When I first started mountain biking twenty five years ago, I discovered a simple truth. It never gets easier; you just go faster.

Acknowledge and accept the pain. You’re growing.

When I coached cross country, I shared the same truth with my runners. It never gets easier; you just go faster.

Acknowledge and accept the pain. You’re growing.

When I first started presenting as an educator, I discovered a simple truth. It never gets easier; you just get better.

Acknowledge and accept the nerves. You’re growing.

When I teach my kids about presenting, I share the same truth with them. It never gets easier; you just get better.

Acknowledge and accept the nerves. You’re growing.

You’re growing.

We grow not in comfort, so we must seek discomfort if we want to grow. But discomfort need not be excruciating. So, I seek to make that which can be excruciating: public speaking, less so.

This is how I do it.

1. I give my kids multiple, low-stakes opportunities.
2. I give them a simple framework of presenting skills to consider and practice. Poise. Voice. Life. Eye Contact. Gestures. Speed.(PVLEGS).
3. I create feedback opportunities where their peers and I provide descriptive feedback that is grounded in the skills above. I ask presenters to select one of the PVLEGS components for us to focus on as an audience. We also provide feedback on what they did well, and we also give feedback on what they might consider next time.
4. I avoid using scales or metrics. We offer no judgment points. There’s no point (intended). Numbers here mean little, and, in my experience, they do more harm than good.
5. I refuse to grade presentations. And this is why. One, it is near the top of most lists of fears. Giving kids a grade does not make them less afraid. Give them experiences. Two, presenting is a skill that takes years to develop. I cannot–I will not–punish kids for being in a developmental stage. Three, kids don’t get enough practice, enough experience to be subjected to a summative score based on Ted-Talkesque expectations.
6. I provide relevant speaking opportunities. More often than not with our practice, we simply present ourselves and things related to our classroom community.
7. I encourage, encourage, encourage.

Last week, the kids composed and shared a Sappy-Student poem about our classroom community. They stood in front of the room and shared. I asked them to think about Poise and Voice. And that was it. I just wanted them to get up there.

This week, I have asked the kids to complete the statements below.

They will then share all of them from the front of the room at the podium. We had a chance to get started yesterday, and the kids rocked it, on both sides of the room. The presenters faced their fears, and the audience helped their peers. We gave them feedback on their selected skill, something they did well, and something they might consider next time. And, importantly, there will be a next time.

We continue today, and I have a front row seat. I have the honor of watching kids grow right before my eyes. And it’s almost too much. How did I get so lucky?

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…grow as speakers.

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Thursday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.