My Top 5 Most Motivating TED Talks of 2016 (High School English Teacher Edition)

I love TED Talks. In the quiet mornings before school, I find myself pursuing the Internet looking for a catchy title and a topic of which I wish to learn more. I am often provided with a creative idea, new perspective, or meaningful message for me to reflect upon and apply to my life in some small way. TED Talks are created by passionate, intelligent individuals who have amazing messages to share with the world. While some topics have more of a direct correlation to my life than others, these speakers are incredibly knowledgeable and have worked diligently to hone their delivery skills in hopes of empowering others. As the year comes to a close, I am attempting to identify how 2016 has shaped me, enlivened my creativity, and motivated me to continue to grow, learn, and serve others. The TED Talks that have filled the airwaves around me in my early mornings before school have played a significant role in my metacognitive musings.

From leadership to gratitude, playtime to kindness - the topics that I have learned from about from these remarkable people have challenged my thinking and reminded me what is most valuable in our lives in encouraging ways. Here's a little sample of what has been shared with me this year because of TED:

1. The Magic of Kindness: Orly Wahba at TED 2013

While this video is a few years old, I stumbled upon it looking for a message to share with my students the last day before winter break. In need a reminder of the greatest gift we can give those around us, our kindness, this ten-minute talk sparked incredible conversation with students. As we discussed the power of intentionally saying a kind word to others, many students realized how even small, unassuming acts of kindness could play a significant role in another person's life. This speech was astonishingly powerful and a wonderful reminder of how we should live our lives purposefully and remember how to treat others. Orly Wahba, a middle school teacher, founded the Life Vest Inside.

2. My Year of Saying Yes to Everything: Shonda Rhimes

Time and again, people encourage me to learn to say "no." Like many teachers, I am one of those individuals who push myself to every limit and then find myself sick every holiday break because I burnt the candle at both ends (Or I cut the candle in half and burnt it at all four ends. What can I say? I thoroughly enjoy embracing productivity.). This description accurately applies to so many of my colleagues, friends, and peers who work tirelessly to improve the lives of their students. This type of existence, while exhausting, is rewarding and is part of my personality that I hope always remains. Shonda Rhimes, the great TV creator, expresses similar sentiments in her February 2016 TED talk, that reminded me that it is okay to say "yes." It is also important that when a person says "yes," he or she commits to being in the moment. Rhimes recounts a period in her life when burnout seemed to consume her. She then shares stories of how she said yes to playing with her children (who like mine are named after authors). This speech reinforced the importance of play and allowing myself to be in the moment with my children. I could not identify with this speech more and loved the message that yes, strong women can work hard and at a thousand miles a minute and still be great mothers. Strong women can model for their daughters how to be powerful, impactful, and influential by focusing on their vocational callings. And strong women can also take the time to be silly, sing Frozen songs, and giggle for seemingly no reason with her daughters just because.

3. Want To Be Happy? Be Grateful: David Steindl Rast

Gratitude is a powerful and life-giving emotion. When one is grateful, his heart is open to seeing the world in a positive light. Gratitude is one feeling I try to instill in my speech team students. Being grateful for our peers, for the opportunities we have, and for lessons learned (even the tough ones) allow us to fully embrace the life that we are given and make the most of it. This TED Talk, delivered in such a genuine and unassuming manner, is empowering. As the speech reminds us all that each day is a gift, he challenges listeners to recognize the impact gratitude has not only on our individual happiness but also the collective happiness of the world. If we stop and take the time to appreciate what we have been given, we have so much more. This is a beautiful talk, especially for the holiday season.

4. Everyday Leadership: Drew Dudley

While this chat is a little older, I love Drew Dudley and his stories so much. From a cultural perspective, we make leadership sound like a grand idea - a position that is attained from being the best, the brightest, and the most accomplished. Dudley's talk debunks this notion and reminds viewers that leadership is embedded within every moment. He shares a story in which he changed a person's life simply by sharing a lollipop. While he personally does not remember the experience, the person who he impacted does and can share with him just how much that moment changed her life. Life is about creating lollipop moments; we are relational being meant to impact each other. This talk empowers all people to live intentionally. A complimentary video for this short TED Talk - How To Start A Movement by Derek Siver. Also short, the two combined equal the length of one typical TED Talk.  What we do and say affects others in ways that we cannot see. These two videos are empowering for young people to see and can lead to great discussion in a variety of settings (coaching and in the classroom).

5. What One Skill = An Awesome Life?: by Dr. Shimi Kang

I found the speaker in this TED Talk particularly inspiring. An accomplished doctor, working mom, and passionate learner - Dr. Shimi Kang reveals how grit, perseverance, and hard work are just the start of establishing a happy life. As the years pass by, we often experience seasons. Having children change everything. With age and experience come new perspectives and new responsibilities. Adapting to change is a difficult concept, yet it is the only real constant in our lives. This talk reinforces that idea that when we embrace change, we can successful and happily navigate all of life's obstacles with grace, joy, and love. While the focus of this piece is adaptability, it does touch on ideas from Angela Duckworth's "Grit," which is another inspiring and short talk about find passion and persevering through challenges we face.

While several books on "How to Deliver a TED Talk" have been published, How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World's Most Inspiring Presentations is my personal favorite on the subject. This book, by Jeremy Donovan, contains several great tips and suggests TED Talks to watch that highlight the concepts in the book. After reading through it at the end of this past summer, I was able to glean many ideas from it and enjoyed reading it overall.

Special Occasion Speeches: Everyday Speaking

When I reflect upon my teaching journey, it always amazes me how I was led to teach speech. This area within the humanities realm would not have been my first choice to pursue as a teenager, but I am so grateful that it has become my passion. Public speaking is truly an area that requires discipline, practice, and it is one that applies to every single person's life in countless ways. 

In every walk of life, we are called upon to be public speakers. As teachers, we take the floor daily. While other professions may not address audiences as frequently - board meetings, presentations, interviews, small-group collaboration, and one-on-one informational sharing occurs. These are all forms of public speaking, which require people to be able to encode a valuable message to at least one other person. Communicating clearly can allow individuals to advance in his or her career, obtain a dream job, find success, and improve the quality of his or her craft no matter what that craft may be. This idea is powerful and one that has fueled my passion for teaching young people to love public speaking or mildly tolerate it.

In addition to communicating as part of their careers, students will also be asked to speak public in some of life's most important events. Weddings, funerals, significant birthdays, anniversaries, and other functions that occur among family and friends. To help students begin to realize that they will need to speak at these functions throughout their lives and give them a little practice with real-world speaking, I've developed a few activities during my final unit (Special Occasion Unit) in my speech class to help make public speaking more realistic. 

1. Tribute Speeches (AKA Class Eulogies)

Taking my class roster, I cut up names and throw them into a hat. I then have students pull names out and deliver a speech on a person in the class. These speeches are delivered in more of an impromptu fashion, but allow students to reflect on the various messages their peers have shared throughout a semester and encourage students to provide praise and affirmation to others positively. Sparked from the initial end of the world 2012 Mayan calendar debacle, this assignment was designed to promote a celebratory feeling as the semester begins to wind down. 

2. A Lesson in Leadership

Public speaking and leadership are two skills that work in tandem to help individuals successfully communicate an idea. Spending a few days focused on what it means to be a leader and leadership style can help students realize how to use their voices and speaking prowess to communicate with others in a variety of settings effectively. Typically, I use the week after the holiday break and before finals to teach leadership skills to students in a three-day mini-unit. The first day focuses on leadership styles and asks students to reflect on how they serve as leaders in the classroom, in their extracurricular activities, and in the workplace (if they have jobs). The second day, I choose to emphasize how to put their leadership skills into action, and the final day emphasizes what their current leadership abilities mean for them as future college students and workers in society. There are so many incredible resources on leadership and communication. My personal favorites include: 

• 10 Communication Secrets of Great Leaders from Forbes Magazine
• Drew Dudley: Everyday Leaders from TED
• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't by Jim Collins
• How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie 
• The Tribes We Lead by Seth Godin from TED

3. Acceptance Speeches

Again, this assignment is typically more impromptu in nature than a full formal speech assignment. One concept I like to discuss during the Special Occasion Unit is accepting compliments. As human beings, we are culturally taught to deflect compliments. When someone says, "I like your sweater," the receiver of the compliment may say "Oh, I've had it for a while" or "I got it on sale." We make up excuses or attempt to downplay compliments. It is difficult to confidently accept kind words and staying humble at the same time. I like to challenge students to dream of an award they would like to receive one day. This dream can be grand or simple, far-fetched or realistic. Then they have to find a way to accept the award with grace. Not only does this encourage them to realize that we are allowed to receive compliments, but it also challenges them to set immense goals and reach for them. 

4. This I Believe Essays

I use this assignment frequently in a variety of different situations. I know I've written about this assignment before. During this unit, I share a few examples of This I Believe essays from the official website and spend time analyzing what made these essays meaningful. Then I challenge students to reflect on their own values and write about one belief that is meaningful to them. Using at least one personal story as to how that belief has influenced or shaped their lives, students write short essays that are then shared aloud. Every year, I am amazed by the depth and positivity of my students' beliefs and am inspired by their perspectives. In a unit that focuses on real-life speaking, this is definitely a powerful and important assignment. When we encourage students to use their words to express their ideas with the world, amazing results occur. 

5. The Official Summative SOS Assignment

At the end of the unit, I allow students to choose what type of special occasion speech that they would like to deliver, encourage them to reflect on what they value/what is important to them, and then give a speech within the realm of reality that is meaningful to them. I love these speeches because they are diverse, personal, and realistic. These speeches will happen in their lives. What has been wonderful is many students choose to deliver a tribute speech to a beloved coach, mentor, or teacher. This year, one of my students decided to award our princiPAL with a Principal of the Year award. We try to have the guest of honor come in if a student is confident enough to hear his/her tribute speech. Many guests were able to attend this past week to hear their speeches, including our principal. The reactions to their speeches, particularly his, are priceless and truly showcase how powerful words are and how special our words can make this world!

Everyday public speaking occurs when significant life experiences happen. Celebrating memories, relationships, and growth are vital parts of our lives. Teaching students to embrace these moments will help make the words they share meaningful.

(My State Qualifying SOS-er! She's pretty fantastic and going to make an amazing teacher one day!)

Using Language and Teaching Word Choice

This past semester, I have worked to encourage my senior speech students to sincerely take part in their learning by creating a dialogue about what they want to learn. Getting them to step beyond simply wanting to “speak well” or “be less afraid of public speaking,” has been a challenge. Open-ended questions and assignments that require crafting on the part of the student are two elements of education that students find difficult, but it has been my hope to change that this year for my students. One lesson that my students deemed important is word choice and how to use words to truly captivate their audience.

Choosing the right words to say to an audience is more challenging that most speakers realize. Connotative meanings of words can bear a great weight on how an audience reacts and interprets a message. At the same time, I often find that when students are intentional with wording, they often become wordy or their language is abstract, thus making a message that is intended to sound intelligent, unintelligible. In an attempt to reinforce word choice during my speaking for real audiences unit (special occasion speaking), I incorporated a few activities to help students understand how to be intentional, economical, and purposeful with their words.

1. Write Six-Word Memoirs

Featured in SMITH Magazine, the six-word memoir changes students to be thoughtful with their words and to paint a vivid picture using only limited words. In such a short message, students learn that every word matters and every word can be used to paint a picture and reveal something significant about their messages and themselves. My example: Math nerd loves English. Sorry, Mom. (Both my mom and brother are former math teachers turned administrators. Math and science are far more prevalent subjects of study for my extended family as well. When I told my mother that I wanted to be an English teacher instead of a math teacher, I nearly broke her heart).

2. Edit a Wordy Paper

Having students sit down and edit a paper is a valuable experience for many reasons. While this lesson feels more like an activity for a writing class than a speech class, teaching students to reread and re-evaluate their writing turns into more direct and compelling communicators in any form. If students work in pairs, they can then identify which words to remove, how to reconstruct sentences for effectiveness, and then analyze how their choices made the message clearer and more impactful.

3. Word Association

A single word can hold many meanings. Based on our perceptions, a word like “grade” can assume a positive tone because we hold happy memories about school and grades that we received in school. On the other hand, the word “grade” can seem ominous and daunting to a student who applies to college and his math grade is simply because he is taking a rigorous course that might be a little beyond his comfort zone. Playing word association games can create a dialogue among students as well to analyze the difference between denotative and connotative meanings of words. With caution, looking up a few (previously surveyed) words on Urban Dictionary can be a funny way to talk about how the meanings of words evolve and are truly given their meaning by the people who utilize them on a daily basis.

4. Gallery Walks

Selecting vivid pictures of people, places, or unique objects can help students learn to be more descriptive. In class, we often talk about the canned responses to the questions “How are you?” or “How was your day?” Society teaches us to respond in a polite, mildly positive manner. “Fine” or “good” are usually deemed acceptable and expected answers, however, these answers tell the initial sender nothing. As such, teaching students to describe, be specific, and take the time to formulate responses improves the daily communication that occurs among the people we interact with on a daily basis. When students spend time talking about a visual image, they begin to realize how much more interesting and relevant our conversations can be.

5. Listen to and Analyze a Speech

One of my favorite talks about the power of words is from a Toastmaster Competition. In his speech, the speaker illustrates how one word can influence a person’s whole life for the better and unfortunately for the worse. Encouraging students to listen to this speech or any speech with the intent of analyzing language and word choice can make them more reflect speech writers and deliverers. Examples provide students with standards with which to meet. While we often think to provide students who are writing papers sample thesis statements, paragraphs, or even whole papers, it is easy to overlook providing students with quality samples of speeches. We hear people talk every day, right? We should never forget that students need to be shown what a quality speech is. They need to understand how one is crafted and the role that words play in the making of a strong speech. This particular speech is one of my favorite for a lesson on word choice.

6. This I Believe Essays
After spending time discussing words and spending time formulating messages in concise ways, students are ready for a more substantial venture. One of my favorite activities to do with students is craft This I Believe Essays. These brief essays can be written in a day or can be more detailed. I introduce this activity by listening to a few samples from teens on the This I Believe website. Then, I challenge students to find a way to clearly and positive express why a specific belief is meaningful to them. Including a personal story or example, students are tasked with thoroughly crafting a message about their views to be shared aloud. These messages are then showcased and shared online. Each semester, I amazed at the thoughtfulness, reflectiveness, and various perspectives that are shared. When we empower students to value their ideas and utilize their words to share them, wonderful results can happen.

Our words are powerful. As teachers, what we say and more importantly, how we say it significantly impacts our students both consciously and subconsciously. As frequent communicators of messages both large and small, we must remember to use words well.

Why I Teach: Year 9

With each passing year, my craft as a teacher has evolved. I am grateful for years of practice and gained wisdom, new knowledge and experience from which to draw inspiration. As I approach nearly a decade of teaching, I have reached a place where I am comfortable. I am able to have fun in the classroom - to go into a room knowing that no matter what may transpire, I will be able to adapt, react, and create a meaningful experience for my students. Still, with this level of comfort there is still much to learn, and certainly, reflection is essential to maintaining my creativity, my ability to understand my current students need, and also helps to fuel the passion and fervor that I hope to apply to my teaching every day of my career.

At the start of this holiday break, I signed my speech team up for an additional tournament. One of the teams that we have a close relationship with decided in the last month to host an additional tournament, and of course, I knew I had to be in attendance to run the competition. As a result, I emailed parents fully knowing that it was the beginning of the holiday break. In the email, I explained how this could be an additional experience for students who were able to have fun with friends, practice one last time before the more rigorous part of the season begins in January, and reiterated the understanding that family events and the holidays are far more important than any speech competition (except perhaps State). The reaction and level of attendance that was able to attend this tournament was absolutely impressive. Families altered plans so that their students could compete. Students who were not able to attend expressed disappointment for the missed opportunity. And while we only ended up with about 60% of our team, the students were still able to take home a third place trophy and had a blast with their friends sharing their messages with fellow competitors and judges.

Behind the scenes, I felt a little frantic trying to ensure logistically the tournament ran smoothly (I hit 16,000 steps on my FitBit - I was running. Literally). With several schools already on holiday break, attendance was lower in some regards. Also, inclement weather prevented a few schools from making the tournament, which meant a change in judging pool and alterations of the schedule. I was fortunate enough, however, to have several of my former students serving as my assistant coach, judges, and spectators. While the posting of finals became a challenge, what I discovered that afternoon not only touched me immensely but also reminded me why I teach.

My assistant and former student, Elise, spent the day asking what she could do to help. We had an additional judge and so I kept her close by to help with final round posters. This particular tournament was running a next-in final, meaning 28 posters would need to be written in approximately 30 minutes time. She accepted the task and spent most of the day prepping for one fast-paced afternoon. As my other former students finished judging, unbeknownst to me, they made their way to the room in which Elise was writing the posters and began helping without prompting, without need, and without question. They noticed that Elise could use extra hands and started to work. When I walked into the room where Elise was writing to check to make sure she was okay, I found six smiling faces busily writing, taping, and organizing. These six individuals were working together, completing a task they had never done before and were having fun accomplishing a common goal. Without their assistance, the tournament would have been delayed. Together, they took on a challenge, had time to catch up with one another, and seemed to genuinely have fun.

While this moment might be small and seem insignificant, I will sincerely treasure this moment for years to come. Watching my students grow up, find meaning and success, and make positive contributions to this world is one of the greatest gifts I could receive. Seeing these young people collaborate, complete a task, manage their time, and sincerely enjoy hard work reiterated to me what the most valuable life lessons are. Of course, grammar, analyzing a challenging text, and being able to write an organized paper bears importance in the educational process, being able to problem solve. But being willing to work hard, and collaborating with others are critical life skills that will serve them in any avenue they will pursue. While I love reading, public speaking, and writing these first few hours of "break" reminded me the reason why I teach. Being a small part of a young person's development and journey to becoming a happy, productive, and positive participant in this world is truly a gift. Being able to witness it first hand six times over this past weekend is priceless.

Why Words Matter

As my almost two-year-old embarks upon her first meaningful conversations with us, I am reminded how important language and words are to each of us. Harper has only recently begun to announce her name as proudly she enters a room, counting to four, and identifying shapes in board books. Anything that is green is a frog, and anything that is furry is, of course, a dog. Her enthusiasm and delightful squeals when she has discovered a new word are mesmeric. Her brow furls as she processes and realizes that she, in fact, understands a new concept that did not exist in her world until 0.25 seconds prior. An explosive acquisition of language is allowing her to embrace the world in ways that had previously been inaccessible to her.

Being almost two also seems overwhelming. When my sweet yet determined little lady does not have the words to communicate her thoughts or her present needs at a given moment, she immediately becomes frustrated, distraught, or downright upset. Again, her brow crinkles up in a desperate attempt to make sense of her surroundings. This level of frustration often results in tears and necessitates a hug, which I secretly slightly enjoy (She'll only cuddle for so long). Her tears, however, also remind me to pause and consider the feelings of all those who feel as if they do not have a voice.

In her struggles, I am reminded of my students who claim to hate writing papers because they're boring, but privately know that structuring and developing their ideas in a written format is challenging. I am reminded of the students who have home or personal struggles that they hide behind smiles and socializing in class. Being able to communicate and articulate ideas is not a concept that any of us should take for granted.

This fall, I hope to reiterate the importance of communication with my students. In a world that often leaves us at a loss of words and without the opportunity to share our thoughts, I hope that I can empower my new students with an ability to use words responsibility - to share ideas, promote positivity, and seek out their aspirations. In this final week of summer, my daughter has inadvertently reminded me how much words matter.

Why Words Matter: 

1. Words allow us to communicate.

At the beginning of August, I spent an entire week working with 49 high school students on communication skills that will not only improve their skills for the competitive speech season this fall, but also skills that will enhance their ability to speak, write, listen, and read in both academic and social forums. These literacy skills are essential to engaging in and contributing to the communities in which we reside. Throughout the week of camp, I found myself inspired by young people who embraced new experiences and worked to hone their skills.

2.  Words allow us to convey ideas.

In addition to practicing their communication skills, speech camp is a time in which students are challenged to share their thoughts and ideas in a variety of formats. Being consumers of media, students must understand how to process the information they receive, discern misinformation, and also be able to eloquently articulate opinions and thoughts. In addition to reading, writing, speaking, and listening, students need to be empowered with the ability to make sense of the messages they receive from a variety of platforms. Media literacy is a valuable tool for communicating in a digital world.

3. Words allow us to connect.

Being able to express oneself is valuable and empowering. It also allows individuals to build relationships - both professional and personal. One characteristic that has made the speech team so successful is the bond and friendship that the students form. These relationships arise because students can be open, honest, and expressive with one another. When people bond over shared experiences and can articulate their perceptions, they are more likely to create strong memories that strengthen friendships.

4. Words allow us to create.

Words enable us to express and share ideas in formal ways. We can write, deliver speeches, and create various forms of media that communicate great messages. Words must be used responsibly because they have meaning to their receivers, and if they are not entirely articulated, they can be misunderstood or lead to breakdowns in communication. Even a single word can hold significant meaning and elicit powerful emotional responses. As such, we must use them thoughtfully and cautiously. Our words are powerful. We must remember to use them well.

Completing the Puzzle: Team Building/ / Ice Breaker Game

A puzzle is a problem to be solved. It is a literal act of collaboration as several components (or pieces) work together to create a larger picture. Using this metaphor as inspiration, we tried a new team building activity during this past speech camp. This activity was one that I was looking forward to because it would challenge students to negotiate and "play fair." Watching the event unfold and reflecting with students after the activity was complete, I can say that compromising, collaborating, and being considerate of others are key attributes of a successful team. Just as a puzzle is comprised of several pieces that work together to create a greater picture, a team must complement each other and unite to find success. 

This game would be a great ice breaker for a classroom or a team building challenge. Taking only 20 minutes, I was surprised and pleased with the experience and the outcomes of the puzzle challenge. While I completed this activity with high school students, it could easily be adapted for younger children through adults. 

The Setup: 

With five teams of 10 students, my assistant and I took five Marvel themed puzzles (48 Pieces), labeled them one through five, and removed six individual pieces from each puzzle. We attempted to select pieces that looked most like others in hopes of making it equally challenging for all teams. Then we placed one piece from each of the puzzles into a bag labeled with the corresponding number. This piece would need to be earned by solving a riddle. The other five pieces were placed into one giant bag from which students would pick pieces. Perhaps they would be lucky and select their pieces or perhaps they would receive pieces from players that they would later have to barter with to find all of the pieces that belonged to them. 
The Game: 

Each team selected a puzzle at random. (Little did I know, but I had dropped one piece from one of the puzzles. Technically one team would not be able to win this challenge, no matter how swiftly they moved or wisely they negotiated). Then they received five pieces at random. After attempting to complete their puzzles, they evaluated what was needed to finish their puzzles. The first group to complete their puzzle would win the game. The game moved quickly. Students raced to assemble their puzzles and deliberated about what was missing. Making plans and communicating as small groups were essential for their ability to break apart tasks and to mingle with the other groups. Time was certainly limited, and they needed to effectively communicate as they exchanged information and pieces with the other 40 speech team members. Overall, the game required much less time than I thought. Students did not withhold as much information from each as I had anticipated. Goal-oriented and determined, these students seemed to focus on task one - completing their puzzles without worrying as much about the progress of other teams.

The Implications: 

In terms of strategizing, teams often divided into smaller factions - seeking specific pieces each. They realized that giving away a piece necessitated a reciprocal exchange. They needed to use the pieces of others to trade for their own pieces. Also, students realized that they need to be careful with what they revealed to others. Showing all of their spare pieces could put them at risk for not being able to trade with others. While many resorted to cunningness and a little bit of "thievery" to complete this task, students also realized that they needed to work together to find mutual success. This activity was designed to challenge students to communicate under pressure. Students need to determine how to finish a task while using problem-solving strategies. Watching students share ideas and brainstorm with their small groups, interact with their competition in the larger group, and find success was not only fun but also paved the way for strong connections for the season. While my fellow coaches and I were hoping that a "piece summit" would emerge in the midst of the hustle to fill in the final holes in each team's puzzle, I am proud to say that students approach this activity with fervor and a great sense of humor. Poking fun at one another while trying to complete a task can create lasting memories and even inspire a little collaboration from time to time.

Lessons from Speech Camp

Another week of Speech Camp has swiftly passed. The first full week of August (the CG annual Speech Camp) is filled with excitement, the promise of another great season, and organized chaos. Every year, I end the week weary from an exhausting yet fulfilling experience and also encouraged, excited, and ready for another fantastic year teaching great kids.

Leading up to the start of camp, I am often filled with trepidation and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. It is natural to approach the unknown with apprehension. Even now as a seasoned veteran, the idea of gearing up for another year seems a little daunting. Preparing, planning, and creating a positive environment for 49 young and spirited high school students, takes a significant amount of energy and creativity. Honing public speaking and leadership skills is not an easy feat. Communicating with others requires individuals to be vulnerable, open, and confident, which are not the most natural characteristics for teenagers to embody, but what is so rewarding is watching students discover how to cultivate these skills, which will help them well beyond the coming speech season. This year, the week went so quickly, and we were so happy with the results.

Every year, I leave camp grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community. Working with this group of students and adults teaches me a great deal about teamwork, collaboration, and becoming the best versions of ourselves. While there is so much to unpack from this week (a few team building games that yielded some impressive results, a few more lessons in public speaking, leadership growth, etc.), I have a few takeaways that I will carry with me into the 2016-2017 school year.

1. Organization is a time-saver, expectation setter, and can create more time for fun. 

I am obsessed with Google, Google Drive, and all things digital. Being a Google school for nearly four years, I have spent time reorganizing my Speech Team files. My naming convention is six layers deep (folder by event, word count, title, gender (if applicable), year used, name of student used), and it is my hope that this naming convention will help future head coaches to utilize years of files created to help our students access the best material available. With great material comes the opportunity to learn about important issues, grow as performers, and have chances to break into finals. Yes, going back and organizing files has taken time, but it has also allowed me to reflect on my practices, remember the good, and will allow me to save time for someone else in the future.

In addition to organizing files, I also spent time planning and linked team building activities, videos, and resources into a Google Sheet. Scheduled by the day, hour, and beyond helped us to be present, at the moment, know what goals we had for students each day, and also gave us options to change activities to meet the needs of our students. I used the sheet from last year to help me create this year's sheet. Next year, coaches will have this sheet to use as a template and resource to plan significant and meaningful experiences for future students. When we can spend less time inventing the wheel from scratch, we can focus on fun, too.

2.  Set high standards. 

We work hard, and we play hard on the speech team. It is a place to bond with friends and be oneself, but it is also a place to develop skills and grow academically. Students really do rise to meet challenges. I am so grateful to students who are open to learning and laughing at the same time. When we presented students with challenges and tasks, they were happy to fulfill them. They did not back down or question what was being asked of them. Led by our amazing seniors who served as excellent examples for our new students, the group actively participated, learned, and worked to be successful. Whether students were completing relay races, writing scripts, or creating videos, they did so with great effort and utilized their skills.

3. Be willing to fail big.

Failure is such a taboo topic, especially in education. We often approach education with the notion that no child will be left behind for a myriad of reasons, but on occasion leaving a few behind is the right motivation to complete a task, learn a lesson, or sparks a conversation that can lead to significant realizations. Failure is a powerful learning tool. During improvisational games, students are asked to jump into scenes, make up stories on the spot, and are told never to say "no." At times, this yields some silly and ridiculous results. There is always a solution to the scenes that do not go the way we anticipate them to go. What we learn from these moments would never occur if we feared and avoided failing on occasion. It is okay to make mistakes - as long as we grow from them and solve whatever problem or situation we encounter.

4. Trust others. 

We can learn so much from each other. Trust in one another, in the process, and in the idea that any situation can be a learning experience is crucial in communicative situations and academics. When we support each other, we can take more substantial risks, we can embrace failures, we can recognize and celebrate the best in others, and we can discover more about ourselves in the process. Establishing trust creates that positive environment which is necessary for any team to find success. I am so grateful for the students, parents, and colleagues that trust in the team and trust in the process to commit to the week and commit to growing as speakers, performers, and people. Teamwork relies on trust!

5. "Yes, and..." has a powerful impact on group dynamics.

"Yes, and..." is a fundamental rule of improvisation. When completing an improv scene, all parties involved should always say "yes" and add additional ideas to the scene to keep it moving. It is a method used to support performers and provide a positive outcome.

The idea of saying no is not one that is easy for me. The world often encourages individuals to take on less responsibility as to not overwhelm oneself or do too much. At the same time, saying yes can lead to amazing opportunities and experiences that one might never think to approach. While we should find work-life balance and not take on more than we can complete, it is okay to say yes and embrace the beauty of what can come. (Shonda Rhimes has an amazing TED Talk on saying YES! For parents and anyone who works a great deal, it is a great message!