Ask:
My ds is supposed to give a short speech on something he can do now that he could not last year. He picked swimming and we wrote down the answers to some questions for him. Well, his teacher left us a message that he has gotten up there 3 times and just won't do it. She wants us to have him practice at home, but he won't. To tell you the truth, I cannot see him ever doing this speech!!! He is very quiet and does not like to do new things. He is also extremely stubborn. I am not sure that I should push this with him, or just let him take a 0 on the assignment. He only has 9 more days at this school, maybe they won't make 2nd graders do speeches at his new school.
Any advice for me?
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They may not make 2nd graders, but he will eventually have to make one. Does he have some kind of social anxiety??
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Oh the poor kid! I can so totally relate with him. I didn't have to do a speech in front of my class until 5th grade and I almost passed out. I took another speech class in college and sounded like Catherin Hepburn for each and every one of them. It is just hard for some people to do this.
How about a little bribery. Offering him something totally awesome if he can do it. I wouldn't put any kind of pressure on him or make him, it will make his fear worse. I would tell him to give it his best shot and leave it at that.
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I would not pressure him- though he will have to give them so maybe it is better he start know and do one.
In my childrens preschool they have them share every school day to get them used to talking in front of a group- I am glad as I am like your son and do not like talking in front of a group.
Good luck to him
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Oh, I totally feel for him. Ask him if it would help if you were there to cheer him on. Sometimes having a familiar face and knowing someone is there that truly believes in him will help. I hate, hate, hate having to give presentations and am so glad that I am not in a position where I have to do so now.
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Well, I have preped him the best I can. I asked him to please do this for me. It is up to him now, we shall see tomorrow if he does it or not!
I know that eventually he will have to give speeches, but 2nd grade seems so young. My ds has gotten more out going and better about doing things as he has gotten older. I was hoping he would be ready by the time he actually has to do it. He does not have a diagnosed social anxiety or anything, but he has always just shut down if he cannot do exactally what he thinks he should. We have been working on this issue for years. Fortunately, he had a wonderful daycare provider and preschool teacher who were very patient with him and helped him alot. His kindergarten teacher was not very patient and he spent alot of time working with the school social worker on his issues. He had a supper 1st grade teacher and really had no issues last year at all, so I was hoping that this year could go smoothly too. I sure hope that moving doesn't cause a set back for him too.
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I would imagine that this is something in the 2nd grade curriculum. Sharing ideas orally, communicating ideas to an audience, etc. Something along those lines. Trust that he will do the best he can do at the time. It's a teachable moment either way. We all have fears, and it is perfectly acceptable for him to be nervous about talking in front of the class. Working through a fear is a great thing for a child to do. Maybe many adults wouldn't have the fear of speaking in front of groups if our generation did more of that as elementary school students.
I wish him the best of luck! How great that he has a mom who is supporting him through this big moment!
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Has he ever had to do show and tell? Ds son had that starting in preschool. Now in second grade they don't. But I thought doing show in tell was part of getting them used to speaking in front of people..
I wish him luck because I'm 40 years old and still have a fear of speaking up in general. Let us know how it goes.
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If this were my situation, I would strongly encourage my ds to do it, and maybe offer a reward especially at his age. I wouldn't let him settle for the 0 for the assignment. I think that would teach him that if he doesn't want to do something, he doesn't have to. And IMO, when it comes to my children's education that doesn't fly in my book. I know it's only 2nd grade but it lays the foundation for the years to come.
Can you talk to his teacher about an alternate assignment? I know he has to do the speech soon, but in the future? Learning to speak in front of others is gonna happen eventually and it doesn't mean it'll come easy or natural to him, I would stress that.
I'm a tough mom though, I get my fair share of critism for the rules I enforce for homework, projects and assignments. I only wish my parents encouraged me and stayed on me the way I do for my kids.
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would it be possible for teacher to stand next to him while he gives the speech or maybe if you are available to come to school and stand next to him.
allgirls