Speaking Up Workshops Pay Dividends
As more than 300 second graders in the Huntington School District begin classes as the new school year gets underway in earnest, the youngsters are sure to carry over the benefit of last year's Speaking Up workshop series that focused on personal presence, vocal tone and voice projection.
Each first grade class was treated to four 40-minute long Speaking Up workshops, which touched on anti-bullying themes and promoted self esteem. The workshops were conducted by teaching artist Heather Thorgersen, who has led SEARCH program workshops for more than a decade. The sessions were originally made possible by a Huntington Foundation Star grant authored by Maryann Daly, SEARCH program chairperson-teacher. Mrs. Daly has funded these 64 workshops out of her program's budget for the past two years "because of their value to the children," she said.
The program's introductory class included a demonstration of how the voice works and an explanation and overview of essential body mechanisms. The session included the use of articulation, projection and breathing exercises along with games to learn proper stance, body position, personal presence and taught students how to find the power in their voice.
Workshop sessions two and three unpacked in more detail the concepts of personal presence, vocal tone and voice projection. The fourth and final class involved a culmination of the previous three sessions. "Students fine-tuned their skills with Heather side coaching the children during their mini presentations," Mrs. Daly said. "Class presentations were performed in small group settings with the students utilizing the skills they learned and addressing the theme of bullying and empathy."
Ms. Thorgersen is a teaching artist and educator and has worked with Mrs. Daly for more than ten years, leading activities and workshops for the SEARCH program, including SPARK program workshops for second graders, Reader's Theater workshops for fifth graders, REACH program workshops for third graders and Shakespeare workshops for sixth graders, as well as several others.
"At my request, Heather developed a series of workshops concentrating on teaching young children the tools they will need to successfully present themselves in a public speaking setting," Mrs. Daly said. "I focused on this particular area with the younger children because I have consistently experienced older students not knowing how to correctly present information, as well as themselves, when asked to speak to an audience of people. It is my hope and belief that early intervention and exposure in this important area will leave our children with the skills they will need as they mature."