Introduction Part I: The Foundations of Speaking 1. Understanding Public Speaking 2. Forming a Speech Study Group 3. Writing Your Speech Part II: When Speaking Before Student Groups 4. Understanding and Managing Your Nervousness 5. Involving Your Audience 6. Discovering What is Really Important at Your School 7. Just Showing Off 8. Your Body Language Speaks Volumes Part III: When Speaking Before Parent Groups 9. Scheduled Parent Meetings 10. Working With Parents on More Difficult Issues 11. Presenting a Persuasive Line of Reasoning 12. When Asking for Support 13. If You Need to Speak on a Moment's Notice 14. How to Field Questions From Your Audience Part IV: When Speaking Before Parent-Teacher-Student Associations Meetings 15. Creating a Speech to Inform 16. Presenting Yourself and Your Speech Part V: When Speaking Before Collegial Groups 17. Beyond Words -- How to Use Visual Aids 18. Leading a Staff or In-Service Meeting Part VI: When Speaking Before Community Groups 19. Making Decisions Regarding Your Audience and Your Speaking Environment 20. Sharing Yourself With the Children 21. How to Lead and Participate in a Discussion Group Part VII: When All Else Fails... 22. Speaking When You Cannot Say Anything 23. Using Appropriate Grammar Part VIII: Example Speeches and The Appendix 24. Three Example Speeches Appendix: Additional Supports Glossary Index
Confident Communication is a public speaking resource for teachers, principals, and school administrators written by a trained counsellor and experienced teacher. This concise learning tool speaks to teachers at every level, addressing the critical affective aspects of learning how to speak in public. Confident Communication is designed exclusively for professional educators to use both in and out of the classroom. Douglas A Parker takes a skills-based humanistic and sometimes humorous approach to the psychology and strategies that must be in place before a person can develop as a speaker. Educators can improve their confidence by learning how to be aware of what is happening during a speech, and gradually accentuating their essential speaking skills. Included are hands-on strategies for taking control of the process and its outcome, as well as using the Internet for creating speeches.
Douglas A. Parker holds dual Masters degrees in Education and Counseling. He is a lifelong educator, veteran teacher, coach, and school administrator. Debate and Speech teams that have used his lessons and techniques for public speaking have won numerous local, state, national, and international titles. His strategies are sensible, psychologically valid, easy to use, and can be an essential resource for teachers and principals in schools and in all professional settings.