10 Guidelines
to Being a Better Speaker

Celebrating Graduation

1.  Be sure you understand what you want to
     say.
     What is the real purpose of the message?
     What do you expect the listener to do?
2.  Clarify your ideas before you attempt to
     communicate them.
     Can you accurately say what you want to
     say?  Are you being interesting and/or
     meaningful?  How many ideas should you try
     to include (how many do you have to
     include)?
3.  State your message as simply as possible.
     Do you really need technical language, or
     while ordinary English get the job done
     better?
4.  Consider the entire environment affection
     your communication.
     What impression does the form of your
     message convey?
5.  Be aware of your receiver.
     Can you make the most of the person's or
     groups known needs or interests to ensure
     your message is heard and understood?
6. Consider the overtones of your message
     as well as your intended meaning,
     Does the "tone" of your message say more
     than the basic content?
7.  Provide for and encourage feedback.
     Can the receiver tell you what he or she
     understood easily?  Can the listener ask for
     more information?
8.  Follow up your communication.
     When you finished your message, was it
     complete?  How will you know when it is
     complete or what further steps you'll need to
     take?
9.  Be sure your actions support your
     message.
     Do you expect people to do as you say, not
     as you do?
10. Try not only to be understood, but to
      understand.
     Do you listen and look for feedback?  Do
     you understand what others say to you?   

    
     May marks the end of the school-year and for some the end of their time at their particular school.  Baccalaureate Masses will be conducted, Graduation dances will be planned, and Graduation ceremonies will be held.  Graduation is time when the student council can also get involved. 
     Consider having the newly elected officers hold a Grad Salute Breakfast or B-B-Q.  During the event, the student council can act out or simply read the Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You'll Go.  This book presents a motivating wish for their future, and gently cautions that not everything will go the way they had planned.  The book is appropriate for all ages from nursery school to college.  It's even makes a great graduation gift for that special grad.  The books runs about $12.95 at most bookstores. 
     Also during the breakfast or lunch, have the Secretary or Commissioner of Publicity collect all the email addresses of the current 8th graders so that they can be kept informed of school activities.  This begins to instill in the students a sense of Alumni Pride. 
     Another component to this 8th grade send-off could be class gifts.  Each class can either make individual gifts for the 8th graders (depending on the size of your school) or present them with one gift.  The gifts could be as simple as home-made congratulatory cards or picture frames made from popsicle sticks.  This project can be included in the classes art curriculum. 
     By starting this graduation tradition now, it will be something future classes will look forward to at the end of the year.  This activity can also serve as a joint project between the old and new officers.  It is a great way to introduce the new officers to their positions and create community.

TACSC has a NEW
email address! 
You can now email us at:

TACSC@TACSC.org

Summer Conference News!

Quote of the Month

Summer Conferences are approaching!

This year TACSC is expanding with a second conference in
Southern California!

You should have already received registration materials in the mail. 
If not, please contact us!

This year's dates are:
Menlo College - Menlo, CA June 19-23

Pitzer College I - Claremont, CA July 3-7

Pitzer College II - Claremont, CA July 10-14

Neumann College - Aston, PA July 31- Aug. 4

Click Here for More Information!

"Many people have rich and deeply textured agendas,
but without communication nothing will be realized"

Warren Bennis from
Leaders, the Strategies for Taking Charge

If you have a quote, inspirational story, or activity idea you would like to share with us, please email us at:
TACSC@TACSC.org