2 weeks Ago
Help! I have to give a presentation to my son’s elementary school. I have no idea what to expect. Can you give me some guidance? Good for you! Speaking to an assembly of students can be a fun experience.
It can also be a disaster. You can tell nearly everything you need to know about the culture of a school from a student body or grade-level assembly. Parents, if you’re considering a school for your child, forget about those phony showcase “tours” where they show you what they want you to see.
Go to an assembly and see the truth. Watch the kids. Are they respectfully paying attention? If so, that usually indicates a healthy school culture where teachers and parents have instilled students with excellent character skills.
But what if they’re falling asleep? Talking to each other? Laughing inappropriately? Leaving during the presentation? Horseplaying? Shouting out? Rude behavior can take place in any small circle, but if you notice it happening en masse, it may indicate a toxic student climate. Also watch the teachers. Are they patrolling, making sure kids are attentive and well-behaved? That’s a good sign.
It shows they care about their school and are invested in their students. But what if they’re using your presentation as an opportunity to chat and spill tea? Or what if they’re ignoring student misbehavior? It either means the teachers are so defeated they’ve given up, or they just don’t care. It can also indicate something seriously wrong with the school’s leadership.
Any one of those spells doom for school culture. Assessing the character and culture of a school comes down to respect. Students must respect learning, teachers, visitors and each other.
Teachers and administrators must respect students and work tirelessly to insist that they display good manners in every situation. An assembly puts all of these things to the test at once. As for your presentation, here are some pro tips: • If the kids are misbehaving, don’t try to address it.
That will just fan the flames. • Let the teachers handle it. If they don’t, then don’t feel bad about politely cutting your presentation short and sending the teachers back to class early — that’ll show ‘em.
• Some presenters enjoy riling up students like it’s a WWE tournament. Be warned: once you rile them up, it can be almost impossible to settle them down to focus on your message. Even something as mild as demanding a choral “Good morning!” can be enough to stir a buzz through the assembly that never quiets, never mind the competitive chaos that can ensue when you give away prizes.
Suffice it to say that if you must rile up students, at least wait until the end of your presentation. • If you’re offered a microphone, never, ever say, “I don’t need a microphone.” You need a microphone.
• Check the day and time of your presentation. Students are more reserved in the mornings toward the beginning of the week. Also, ask if it’s a special school day.
Any variance, like early release days or costume days, will make it more difficult for kids to focus. If you’re asked to give a speech last period on Halloween Friday, do yourself a favor and just stay home. • Visuals are great, but have a backup plan if the A/V equipment fails.
(Note: the A/V equipment will probably fail.) • Don’t go over your allotted time. It’s better to just stop without finishing than to go over.
Not only does it annoy your audience, it can cause serious scheduling issues across the school. • If they don’t laugh at your jokes, join the club. • Be yourself.
Kids have a sixth sense for inauthenticity. If you try to put on a phony persona or project false enthusiasm, you’ll bomb. Follow these tips, gear your presentation for the audience and resolve to enjoy yourself no matter what happens, and you’ll have them eating out of the palm of your hand.
Go the other way, however, and don’t be surprised if your audience bites the hand that’s feeding them. Jody Stallings has been an award-winning teacher in Charleston since 1992 and is director of the Charleston Teacher Alliance. To submit a question, order his books or follow him on social media, please visit JodyStallings.
com ..
