Public speaking

I'm sorry to read that it's been delayed Aveline. I was hoping to read that it was all over.

Has there been a gradual approach to talking to other pupils, or just pushed straight in to maximum exposure?

How crucial a part of the curriculum can it be, at 9 years old?
Could he be allowed stay sitting, instead of standing at the front?

Would they let him just write it and read it out perhaps? Hiding behind a piece of paper might help and at least he wouldn't forget things. It is comforting to have something to hold, gives you something to do with your hands whilst speaking.

He has it all beautifully written out. The best he can do is just read it aloud while standing in front of the class.

That will be a good start, and (I hope) the teacher will encourage him. Next time it will be a bit easier, and so on until he's doing it without a backward glance. Would it help him to know there is a Board of Grans rooting for him?

What a ludicrous approach to children. What is it teaching children anyway? - teachers are all powerful, you have to do something that makes you feel sick with nerves, not just before you do it but for weeks in anticipation, and teachers (thereby adults) are not to be trusted to support you (obviously I don’t mean you or his parents Aveline, you are doing your best against a one size fits all system).

Some children just can’t. No amount of practice will make them confident public speakers. Why should they have to be anyway? There are other skills in life and sometimes the quiet ones who speak the least have the most interesting things to say.

If he were in my class he would have been prepared for a single person presentation for many sessions beforehand. So first session a group or pairs presentation. All children must contribute to planning and stand in front of the class but not speak unless they wish to. Next session all children must contribute to presentation but not necessarily by speaking (holding pictures etc). Next session in pairs both children must speak but not necessarily equally. Next equal presentation. Next solo but he can take a friend to stand with him for support. Finally (and this may not happen until he is older) completely solo presentation.
The concept that children will get over their fears if they are just subjected to the same trial every year is not born out by the evidence. It needs proper support to develop skills and overcome fears.

That sounds a good approach Glorianny but not at DGSs school. It's remembering how awful it was last year that's upsetting him this year. He was just 8 then.
I'll tell him that a whole lot of Grans are wishing him well. Thanks.

Not a million miles from what I said earlier, is it?

. . . in the case of presentations they could (as a class) start by something like being asked to stand up when addressing the class, eg answering a question, and take it in stages from there. I doubt they would go from nothing to a full-blown presentation in one go, which would be asking a lot.
Obviously a lot would depend on how much time was available to devote to that part of the syllabus, but a similar approach, which suggests that either you are wrong about my 'paying lip service' to sensitivity to differing abilities, or you see yourself as being insensitive too.

Either way, you have been deeply offensive to me, based on my comments about how in a university situation - one in which students are selected on the basis of their declared ability to complete a course, and are graded on a pre-determined set of skills, which fit a grid that is used by all HE institutions, it is impossible to differentiate between students when it comes to assessments, particularly in these days of high fees and litigious parents, many of whom want preferential treatment for their own children and scream 'unfair' when others appear to be given such treatment.

Aveline

He has it all beautifully written out. The best he can do is just read it aloud while standing in front of the class.

That does seem the best approach.
Simply look at the paper and read it out clearly.
I hope they don't expect actual presentation skills too.

Is it a topic he is interested in, and knows well?

Yes. He's interested in the topic etc. It's such a shame. His big brother is especially good at presentations and has won the year prize. This lad is just the opposite. Brothers!

Are they allowed to take visual aids? These can take the focus off the speaker, and it might make him feel more confident if he can pass something round while he's speaking, or have a photo/chart/map to refer to whilst he's talking.

@Aveline I don't want to get bogged down in the rights or wrongs of the situation but I wonder if his parents could ask for him to present to a smaller group of friends on this occasion. It would be a "reasonable adjustment" with a view to building up his confidence.

These young children are sadly pawns in the government's fiddling with the curriculum. teacher's have far less say in what they teach than ever before whilst being unable to adapt inappropriate expectations for each child's unique development. What many folk do not realise is that curricular expectations are being pushed down on younger and younger children and many are simply not yet ready. Yes research and presenting are very useful life skills but they are far from necessary for younger primary age children.

slightly different, and if anyone takes exception, then I apologise, but speaking of present day "education" is there anyone here who is aware that at some schools children are not allowed to go to the toilet, during class or in official break times.. and... it goes on... so many children, according to some media, are not attending school due to "anxiety issues" is it any wonder?

Aveline It’s bad teaching and learning if it isn’t adapted to the various needs of every single student in the class.

It’s called differentiation, and every teacher is expected to do it.
It should be embedded in all planning for every lesson, whether the individual children are SEN, G&T, EAL and everything in between.
It should be evident to the children too.
They should feel safe and secure with their teacher and classmates.
It’s totally unacceptable that he is so distressed.
If your daughter doesn’t get any joy from the teacher, I would contact the Head.

I hope that your Grandson is okay

Could he have done it at home first to quell his fears?? Then he would be prepared to face the class! Or have a good friend by his side so they did a bit each? This problem needs to be discussed with school ! As a retired teacher I would have welcomed parental input

When I was called upon to do a talk in public about com-limentery therapies, I was terrified. Then had a bright idea and asked a colleague who was a hypnotherapist if he would do the talk. No he said, but he offered to do hypnotherapy on me. Time for the talk, I stood up and could hear this voice loud and clear, it was me!! I did lots of talks after that. won't help a small child, but its will help with careers?

I’m glad to hear this is part of the curriculum. I only remember standing up to read my composition if asked or having to recite a piece of poetry that we’d had to learn. I was quite a shy child but there was never any possibility of getting out of it. My son had to do presentations on a regular basis at his independent school and from a young age. When at university he had to present ideas to groups of local business people and was never fazed by it so I strongly believe that it builds confidence.

If you really want to improve the situation for any children you believe are suffering this way, you need to speak out about the ‘some schools’ you mention polnan.
Ask to see the head, write to the governors, don’t just talk about it on here. Check the information you are getting from each school you have heard where this applies.

Not allowed to go in class or in official break times? Where exactly have you seen or heard about this?

Spot on Doodledog.

This is nothing new I'm 57 and did this at Primary School regularly Your grandson will survive and in time thrive at it

I can still remember now how mortified I was having to stand in front of a class of 40 children and speak for one minute on any subject. I didn’t say a word. I just went bright red and looked at the floor until it was time to sit down. I was about 13/14 at the time. Still today I could never stand up in front of a lot of people and talk. Even if I was sitting at a table at a dinner party and there were about eight of us, I wouldn’t like to be the one doing the talking and having everyone looking at me.

Just awful borders on abuse
I’d be complaining loudly if it was my child

How cruel, poor lad…. Surely we all have different strengths and weaknesses and we should play into that. As you say they insist he does it, could he not sit down and do it instead of standing up.

absolutely hated doing presentations. i had to do them as a mature undergraduate as part of my degree course. the first time i had to do a presentation i was physically sick for days before and shook for hours afterwards.
i never got used to presentations and thankfully haven't had to do any more since i graduated.
i have always been shy and never put myself in the spotlight - i didn't enjoy my wedding as i hated having to walk up the aisle with everyones' eyes on me!