Speech Notes

Last week students completed a unit on Impromptu Speaking. Throughout this unit students focused on the challenges of unprepared discourse, preparing a strategy for dealing with the need to speak on the spur of the moment, practiced organizing ideas quickly for clear communication, and developed composure for speaking in a challenging setting or on a challenging topic. At the beginning of the unit many students assumed that impromptu speaking was easy, however they quickly learned that nothing could be further from the truth. Students learned that impromptu speaking is extremely difficult, but that there are methods, which if used properly enable the speaker to perform acceptably on the spur of the moment. In all, students delivered approximately five-seven impromptu speeches each beginning with a 1-2 minute speech and progressing up to a 4-5 minute speech. All in all, the students did quite well on this unit.
Currently students are reading (self-selected) books to elementary students. This activity allows students to practice their oral communication skills in a completely new environment. The elementary students really enjoy having the high school speech students share with them as well.