Classmates and family members gathered last week in Grade 2 to enjoy a wonderful poetry reading. Each girl read a poem she had written, then everyone sipped hot chocolate and read more student work.
Below is an example of one poem that was shared by Carine:
Leaves
The leaves
Rustle,
In the night.
In the morning,
The wind
Whispering,
To them,
The leaves,
Rustle back.
Leaves, Rustle
Wind, Whispers
For the past two years, Tim Johnson (a Hamlin parent) has been bringing his public speaking expertise to both faculty members and students alike. The positive buzz around his work has been palpable. One administrator who took Johnson’s workshop states, “It was super helpful, not as scary as I thought it would be, and I think of what I learned in his workshop regularly!”
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Johnson and learn more about who he is, and how he changes lives through teaching public speaking.
What led you to this work?
I got into theater when I was attending high school in North Carolina, that experience being on stage got me started with public speaking. Later, I worked for Enterprise for ten years in sales. I would meet with a CEO of a plumbing company who might be interested in using our cars; I figured out very quickly that those industry leaders are busy, and that I needed to say something that had immediate meaning and relevance. I learned a great deal about public speaking by giving numerous sales pitches.
What has your experience working with Hamlin students and faculty members been like?
The girls show so much respect for one another, they have a strong foundation of confidence that you can just feel when working with them. I’m so impressed with the camaraderie that is built by the cohort of faculty members taking my workshop. We start by filming a 1-minute speech, then we look at what was good and not so good, pointing out strengths and things that could be worked on. The work they do is like a combination of a trust fall and individual weightlifting, but there is so much growth from the experience.
You have done all of your Hamlin sessions on a pro-bono basis, tell us about that.
This has been my way of giving back to the school. Others are able to give big financial donations; I’m able to give my time and expertise.
Share one tip that anyone can use to become a more effective public speaker.
Practice, practice, practice. Practice out loud; time what you are going to say. Also, don’t forget that people will remember the way you make them feel more than anything specific that you say.
To connect with Tim Johnson, feel free to email him at: tim@apjconsult.com
Throughout the academic year students in Grade 4 engage in dynamic public speaking in front of the entire Lower School, along with parents and faculty. Girls talk about some of their favorite things, share specifics about one topic in particular, then take 3 questions from the audience.
Today, girls spoke about the following:
Liliana spoke about her love of waterskiing.
Paige spoke about her love of surfing.
Sasha spoke about her love of baking.
Georgia spoke about her love of singing and then performed “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift.
For many girls, this is the biggest speaking event of their lives so far. They practice, work through nerves, and ultimately thrive from the experience. In the coming days another group of Grade 4 students will have the opportunity to take the stage and be VIP speakers.