This project was inspired after visiting the Ron Clark Academy. I had the privilege in February to attend a professional development at Ron Clark Academy. There I was introduced to the American Shake. This is where the idea came from. After thinking about how to improve my student’s social skills, I thought a competition might encourage them. I researched the prize from Ron Clark Academy and copied the same idea for ours. I thought about how to make different levels to the competition and though about the barriers of time and location. Being a Title One school and field trips coming to a close, I tried to think locally and cost efficient. I copied the idea of an interview style similar to Ron Clark’s first round. My friend Amy Byrd reached out to her connections to make the first round possible. Every person she talked to love the idea.
Round One would be made up of 25 interviewers with possible questions given to them to ask the students one-on-one. The idea was to incorporate the business partners. The though was in the future to do what Ron Clark does with charging a fee the next year. The money would go to fund field trips. They are given questions, but can ask others. The students will be grader on their eye contact, handshake, and overall communication skills. Students will have about 2 minutes with each candidate. They will score each participant. After the event is over, the scores will be compiled and the top six will move on to round 2.
Round Two: They will be given an advisor to work with them and they choose one person to work with. It turns into an apprentice style. I reached out to local business to allow our students to walk over to the Granada Plaza to have practice in public with using their social skills with customers, advisors, mangers, and fellow teammates. To make this fair, selling an item would not be comparable from store to store. I asked each store to give us an item they would like featured. Students would be scored on their communication skills using eye contact, and handshake, not on how much product is sold. Students will work with their advisors for strategies. The advisors are trusted adults. The idea was to build a sense of community with fellow business partners.
Round Three: The tops two from round two move on to the interview on the radio. Tremble and Kaylee have graciously agreed to interview our last two remaining contestants. This will not be live, but aired the next day. Tremble attended Osceola and plans to stroll down memory lane. After the interview is broadcasted. Osceola will use twitter to have students, family, friends and the public to vote for the best interview. This round focuses on the ability to keep communicating and answering questions effectively.
Round Four: The hope was to have WESH 2 on board. After many attempts to discuss this with them, they cannot commit to two days before. I may look into replacements.
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All this will be taped for a short video to promote Osceola Gives Back! They give back by preparing students with necessary social skills for future jobs in Ormond Beach and throughout.
In order to prep, we have been looking at videos of interviews online and discuss the take-away from the interview. We have practice sessions in the classroom to encourage 2 minutes of uninterrupted communication. Students have brainstormed through problems with one word question responses and how to keep a conversation going. The colleagues on campus have embraced the idea of being interviewed in the hallways and give them pointers for improvement. The cafeteria staff has allowed us to video tape them coming through the line. We watch the videos and look for ways to improve. In class, we practice student voice and equity of voice. My students are proud of their progress. They are gaining confidence through this process. We learn how to take constructive criticism and understand we are all not there yet, learning is ongoing. Parents have practiced with their children at home. Some have offered to come in to give us pointers. It has truly been an amazing experience.
Round One would be made up of 25 interviewers with possible questions given to them to ask the students one-on-one. The idea was to incorporate the business partners. The though was in the future to do what Ron Clark does with charging a fee the next year. The money would go to fund field trips. They are given questions, but can ask others. The students will be grader on their eye contact, handshake, and overall communication skills. Students will have about 2 minutes with each candidate. They will score each participant. After the event is over, the scores will be compiled and the top six will move on to round 2.
Round Two: They will be given an advisor to work with them and they choose one person to work with. It turns into an apprentice style. I reached out to local business to allow our students to walk over to the Granada Plaza to have practice in public with using their social skills with customers, advisors, mangers, and fellow teammates. To make this fair, selling an item would not be comparable from store to store. I asked each store to give us an item they would like featured. Students would be scored on their communication skills using eye contact, and handshake, not on how much product is sold. Students will work with their advisors for strategies. The advisors are trusted adults. The idea was to build a sense of community with fellow business partners.
Round Three: The tops two from round two move on to the interview on the radio. Tremble and Kaylee have graciously agreed to interview our last two remaining contestants. This will not be live, but aired the next day. Tremble attended Osceola and plans to stroll down memory lane. After the interview is broadcasted. Osceola will use twitter to have students, family, friends and the public to vote for the best interview. This round focuses on the ability to keep communicating and answering questions effectively.
Round Four: The hope was to have WESH 2 on board. After many attempts to discuss this with them, they cannot commit to two days before. I may look into replacements.
·
All this will be taped for a short video to promote Osceola Gives Back! They give back by preparing students with necessary social skills for future jobs in Ormond Beach and throughout.
In order to prep, we have been looking at videos of interviews online and discuss the take-away from the interview. We have practice sessions in the classroom to encourage 2 minutes of uninterrupted communication. Students have brainstormed through problems with one word question responses and how to keep a conversation going. The colleagues on campus have embraced the idea of being interviewed in the hallways and give them pointers for improvement. The cafeteria staff has allowed us to video tape them coming through the line. We watch the videos and look for ways to improve. In class, we practice student voice and equity of voice. My students are proud of their progress. They are gaining confidence through this process. We learn how to take constructive criticism and understand we are all not there yet, learning is ongoing. Parents have practiced with their children at home. Some have offered to come in to give us pointers. It has truly been an amazing experience.