Learning Links
Translation / Storytelling / Telecommunications / Acting / Politics / Teaching / Conversation / Legal Argument / Interview / Selling / Bargaining / Diplomacy / Mediation
Demonstrators should be read from top to bottom, but need not be demonstrated sequentially.
Elementary Demonstrators
• Engage in informal communications (e.g., conversation, social greetings/ introduction, expression of thoughts/ feelings).
• Practice appropriate verbal (e.g., volume) and nonverbal (e.g., eye contact, facial expression, posture behaviors).
• Practice formal presentation for a specific audience and purpose (e.g., report, choral reading).
• Recognize the need to adjust communication based on audience response.
Middle School Demonstrators
• Refine informal communications (e.g., conversation, discussion, interviews, expressions of thoughts/feelings).
• Use effective verbal (e.g., voice variety, rate, pitch) and nonverbal (e.g., gestures, movement) behaviors.
• Refine formal presentations for a variety of audiences and purposes (e.g., entertainment, imagination, information, persuasion).
• Analyze communication for audience response.
High School Demonstrators
• Use effective verbal and nonverbal behavior to enhance presentation.
• Exhibit effective behaviors for a variety of informal communications.
• Deliver formal presentations for a variety of purposes (e.g., entertainment, imagination, information, persuasion).
• Evaluate and adjust communication for audience response.
Sample Teaching/Assessment Strategies
Collaborative Process: Cooperative Learning, Peer Tutoring, Reciprocal Teaching / Community-Based Instruction: Service Learning, Mentoring, Networking / Continuous Progress Assessment: Interviews, Conferencing, Performance Events/Exhibitions / Graphic Organizers: Advance Organizers, Notetaking / Problem Solving: Debate, Interviews, Oral History, Role-play / Whole Language Approach
These sample strategies offer ideas and are not meant to limit teacher resourcefulness. More strategies are found in the resource section.
Ideas for Incorporating Community Resources
• Make an oral presentation to members of a local board or council (e.g., school board, fiscal court, neighborhood association, city council) about an issue of concern.
• Become "phone-pals" with area residents (e.g., elderly citizens living alone, individuals with disabilities, home-bound students).
• Invite a local actor/actress to discuss the verbal and nonverbal changes with different types of plays.
Core Concept: Speaking
Sample Elementary Activities
• Share a family heirloom or tradition of special significance. PE
• Give oral directions to classmates on "how-to" accomplish a task (e.g., make a sandwich, make a bed). After the class has followed your directions, evaluate your communication. PE, OE, P
• Describe a favorite outfit or toy, so that a classmate is able to draw it. PE, OE
• Create a performance (e.g., choral reading, flannel story, puppet show) for a younger audience. PE
• Make a presentation to introduce your parent/guardian at open house. PE
Sample Middle School Activities
• Dress as a main character from a novel. Share information about your character (e.g., experiences, problems, friends, family concerns, hopes). PE, OE, P
• Conduct and tape an interview. Review the tape and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses as an interviewer. PE, P
• Prepare tapes of books to share with an audience (e.g., younger students, nursing home residents, hospital patents). PE
• Produce and present a school communication program (e.g., news program, assembly, intercom announcement). PE, OE
• Present an illustrated speech to elementary students about the different opportunities in middle school (e.g., exploratory, intramurals, teaming). PE, OE, P
Sample High School Activities
• Keep an electronic portfolio of your formal speaking activities. Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and on progress demonstrated overtime. OE, P
• Prepare and present your qualifications for a particular position. PE, P
• Teach a group of peers the American Sign Language alphabet. PE
• Make a presentation to eighth graders on high school clubs. PE, OE
• Video a public service announcement supporting an issue (e.g., education reform, recycling, safety). PE