Communication Skills

Communication Skills

Standards

Expressive Language: Writing III: The student writes effectively for different audiences and purposes, (e.g. to describe, express, explain, persuade, and analyze) using appropriate writing strategies and conventions)

Receptive Language: Listening and Viewing: Student demonstrates, analyzes, evaluates, and reflects upon the skills and processes introduced through a variety of materials

Expressive Language: Student speaks and writes effectively to express opinions based on analysis of text

Expressive Language: Speaking: The student speaks effectively for different audiences and purposes (e.g. to describe, express, explain, persuade, and analyze) using appropriate speaking strategies and conventions.

Assessment / Product or Culminating Activities

Assessment

Teacher designed rubrics that assess writing skills
Teacher designed rubrics that assess discussion skills
Student/teacher designed rubrics that assess long term projects

Culminating Activity

Master five basic competencies:

Listen and respond effectively
Speak in a grammatically correct, organized, and appropriate mode
Write for a variety of communication purposes
Express and defends point of view
Develop practical business and consumer skills

Gifted Strands

Communication

Refinement of listening skills
Development of oral and written skills
Appropriate expression of ideas
Clarify and defend point of view in discussions with peers
Vocabulary building

Interpersonal Skills

Acceptance of various viewpoints
Consensus building
Shared learning
Confidence in expressing own views

Thinking Skills

Analysis of various viewpoints
Application of new knowledge
Synthesis of new concepts
Substantiate ideas with factual data

Skills of an Independent Learner

Self initiating
Self advocacy
Time management
Enhanced self confidence

Activities

Expectations:

Write classroom rules with regard to discussion
Write discussion/writing rubrics
Review discussion ground rules
Identify difference between fact and opinion

Discussions:

Pursue open-ended discussions
Clarify and defend point of view with supportive data
Listen, respond, integrate diverse view points/ideas within group setting
Gather new data that supports and disputes your point of view
Receive, interpret, summarize, and respond orally to verbal and non-verbal messages
Re-evaluate ideas and form personal opinion based in facts presented
Defend POV when questioned

Writings:

Clarify and defend POV in writing
Support POV with data from readings and/or discussions
Develop focus through organized writing
Write for a variety of communication purposes