Speak up
The Iowa City Community School District has identified three elementary schools in Johnson County with a rate of 30-35% of students on reduced or free lunch, indicating a high rate of low socioeconomic status. Studies have shown that confidence and self-esteem is often lacking in such children. Studies have also shown a strong correlation between a lack of confidence, poor self-esteem, school drop-out rates and anxiety in public speaking. For this reason there is a great need for additional educational opportunities for students to improve their confidence and skill in public speaking.
RSVP volunteers will conduct two eight-week sessions of Speak Up!, a public speaking course designed to improve students� confidence and public speaking skills.
The first semester curriculum taught by RSVP volunteers will involve teaching the students to write and deliver a speech with an opening, body and conclusion. The students will also learn about impromptu speaking, lectern courtesies, and the importance of voice projection, posture, eye contact, visual aids and other public speaking techniques. During the second semester, volunteers will also learn to give position speeches.
12 RSVP volunteers will individually contribute approximately 20 hours per semester for a total of 480 hours of service implementing the Speak Up! program for the 2003-2004 school year. These volunteers will mentor approximately 115 students in 5th grade from three different elementary schools in the Iowa City Community School District. Volunteers will participate in a three-hour training on Speak Up! curriculum held by RSVP prior to starting the classroom sessions. RSVP will also supply all needed materials to both students and volunteers. Each student will receive a folder of Speak Up! information and each volunteer will receive a Speak Up! curriculum binder with teaching materials. Classroom teachers will also lend their support when needed. Finally, a recognition event will be planned for the volunteers after the spring session for Speak Up! is complete.
Indicator: 115 fifth grade students from the Iowa City Community School District will be taught public speaking skills. Each student will prepare and deliver their first formal speech, first position speech and will give 5-8 impromptu speeches. Each student will also assume the role of Master of Ceremony, Voice Monitor, Time Monitor, and Word Monitor.
Target: 90% of students will give a formal speech, position speech and impromptu speech. 90% of students will assume the role of Master of Ceremony, Voice Monitor, Time Monitor or Word Monitor.
How Measured: Post-test results and record kept by RSVP volunteers.
Intermediate Outcome: The Speak Up! program will help fifth grade students increase their knowledge regarding public speaking.
Indicator: Percent of fifth grade students that show an increase in knowledge regarding public speaking.
Target: 85% of fifth grade students will show an increased in knowledge regarding public speaking.
How Measured: Scores on pre-tests and post-tests administered by RSVP volunteers.
Indicator: Percent of fifth grade students who show increased confidence in public speaking.
Target: 50% of fifth grade students will show an increase in confidence.
How measured: Scores on pre-tests and post-test administered by RSVP volunteers.
