College Speech Class Fall 2012 Description I took a Speech class at Rochester Community and Technical College.

The artifacts I have are outlines and DVD recording of the speeches I completed during the semester class as well as my transcript of my final grade. My classmates and I wrote a total of four speeches. Throughout the course we were given information on how to properly speak in public. This class helped me build up my social skills to where they are today. I have no problem talking in front of others. Alignment Wisconsin Teaching Standard Alignment This artifact best aligns with Standard 6: Communication-The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry. My senior year of high school I took college classes at Rochester Community and Technical College. They counted for high school credit as well as college credit. The Fundamentals of Public Speaking was the Speech class I took. Before the class I was not a big fan of talking in front of any large groups of people but as the class went on with all the speeches I did, it helped me overcome my fear of public speaking. Not only does the teacher have to speak in front of the students, but also to parents and fellow staff members. My speech class best aligns with Standard 6 because it is important to be able to talk properly and with ease as a teacher. With effective speaking comes an ease with communicating to the students content language that they will understand. Depending on the grade level, a teacher needs to adjust their word choice so that all children will understand. By considering the vocabulary the students know at a certain grade level, it will be easier to communicate an assignment with the same vocabulary as them. UW-Platteville Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Alignment This artifact best aligns with KSD3.a.: Communicates Clearly and Accurately-The candidates spoken and written language are correct, expressive and clear, with well-chosen vocabulary that enriches teaching and communicates thoughtfully, responsively, and effectively for a wide range of student understanding and encourages appropriate student language. In order to be a well-respected teacher, having an articulate vocabulary and knowing how to speak to certain age groups of children is important. The students look up to teachers as role models. If a teacher instills a certain way of speaking, the teacher must also follow those rules. A lot of teaching has to deal with typing up an assignment or writing on a white board and if there are any grammatical errors it could confuse the student. If a student does not have as advanced vocabulary as other students, you must make sure to address what communication works best with each child. Through my speech class

we learned that having a wide vocabulary is important but so is body language. While getting the audience involved, whether it is students or other faculty members, you need nonverbals to help communicate an idea. I have developed keen skills of acceptable nonverbals and a wide enough vocabulary to talk to any age group of students or adults. With the skills I have learned, I plan to put them into practice in my teaching career. Secondary KSDs: KSD3.c.: Engages Students in Learning KSD3.e.: Demonstrates Flexibility and Responsiveness What I learned about teaching/learning from this experience: From taking the speech class I have grown as a person. In the last few speeches I gave, I realized that I can be a teacher. With the skills I have learned in proper public speaking, I know it will take me far in my career as a teacher. Having taken the speech class has opened up many opportunities in my life. With my speaking abilities I have been able to speak professionally at my daycare job to my boss about important changes to better the learning of students. I have become more involved in the community because my self-confidence has increased. I am not afraid to put myself out there. In education, in order to be a successful teacher, putting yourself out there and being able to adapt vocabulary to certain audiences is very important. I believe I have that characteristic to be successful. What I learned about myself as a prospective educator as a result of this experience: While taking the class I didnt know how much it would change me as a person. I was just taking the class for my general education credit but I ended up getting so much more out of it. As I previously stated, I have developed the nonverbal communication as well as a wide vocabulary to get me through any future experience in teaching. In taking this speech class, I know that teaching is what I am meant to do.