1.  Teens will practice communication and conversation skills with peers.
2.  Teens will engage in active listening and positive nonverbal communication.
3.  Teens will participate in discussions and interactive activities.
4.  Teens will share their creative talents with one another.
5.  Teens will provide those who share their creative gifts with positive feedback.

Lena is a grade 11 student in high school and a student in this class who loves working with others. She is passionate about social justice and loves activism. Lena is friendly, inspirational, insightful, and fun to talk and hang out with.  Lena also loves hiking, being out in nature, and anything related to the environment. She is also involved in sports like cross country, track, and swimming. Lena has attended Dr. Julie’s public speaking classes for 6 months now and has become much more confident in her speaking abilities. Lena has also held leadership positions in her community, including teaching children in her local scout troop and being a youth representative for the environmental committee in her town. She will help facilitate discussion by asking questions and encouraging conversation in the Teen Discussion Room.

Isabelle is a grade 10 student in high school and a student in this class who possesses the ability to make any conversation interesting.  She is friendly, quick-witted, and brave. Isabelle is a person of many talents; she does public speaking, peer tutoring, practices the violin and piano, can sing, and plays video games and badminton (she once signed up for a team, but she didn't get very far).  In choir, the teacher regularly called on Isabelle to provide vocal examples for students as they learned new music.  She received a national award from outstanding choral student participants.  She was very quiet as a younger child, but now her speaking skills are flourishing!  Isabelle will help facilitate discussion by asking questions and encouraging conversation in the Teen Discussion Room.

Dr. Julie Connor, Ed.D., is a seasoned professional TED speaker, teacher, and author.  She teaches public speaking skills for ages 6-18 on Outschool as well as communication, conflict resolution, and goal-setting strategies for teens. Dr. Connor has 40 years of instructional expertise.  As a teen mental health consultant and school assembly speaker, she empowers youth with peer leadership and communication skills at middle and high schools throughout the United States.  Julie is the author of an award-winning personal goal-setting book, Dreams to Action Trailblazer’s Guide.

Discussion materials and PowerPoint presentations are prepared by Dr. Julie Connor, Ed.D.