News Notes

Spring 1-Minute Talks (Grades 3-6)

BOSTON, MA-The Finals of the Spring 1-Minute Talks for Grades 3-4-5-6 were held at the Boston Public Library (BPL) on Sunday, May 6th.

Ms. Heidi Wolf, Founder of Speaking American, said that she was "curious" about what was the most difficult part of the 1-Minute Talks contest for the students. From an informal poll of the contestants, it appeared that waiting to find out "who won" was the most difficult. So we will start right away with this news.

Ben Hirsch, Grade 6, amused the audience with his winning talk on All the Whos Down in Who-Ville.

Winners and Prizes

• GRADE 3: Juraj Kulik
• GRADE 4: Patrick O'Loughlin
• GRADE 5: Benjamin Brigham
• GRADE 6: Benjamin Hirsch

Prizes awarded were a variety of new state quarter special collector's booklets. In addition, winners in each grade received two new quarters representing Massachusetts and New York to start their collection.

Topics Span Wide Range

Mason Tang, Grade 6, makes a point during his presentation of original poems.

The variety of topics selected by the students has been impressive reflecting imagination, humor and depth of feeling-key elements in effective public speaking. Some selections are well known and some are original.

Students are offered the opportunity to deliver their own thoughts with the audience. Mason Tang, Grade 6, from the Abby Kelly Forster Regional Charter School did just that. He spoke on a combo of poems he wrote entitled, Spaceship and Walking on the Moon.

Although originality is offered, the Judges do not give extra credit for originality. What they are looking for is clear diction and connecting with the audience. Of course, the time element is critical-speaking not more than 60 seconds. Each talk is timed. A beeper alerts to overtime.

Judges

Pat Williams (left) and Meave O'Marah (right) were the Judges for the 2001 Spring 1-Minute Talks.

Judges are selected on the basis of their knowledge of English, international languages, public speaking and stage performance. In addition, their work experience reflects an interest in elementary education and professional efforts to improve the quality of early education in the Commonwealth.

What's News too

The following prizes were awarded by lottery-

• The Winners' Circle prize-a We the People book and a stamp collector's Landing on the Moon stamp- was won by Jessica O'Brien (Grade 4, South Shore Charter School);
• A Parents' prize-a novelty clock- was won by the parents of Mason Tang (Grade 6, Venerini Academy);
• A Teacher's prize-a novelty clock- was won by Susan Rivers, teacher at Venerini Academy, Worcester.

The photographer who covered the event was EMiLY SMiTH, who is in the Masters program in Photo Journalism at BU.

Outlook for 2002

Pass on the word of Speaking American and our 1-Minute Talks. Find the power of your own voice on center stage and enjoy the value of the spoken word!

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