Graduation speeches are remembered forever and mark a special day full of accomplishments. If the task of delivering a graduation speech has fallen on you, there are some things to keep in mind.
Write something that appeals to the audience. Are you speaking before a college or a high school student body? Will there be parents around? Make sure that your material is both relevant and entertaining across your audience’s age groups. Avoid mentioning anything that may be construed as offensive. Ask yourself, “What will they want to know, and what do they need to know?”
Be sincere. Avoid using superlatives, as they tend to make speeches sound more like marketing gibberish. Also avoid using trite remarks, such as “As you can see,” or “it is indeed an honor and a privilege,” etc. These tired phrases do not help progress your thoughts, and instead retard them. Focus instead on substance. This creates a permanent impression of intelligence, honesty, and professionalism. Say as much as you can with as few words as you can, as that makes a more powerful public speech.
Do your research. Read or listen to graduation speeches of others to get inspiration. Learn from the mistakes of past speakers so you can do better this time. Double-check the information included in your speech, and ask for clearance from higher-ups if you have to.
Lastly, organize. Even the most brilliant thoughts can get lost in a disorganized speech. Write a summary or outline and use it, especially if you are giving a long speech. You will be more coherent and your audience will be better able to follow you. Use visual aids if necessary, but use them sparingly. Many speakers use computer software to create a slideshow presentation. If used correctly, slideshows can enhance your speech. Used poorly, though, it will just distract your audience. Before you end your speech, say a few inspiring phrases that that summarize your main ideas.
By: Elizabeth Morgan
Posts Tagged ‘Visual Aids’
Special Needs Children’s Education
November 17th, 2009
It’s almost as though homeschooling was invented for a special needs children’s education. Kids afflicted with ADHD, autism, dyslexia or Asperger’s among other learning difficulties can all benefit from being taught at home by their parents. Some public school systems can afford to hire trained therapists for these fields, but the extra attention and time afforded a student at home by a loved one can make a big difference in a child’s ability to learn. It’s just natural for a parent to be able to teach their own child more effectively. They’ve been doing it for the student’s whole life and know how to best approach new things with them. They will likely be more patient than a public school teacher and offer the extra time it might take to learn. A classroom would likely not be as able to offer the one-on-one time it might take until a student “gets it”.
It’s likely a parent would also know better than a public school instructor what manner of teaching would best suit their child. Some learn better with visual aids, some by repetition and some by seeing it done for them and copying what they’re taught. It’s very likely a parent would already know this from their own experience. They’ll also know what to look for when a special needs child is getting frustrated and ready to act up or quit, thereby avoiding a bad learning experience for the child.
If you’re wondering what sort of curriculum would best suit your special needs children’s education, there are several avenues to get started.
We would first look on the Internet. Non-profit groups who support your child’s disorder will likely have a presence there and should have good information about learning difficulties and how to overcome them. They will likely make suggestions or direct you to other good sources. They may even list case studies of various methods of learning and their success rates.
We would also try to find support groups on the Internet for your particular disease. There will likely be several forums on the Web where you can read others’ posts and ask questions directly. Parents on these websites are often very willing to share their experiences and will offer help when they can. Although your child is an individual, often there can be common practices that will help almost all children suffering from a common ailment.
There are also many books available about homeschooling your special needs children. Some are written specifically for particular disorders and offer teaching suggestions as well as curriculum selection guides. Most are written by people who have been homeschooling their own special needs children, so they speak with experience and write in every day language, rather than from theory with medical-babble-speak.
If you start with these suggestions, you should quickly be on the road to solving how to best get your special needs children educated. It can be as rewarding for you as it will be for your child since you will have contributed directly to his education and well-being.
By: A J Adams
