Realizations Post Parent Teacher Conference

During the last PTC I realized that most of my students’ grades went higher. Those whose grades went some points lower were the ones who did not get perfect in the oral performance task. Good thing we had the Show and tell activity which somehow justified the idea that their oral performance can be graded but at the end of the day, I somehow feel guilty because I think we still hadn’t done enough. I mean, yes, after practice via show and tell, they can be graded but maybe not in the performance task, may be just in the process or knowledge level. The Show and tell activity may have exposed them to public speaking but I can say it didn’t give them opportunity for mastery.

Looking at my records of score in their oral performance task, most of them got low in the “volume of Voice” component. This tells me that the students can stand in front speaking with correct grammar and rich content but the problem is the volume of their voice. I am thinking of making activities that can improve this particular component. I am also thinking of consulting maybe a vocal coach for this. The problem seem to be not really in their confidence (although that follows and should also be dealt with, perhaps after volume) nor in the grammar but in their breathing and voice control plus the fact that public speaking as described in the rubric is something new to them. I am also wondering whether it should really be already graded in the first grade or perhaps I need to modify my rubric?