Students shared what they would like to gain from the program
  3. Students learned about the four types of communication (focusing only on verbal and nonverbal) and included notes on various aspects in their journals.
  4. Students analyzed Nouvelle Vague’s “In a Manner of Speaking” to further understand and discuss the significance of nonverbal communication.
  5. Students selected an item from the outdoors and shared the following about the item for a public speaking icebreaker. The directions included the following:

**Select an item from your outdoor environment of most interest to you …

  • Explain what you have selected
    • Share why it caught your interest and/or how it makes you feel
    • Share another aspect of this item that an audience may not consider and/or another way whereby someone can use the item
  • Share your findings through verbal and nonverbal communication
  1. Students shared their takeaways from the day’s session and are “happily” looking forward to providing their homework:)

Takeaways from day 1:

  • When asked what would students like to gain most from the course, most students shared their desire to be more confident. What is confidence? It is a feeling of assurance and appreciation in one’s own abilities. Confidence can be gained through self development and asking for assistance and guidance when necessary. Taking a course in Leadership and Public Speaking is a great start!

 

Jul92021

Summer Enrichment

What are summer enrichment courses? 

Enrichment defined is the action of improving or enhancing the quality of something (or someone). In this case, summer enrichment courses are designed to help students build upon the skills they’ve learned during their normal school year and introduce skills that they will need in order to more smoothly navigate and transition into the new school year. The following are two courses that I plan to teach in the coming weeks:

Leadership and Public Speaking:

This course will focus on developing students’ skills in public speaking and leadership through a collaborative environment. Students will engage in authentic activities that mirror school and career experiences to strengthen their presentation skills and self-confidence. Through this lens, students will work on developing the qualities and skills needed for leadership roles as they carve out their unique style and build on their strengths.

Writer’s Workshop:

This course will focus on fostering cross-curricular writing skills in middle school students. Students will be exposed to various forms of writing and learn to differentiate their writing for various audiences. This course will explore elements of both academic and creative writing. Students will use topics of their interest to develop strong writing structures and conventions to support school-based writing and personal expressions.

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I look forward to sharing summaries of the learning process, which I will also be sharing with my students’ parents. Have you taken enrichment courses? What are your thoughts (and/or experiences) regarding enrichment courses for middle and high school students?