For Students in Grades 4 - 8 and 9 -12
Communicating with Confidence Learning Labs Summer Program
The Labs are an exciting, student-led, technology-assisted, and standards-driven program designed to prepare students to communicate with confidence. Grounded in social-cognitive theories, active and experiential learning, students will gain confidence through an iterative process of Learning, Doing, and Leading!
What an awesome year!
We are thankful for the opportunity to support students and families from the following schools in 2022-23! Our gratitude to the Principals, PTAs and Parents at Fairmont Elementary, Golden Elementary, Woodsboro, Mabel Paine, Rio Vista, Melrose, Ruby Drive, and Topaz Elementary Schools.
On-hand, experiential, project-based learning
What students will learn in 10 Labs
STUDENT OUTCOMES & LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- How to give a 3-5-minute presentation
- How to Listen effectively to connect and engage with others
- How to Give Feedback in a way that others will listen and learn from you
- How to speak spontaneously and inspire through personal stories
- How to take initiative and lead others
SKILLS STUDENTS WILL PRACTICE DURING THE LAB:
- Overcome the nervousness they feel when speaking to engage in collaborative discussions, building on the ideas of others and expressing their own ideas. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1)
- Prepare, organize and present their ideas and stories in an effective way, having read, researched information to share and explore ideas under discussion. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1.A)
- Listen with positive intentions, follow and carry out their assigned functional or leadership roles. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1.B)
- Review ideas expressed, draw conclusions and offer advice to help others grow and improve. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1.D)
- Participate, pose and respond to questions that contribute to the discussion, and possibly lead a discussion or lab meeting (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1.C)
- Through reflection exercises students will gain self-knowledge, self-agency, efficacy, and empathy.
- Most students will experience what leadership is about, the actions involved and given opportunities to develop their leadership skills.
Learning Labs are available to 3 age groups:
DISCOVER: Grades 4-6
DEVELOP: Grades 5-12
DISCOVER: Grades 4-6
"Self-knowledge is the beginning of all wisdom." - Aristotle
Students will learn foundational communication principles and leadership skills while exploring topics in science, technology, engineering, digital citizenship and more!
DEFINE: Grades 4-6
DEVELOP: Grades 5-12
DISCOVER: Grades 4-6
Students will define a problem , research, and design a solution (or modify an existing solution) to a real-world problem. Students will use their communications skills in a Project Based Learning, Problem-solving, and Teamwork environment.
DEVELOP: Grades 5-12
DEVELOP: Grades 5-12
DEVELOP: Grades 5-12
Students in the DEVELOP Learning Lab have taken the Communicating with Confidence Module 1 or 2. Building on the foundational principles, students will learn to interview experts in the field, present their solutions to key stakeholders (i.e. Foundation Board, School Board or City Council, etc.) and implement or gain support for their project solution.
Interested in bringing the Learning Labs to my school?
We have a simple 4-step process set-up. Please contact us for more information! Thank you.
What are students and parents saying about the learning lab?
Evelyn, Student
After completing the Learning Lab during the summer of 2021, Evelyn shared this story in the fall. (The content has been paraphrased for brevity.)
"I recently joined a club called Cyber Patriots/Cyber Security at my school. I think the Communicating with Confidence Learning Lab helped me a lot in giving my speech and having enough confidence to do so, so thank you!
I applied to be a Officer and gave a speech in front of 80+ people!! I was elected as 1 of 2 secretaries!
The Learning Lab have given us so many opportunities this year including presenting at the Empowered: Women in Industry District Event. We've grown a lot, not only in our confidence and public speaking skills, but also mentally and personally.
Thank you so much! I hope 2022 will be an even better year for the REACH Foundation."
Angela, Student
"One thing I've learned is that it is better to learn how to communicate correctly sooner rather than later, as the use of communications will always remain an important part of our future."
Makhayla, Student
"Learning to take initiative, learning about how to be confident with speaking, and learning how to give feedback in a way that others can use to help themselves."
Evelyn, Student
The Learning Lab allows for students to expand and develop their communications skills while in a safe environment so that even if they're nervous or make a mistake, it's ok, and they know no one will judge them for that. It allows students to have fun while learning and to think deeply about STEM topics and practice their writing skills when preparing their speeches using the Communicating Outline Checklist.
Sanaa, Student
The Learning Lab has been a great experience! Some of its key benefits are that it has helped me to educate myself on various topics. The feedback givers are great as well because they help you to understand what areas you need to work on.
Daniel, Student
I enjoy how it's structured. How there are certain things that we do every day, the games. How we get to learn about new things every day with the speeches.
Leticia, Parent & Teacher
The Learning Lab "has many benefits, but the main one is helping to build public speaking confidence in students."
Our Partners
Student guidelines and protocols:
At the Learning Lab, our vision is to empower students to communicate with confidence, an essential skill for career and life readiness. Our Mission is to engage, inspire and transform through the power of communications, using oratory techniques and educational technology to create a supportive environment. To ensure that your student(s) will achieve the expected performance outcomes, please review the following guidelines:
Students are expected to attend every Lab and give their best efforts to maximize their learning.
Students will be encouraged to speak about topics that interest them, especially topics, they are learning in school.
Students will have access to the Learning Lab documents, PDFs and google worksheets to help them work efficiently and effectively.
For in-person Learning Labs:
- Come prepared to learn, engage and give your best effort
- Be on time
- Show respect and kindness to everyone.
- Take initiative and volunteer for a role to accelerate your learning.
- The Facilitators are there to support your success. Don't hesitate to ask for help.
- Turn iPhones and all devices off to limit distractions. Thank you for your cooperation!
Refund/Drop Policy:
If a student does not show up, or is absent for 2 or more classes, they will receive a 50% refund. (This excludes absences that are excused with prior communication to the Facilitator). Our facilitators and staff have invested a significant amount of time to plan for a successful and productive Lab for your students. Thank you for your cooperation.
For online virtual Learning Labs:
- Jazz hands are a universal sign language that offers positive feedback and applause. During online meetings, we use jazz-hands frequently to offer feedback.
- Computer cameras should be ON at all times to connect and engage with their peers.
- If the student has to leave the room, they may turn their camera off. If a student’s camera is off, it signifies the student is not in the meeting room.
- Turn iPhones, iPads and any other devices off, to limit distractions.
- Use the Mute and Unmute function as appropriate to minimize disruption during the meeting. This helps cut down on background noise, and accidental disruptions.
- Choose your own view:
- Gallery View or Speaker View
- Pin someone’s video to make the main picture.
- Speakers should pin the Timer before you are introduced.