Do any of you teach your high schoolers Public Speaking? If so . . .

[Big Buckin' Longhorn]

What method / curriculum do you use?

 

I haven't really found anything that seems to be homeschool friendly.

 

It's something I struggle with as well, so I definitely need guidance when trying to teach this to my dear son, 15. He is really outgoing as long as it's "active" things, but when it's time to just stand up and speak, he clams up.:001_huh:

[Cedarmom]

Do you have any speech clubs in your area? My son is in debate and speech wth the National Christian Forensics and Communicators Association, and it has improved his confidence tremendously. There is also a NFCA which is secular.

 

Institute for Excellence in Writing has a speech curriculim. I can't remember the name, but if you go to http://www.excellenceinwriting. com and search for speech, you will find it. Communicators For Christ has speech programs,(these are from christian perspective)

[Maryalice]

We have been involved with NCFCA for a long time. You might check out Communicators for Christ. We use many of their resources to teach speech and debate at our club. From my experience, the only thing that helps teach speech is speaking. Try to find him opportunities to do it. You could start small in front of family and work toward community forums.

[Maverick]

A good book on this topic is Playpen to Podium. I read it several years ago and I thought it gave lots of good ideas for helping kids get comfortable with public speaking at all levels. You may want to see if you can get it from your library. I agree with previous posters that the best way to learn is by doing. I just signed my kiddos up for a speech and debate class at our homeschool co-op next year. I know the teacher is going to do all kinds of activities--not just debates that require research but also impromptu speaking on various topics, ie draw a topic out of a hat and talk for one minute.

[sweetbaby]

I know some who take debate but my homeschooler will take speech in the upcoming year. We will use Speak Up. I believe Rainbow Resource carries it. It is just a book for reference but I will use a few library books also. He is going to be required to give speeches in public setting such as at church, etc. for assignments also.

[FloridaLisa]

We also participate in National Christian Forensics Communicators Association (http://www.ncfca.org) and Communicators for Christ (http://www.communicatorsforchrist.com). Contact the local leader from both sites and find out whether there are any local clubs or chapters in your area. Alternaely, have you looked in Toastmasters? I would try to find (or form) a group to do public speaking with. It's just so effective if there are regular speaking platforms for your dc.

 

As far as a public speaking curriculum, I just bought a Public Speaking book published by BJU for my dd that looks very thorough.

 

HTH!

Lisa

[Jane in NC]

Presentations or demonstrations are standard fare for 4-Hers. Here in NC, 4-Hers write and create posters/props for these 5-8 minute uninterupted talks. Additionally, my son has had public speaking experience at teen county council meetings, at a meeting with elected county officials, teaching classes to other 4-Hers, etc. Great opportunities in 4-H!

[Big Buckin' Longhorn]

I have lots to look at and learn from what you've shared here. :001_smile:

 

I really appreciated it! :thumbup1: I sent some good rep to all of you. Thanks again!

[historybuffmom]

This is one of those classes that many moms find difficult to teach and/or find an unwilling high schooler. I've been homeschooling for 15 years and have had my struggles in various subjects. Conveniently, I have also been a college communications teacher for 20+ years so when it came time to teach "rhetoric" (a fancy term for public speaking and critical thinking and writing skills) which is in fact a state requirement in California, (hence California univ. & colleges expect to see it on a transcript) I taught 10 other kids along with mine since it's really not the same to give a speech to your younger siblings and mom as it is to a "real" audience--all of whom will be up there in turn and know it.

 

 

However, I've known of other moms in my area who have done this just fine without my academic credentials--just a personal interest in public speaking or perhaps learned the ropes through an older child's interest in debate and/or public speaking. So if you don't think you're the one to teach, put it out to your network to see who would be. Or create a more traditional co-op where each mom takes a "group" oriented subject like public speaking, science etc.

 

 

However, in my area high school level classes are typically paid classes due to the prep time needed to make it a "real" class.

 

 

 

Re; curriculum, I used Stobaugh and though he had some good ideas, teacher's manual wasn't useful and I ended up creating most of the course.

[sunshine]

Have you heard of TeenPact? go online to www.teenpact.com. They do a week long government class in almost everystate and at the end of the week is a public speaking class. These classes are usually done at the State Capital and involve government officials. It is a superb class and counts as 1/3 high school government credit. If you do it 3 years in a row you have 1 credit. My son will be staffing this year in GA and will go to there other classes such as Judicial week, Back to DC during the election year. The opportunities are endless and it is a devoutly Christian organization. They are making young leaders for our country. My son was elected Governor this year and last year representative. One of the boys in our homeschool group ran for Senate and almost won. But those are national elections and he started campaigning late. Every year our homeschool group has a volunteer coordinator and team to make arrangements for our kids to go. We carpool and get group discounts at area hotels. We call our represetatives and we had one get us great rates at the hotel he stays at when at the Capital. It is a week the kids will never forget and EVERY one of them thank us. We had 22 kids attend this year. And my son was featured speaking against abortion on Face the Nation on PBS television. 2 students were chosen out of 300. Both had attended the optional Public Speaking class on Friday.

 

Look into it, you will not regret it!!

[Sandy in Indy]

I had a lovely, long post when my net connection poofed because of a thunderstorm. I hate when that happens!!!!

 

Anyway, I'd encourage you to contact Toastmasters. They have wonderful materials for kids and will come and conduct a class without charge. If you have some kind of homeschool network, I'd guess that you could fill a class in no time and have a waiting list.

[Missouri Mama]

You may want to check out Secrets of Great Communicators DVD set. ($40.95 in Rainbow Resource) It's a 6 session set by Jeff Myers, author of From Playpen to Podium. It is Christian-based, but I don't believe it would be offensive to nonChristians. As others have said, 4H offers opportunities for public speaking, but there is no prepared curriculum. You may also want to contact Toastmasters in your area. I have taken my children there for exposure. It's an excellent place to view public speaking, & they even offered to let my kids participate. I believe they also have some resources for youth.

[K-FL]

Also check your local college. Speech I is a required course here so they have lots of offerings. Plus it just gets one of those required courses done. :)

[Big Buckin' Longhorn]

You ladies have so many interesting experiences. I'm going to try to look into them and find something that will work for us.

 

It's hard for me to commit to a group because we only have one vehicle which I usually don't have the privilege of using due to my dear spouse's complicated work schedule and we live on the edge of town that has no public transportation.:sad: I may be able to put something together and try to get a carpool started, though. That has worked for me before. Luckily I tend to be very creative when I really want to get somewhere.:D

 

Thanks again so much for all of the helpful suggestions. I definitely have a lot of options to start looking into. The fall will be here before you know it!

[tibbyl]

A wise, experienced homeschooling mother and support group leader dual enrolled her son in a semester of speech at a local community college. Thus, he earned both high school and college credit for the endeavor.

[BeckyFL]

The Jeff Myers video course Secrets of Great Communicators. It's excellent. I believe that CBD carries it.

[Starr]

I've found the training in 4-H has held us for many years. (Love your twink picture.)