Good speech organization and preparation is essential for anyone who wants to deliver a meaningful speech.  This course provides students with advanced speaking skills with creative opportunities to (1) organize their ideas for a speech presentation, (2) deliver a quality speech, and (3) give and receive positive speech feedback. 

Advanced speaking skill practice includes:
Week #1 - Review basic public speaking skills & practice conversation skills. 
Week #2 - Improvisation / Reduce filler words
Weeks #3 and #4 - Question & Answers / Interview 
Week #5 and #6 - Storytelling Skills (Vocal Variety) 
Weeks #7 and #8 - Informational Speech with PowerPoint/Google Slides 
Weeks #9 and #10 - Motivational Storytelling Skills (Purpose) 
Weeks #11 and #12 - Preparing a TED Talk (Speech Preparation)
Weeks #13 and #14 - The Art of Persuasion (Opinion / Facts)
Weeks #15 and #16 - Create a Demonstration Video (Video Presentation)  

Advanced speakers can also practice speeches they may be preparing for a contest, TED talk, podcast, video, or event.  The students and teacher will provide feedback that will help students improve their speeches or presentations for a special event or purpose.

I am a confidence builder.  I help students discover their unique talents and speak in front of others with confidence. I am a TED speaker, school assembly presenter, and award-winning Toastmaster.  I help students develop writing skills to organize information, craft a quality speech, and deliver a strong presentation. Students also learn how nonverbal communication such as eye contact, voice, and body language can strengthen (or weaken) a terrific speech.  I have prepared students to compete in local and national speech competitions as a coach and critiqued presentations as a speech contest judge.  

My doctoral degree is in education. I am certified to teach elementary education (K-8) as well as secondary communication arts, speech and theater, English, and science education. I have more than 30 years of teaching experience in traditional and online classrooms.  I empower student teachers and seasoned educators with the same creative and interactive strategies I use with students. 

As a school assembly speaker and mental health advocate, I help students throughout the country talk about tough topics at schools throughout the United States.  I equip teens with the skills and confidence to communicate in conversation and in public speaking. I empower them with skills to create SMART personal goals that prepare them for success. I am the author of an award-winning personal goal-setting book, Dreams to Action Trailblazer’s Guide.  Visit www.DrJulieConnor.com for more information.

Homework Offered
Learners with advanced speaking skills will practice public speaking skills and discuss how to prepare a variety of different speeches in each class.  Speech preparation and practice will be assigned for homework in eight of the 16 classes.  Approximately 20 - 45 minutes of time outside of class will be required for different speeches in this course.
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Class discussion, thumbs up / thumbs down, step-by-step check-ins of the outline progress throughout the class, guided practice to check for understanding, independent writing practice; self-assessment, positive feedback to and from students in the class
Grades Offered

* "My Speech Outline" (created by Dr. Julie Connor, Ed.D.; provided to students before class)
* Additional resources related to the week's topic will be provided to each student prior to class.
* Speech topic PowerPoint presentations created by Dr. Julie Connor, Ed.D., will be shared with students during each class session.