Artifact Reflection Artifact Title: Speech Class Date: Spring 2012 Artifact Description: During the spring semester

of my sophomore year at UW-Platteville I took Speech Class with Dr. Chislom. The artifact I have included is one speech I gave during that semester. The assignment was to imagine that you were twenty years in the future, and you had been asked to come back to your high school and give a commencement speech to the graduating class. I enjoyed this assignment because it allowed me to imagine my future. It was also a good thing to write a speech like this as a twenty year old, only two years after graduating from high school, because I felt I could write a better speech that would relate to the age group I was metaphorically speaking to. I have also included my transcript with my grade in Speech 1010 highlighted. Alignment: Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment: This experience best aligns with Standard 6: Communication- The teacher uses effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques as well as instructional media and technology to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom. This artifact best aligns with standard 6 because Speech Class is all about communication. Communication is obviously a vital factor in the field of education. A lot of us have probably had teachers who mumbled or did not have very good speaking skills. This always makes it much harder to pay attention and learn the material, no matter how simple or complex the subject matter may be. Public speaking class was a great time for me to practice speaking in front of a group of people. I learned different ways to make me feel less nervous. I also learned different skills to grab the audiences attention and keep them interested during my whole speech. I am more competent now in this standard because a majority of the time I am a full-time teacher I will be standing up talking in front of the class. This class aided me in becoming an above average public speaker. UW-Platteville Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Alignment: The artifact aligns with KSD3.a: Communicating Clearly and Accurately- The candidate's spoken and written language are correct, expressive and clear, with well-chosen vocabulary that enriches teaching and communicates thoughtfully, responsively, and effectively for a wide range of student understanding and encourages appropriate student language development.

This experience aligns with this KSD because this classs sole purpose is to teach students how to communicate clearly and accurately. It gave me opportunities to enhance my public speaking skills and present information in front of a group of people. If my language was not clear and accurate, I would have received a poor grade. Also, we were required to try to make our speeches interesting and entertaining to everyone, not just a certain group of students. I am a lot more competent as a communicator now because before this I was never required to stand up in front of a group of people I did not know and give a speech. Through this I was forced to do this, and it really helped me feel more comfortable. Secondary Alignment: KSD3.c: Engaging Students in Learning KSD2.d: Managing Student Behavior KSD2.c: Managing Classroom Procedures Reflection: What I learned about teaching/learning from this experience: While in speech class giving speeches and listening and watching others give speeches, I learned a lot about how important it is to have exemplary public speaking skills. If someone was up giving a speech and his or her head was down or I could not hear them, it was really hard for me to pay attention to what they had to say. The people who were smiling, making eye contact, and projecting their voice were very easy to listen to, and I sometimes learned things from their speeches. This correlates directly to the classroom I will be teaching in. I need to engage the students with my outstanding speaking skills, or they will be distracted, and I will not be able to teach very well. What I learned about myself as a prospective educator as a result of this experience: I learned that I sometimes get nervous while standing alone speaking in the front of the class with all the attention on me. I learned that I am a lot less nervous speaking when I have practiced my speech, and I know the material. This will be important in the classroom because if I try to teach without preparing a lesson plan, my students may be able to pick up on the fact that I stumble through my lesson plans, and my instructional time will not be as engaging. If I study what I need to be teaching the night before, I will be able to teach a lot more effectively, instead of worrying about what I need to talk about. Practice makes your words flow a lot smoother.