Good Idea for "Challenging" Kids

[Picone <rpicone@TELLURIAN.NET>]

I probably have the most "challenging" class of all at the end of the day --
the 14 "bad boys" who refuse to take chorus.  I was told to develop a class
for them twice a week.  I decided on public speaking, and for the first
several classes it was a disaster.

Out of desperation I decided to send them "into the field" to do their
stuff.  I broke them up into groups of three and asked primary teachers to
give me a subject I could assign them to speak on in their classes.  And
here is the twist:  I prepared a very simple evaluation for the primary
students to use to evaluate my speakers.  It worked!  So far, everybody is
happy, and I was told by my class that "Public Speaking Rocks."  Well, I am
passing this on because for those students that you find most challenging,
consider having them prepare a children's lit book complete with follow up
and sending them to a receptive kindergarten or first grade teacher.
Sometimes all that "little people"  approval is enough to make them want to
succeed....and maybe help you find the key to reach them.


Betty Ann Picone
Librarian/Media Specialist
Fredon Elementary School
459 Rt. 94
Newton, NJ 07860
rpicone@garden.net
www.fredon.org

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