I appreciate your tenacity. A presentation opening is your promise to your listeners. You can either use your pitch to build credibility, engagement and buy-in, or blow the chance to share your story in a way that sells. When everyone's seated. Monthly plans renew after 12 consecutive months of premium membership. What's significant about that? So, a student addressing a high-school audience might start his speech by saying, “Respected principal, teachers, advisers and coaches, esteemed parents and fellow students...” Another way to greet an audience includes acknowledging the time of day: "Good morning," or "Good afternoon/evening," warms-up the audience for what's to come. A great introduction promises the audience that this presentation will be engaging, innovative, educational - and maybe even inspiring. Make it your second paragraph, right after your compelling introduction. once said, ... Something you'd never guess about me is... 100 years ago, [sliced bread/the first roller coaster/the hubcap] was invented. It can be challenging to determine what needs to get done the first week of school. That first minute is when you are supposed to establish your command of the room and the topic, build rapport, and signal that you're calm, so the audience can just relax -- you've got this. This strategy may work better on some days (or weeks) than others. As with most things related to teaching (and dealing with students), consistency is key. It may seem like common sense, but sometimes it can be a step that is forgotten, especially if there is pressure to start due to a time limit or an internal battle against your own fear. Here are 20 speech openings to get you started: It doesn't matter how compelling your presentation is if you haven't grabbed your audience's attention in the first few seconds. These starters promise that this meeting is going to be boring at best, and a mess at most. After introducing yourself and thanking everyone for attending, draw in the audience by posing a relevant question or telling a brief and relational anecdote. The “meet and greet” that teachers do before class begins seems to be a critical benchmark for many students. If you can pull it off -- and it's the right audience -- you can start with humor. Furthermore, kids say that teachers who “meet and greet” are the ones who also care about them personally, and this personal interest motivates them to do better in class. Every presentation is an opportunity to make an impression. This printable is customizable. The results might not always be evident, but your students will notice and appreciate your consistency. If you greet the audience as members of individual groups, place the groups in hierarchical order. Dear Cho, I know that talking in class is not your favorite thing, so I have really appreciated your participation in small group work. Meeting and Greeting Students at the Beginning of Class. First Day Activities For High School Students, 30 Do's and Don'ts of Classroom Etiquette for Teachers and Students. I really appreciate the effort you've made to do this. If you greet the audience as members of individual groups, place the groups in hierarchical order. Find out their ages, demographics, and backgrounds before you write-up your greeting. “I started off without graduating from high school. Here are the presentation openers I hear over and over again: "Hi there. Everything I accomplished in life I had to do on my own with very little help from anyone else.” My family had no money. Thanks for bearing with me today.". This printable is customizable. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Northern Illinois University. You should spend no more than a few minutes on this, or people will start squirming, so carefully consider which individuals should receive this honor. With the help of certified and current classroom teachers, TeacherVision creates and vets classroom resources that are accurate, timely, and reflect what teachers need to best support their students. If you're a shy, reserved person, a more serious, straightforward greeting would be apropos. To do that, you need to stop being polite and start being passionate, from the moment you open your mouth. Tailor the PDF to your needs... Use this graphic organizer to help students write in a journalistic fashion. Dear Greg, I know this is not an easy class for you, so everyday you're here shows that you're willing to stick with it and keep trying. As you make your way to the front of the room, remember that one of the best ways to kick off your speech is by simply and effectively greeting your audience. Introduce the guests, briefly summarize their importance and thank them for coming. My family had no money. Few people are naturally gifted public speakers, a point that's worth remembering if you have been asked to speak in front of your class or school. Use promo code BF20 at checkout for 75% off unlimited access. And varying what you do keeps students guessing about what's going to happen in class today! Annual and 2-year plans renew at full price. Begin this new journey in your life by doing your homework so that you can greet your audience like a pro and get your speech off to a graceful start. Cancel anytime. Tailor the PDF to... Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Social-Emotional Learning Resources & Worksheets, Thanksgiving Resources, Printables & Activities, FutureFit: Integrate SEL Into Your Existing Curriculum. Public speaking is a skill that people finesse with practice. Your greeting is an essential part of your Introduction because it presents both you and your topic to your audience. Restrictions apply. You may remember from your school days that a speech has three parts: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. Make a personal connection with your audience from the very start. Greet students as they come in, and ask them to pick a number from one to ten from the basket that indicates how they're feeling right now – ten (I'm ready, focused, feeling good) to one (I'm tired, grumpy, and would rather be any place else). Nobody will mind, or likely even notice.). (Still feel the need to have a proper welcome and greeting? There are any number of ways to greet an audience, so what you say isn't as important as how you say it. Dear Alicia, I've noticed that you've been on time for the last two weeks. TeacherVision is part of the FEN Learning family of educational and reference sites for parents, teachers and students. Hill Street Studios/Blend Images/GettyImages, Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Explore state by state cost analysis of US colleges in an interactive article, Your Dictionary: Writing an Effective Welcome Speech, School for Champions: Speak to Your Class With Confidence. Dear Mia, I have really appreciated when you've been helping to pick up and organize stuff at then end of class. FEN Learning is part of Sandbox Networks, a digital learning company that operates education services and products for the 21st century. If you were to ask my [mother/partner/teenager, etc.] It's important to determine ahead of time who your audience is and craft your greeting based on their needs. Thanks! The “meet and greet” that teachers do before class begins seems to be a critical benchmark for many students. These greetings are very informal and should be used with people you know very well such as close friends, family, long-time work colleagues or friends you have known for a very long time. Even though I've seen [insert movie title] dozens of times, I will always watch it when it comes on TV. II love the way Eve Ensler opens her speech with an interesting one-liner: “For a long time, there was me, and my body.” This is a great tip from Conor Neill. If you're a genial person with an engaging personality, a humorous greeting might work for you. Adopt a tone that suits your personality. Wroblewski has penned pieces for Woman's Day, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal and many newspapers and magazines. In pursuit of a courteous and harmonious classroom environment, this printable provides etiquette advice for both teachers and... Use this graphic organizer to brainstorm. Adapted from Partners in Learning: From Conflict to Collaboration by Carol Miller Lieber. Your questions have challenged all of us to be really clear about what we mean. High school seems like just yesterday. It's easy to assume that this is a common practice, yet, my informal polling with students indicates that this is the exception and not the rule. But this rarely happens. They almost always respond positively when teachers hang out by the door saying “Hello” and calling them by name. Finding your voice – and staying true to it – will help put you at ease in front of your audience and fortify your confidence as you continue your speech. The key to a good greeting is preparation and practice. The important thing is to keep doing it! It makes it so much easier to do projects when people are ready to pitch in. Sometimes relevant jokes or funny quotes can help lighten up the audience and make you less nervous. Evaluate students' participation and performance in a group activity with this customizable rubric. You might also want to ask about any other presenters so you can make sure your speech is unique.