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| Speaking
Tips for CIPA Members It is difficult for many people to
present information in front of groups. The purpose of this web page is to
provide to new or inexperienced CIPA authors/speakers encouragement and
helpful suggestions from CIPA'S pool of experienced speakers.
If you are an experienced author, speaker/presenter, please email any
helpful hints, tips or suggestions for those who are new at giving
presentations. Please provide information that applies to speaking to
children as well as adults. |
Speaker to
Speaker Tips
Housekeeping: Teachers often refer to classroom management as
"housekeeping." Its helpful to take care of housekeeping before you jump into
your speaking topic. This gives you a chance to get to know the students a
little bit and a chance for the students to become confident that you know about
them. Housekeeping also makes a smooth icebreaker. Ask the students to list the
classroom rules concerning when it's okay to speak and when it's okay to move.
Also ask what the class signal for quiet is, etc. You may use the class
housekeeping rules or use your own, but be sure to state what they are and then
quiz the students on them. This starts interaction.
Movement: I encourage speakers to incorporate movement into their
presentations whenever they can. This might mean moving from a circle on the
floor to desks or from a large group to small groups or, in my case,
demonstrating a word that's followed by an exclamation point or by a question
mark. Be creative with this; the students will retain more of what you speak
about because they learn through movement as well as through thinking.
Humor: Use humor, but be aware that what you find funny might
be lost on some students. The classroom teacher will be glad to tell you what's
funny to his/her students. Some ages like ridiculousness, some like
exaggeration, some like juxtaposition, and most ages like surprises. Warning:
sarcasm is unacceptable humor. Students may misinterpret what you're saying.
Faye Quam Heimerl
Book Doctor Speaker and CIPA Member
Editor with Whistling Swan Writing
whistling.swan@comcast.net
303-503-3530
The #1 speaking tip I can give to anyone who wants to be a better, more
comfortable public speaker is to join a Toastmasters group. Toastmasters is a
non-threatening speaking club that provides peer support and instruction to
develop each member's public speaking skills. It is invaluable and very cheap.
Check out http://www.toastmasters.org/
for more info.
The next public speaking tip I can give is called the PREP method (I learned it
in my Toastmasters club). It is especially effective for speaking spontaneously,
such as on a panel or when answering questions. State the Point, give the
Reason, provide Examples, restate the Point. It makes you sound very
knowledgeable.
Elizabeth Yarnell
CIPA member
Don't try to come off as the most polished and experienced person in the room
- rather, let us in on whom you really are and what your process has been. We'd
like to hear about your mistakes and how you learned from them and your moments
of inspiration and genius. Be genuine!
Kerry MacLean
The Family Meditation Book
onthespotbooks@msn.com
720-273-8880
An often-used method by teachers to teach writing is called the 6 Traits
Writing model. It is a good idea for speakers for schools to understand what
they are testing on and being tested on to bring relevance to the classroom to
whom they are speaking... I am sure there is a ton of info on this on the
Internet if someone is interested further. I audited some classes to learn it
and now teach much of the principle incorporated in what I also am trying to
accomplish in schools.
Justin Mattott
randomwrtr@aol.com
Always develop interactive options for your presentations, especially if they
are for children. A reading, done well, can be fine. But if the audience can
somehow participate in your presentation (other than passively sitting and
listening and/or falling asleep), you are much better off. Audiences, in
general, will want you to succeed, and giving them some ownership in the
experience will build further rapport with them.
Specific activities, of course, will be tied to the book and the audience. Some
examples from my own experience range from simple Q&A or troubleshooting
sessions, modeling critiquing assistance and writing group roles, and helping
kids develop their own stories, characters and illustrations. Because I often
present in schools, I also work closely with teachers prior to my visits so that
my visit addresses curricular topics that they can build on -- it's not a
one-shot deal, but something that gets children excited in ways that their
teachers can capitalize on throughout the year.
Ravay Snow
Hildegarde and the Great Green Shirt Factory
Ravay Snow-Renner, Ph.D.
Snowbound Press, Inc.
P.O. Box 698
Littleton, CO 80160
(303) 347-2869
cell: (303) 434-4960
fax: 303-386-3232
www.snowboundpress.com
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