EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF GUEST SPEAKERS IN THE CLASSROOM

OPENING reflection:  WHAT GUEST SPEAKER DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST IN HIGH SCHOOL?  NAME THE GUEST SPEAKERS YOU ENJOYED THE MOST IN ANY CLASSROOM SETTING:  WHAT FIELD TRIP(S) DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST IN HIGH SCHOOL?  WHAT WAS YOUR SCHOOL’S POLICY ON GUEST SPEAKERS?  WHAT WAS YOUR SCHOOL’S POLICY ON FIELD TRIPS?

Benefits-  Provide real-world relevance  Tired of listening to the same old person- YOU  Just like you and your parents, your students will appreciate the information much more when it comes from someone else

Something to ponder….  If we can agree that guest speakers are such an excellent resource and gift to the classroom…  Why don’t teachers use them more?????  Thoughts????

How to realistically gain access to credible speakers  Ask your friends!!!  Ask the people you do business with!!!  Invite your parents, siblings, other family members  Share with your students what you need in the form of a speaker and one of them will have a parent that does exactly that- Ask students’ parents  Fellow faculty member/administrator

For those who do not have friends or do business with anyone except online…  Find the nearest resource to you that coincides with your lesson (Feeding the World as an example: Food bank)  Personally meet with one of the office personnel who might have more time (Face-to-face is a lot harder to turn down than an )  Explain what you need and ask for their advice. Ask, “Can you point meet to the right person!”  Sounds easy but for some it is not.

Alternatives  Skype/Facetime  TAMU Webinars  Online field trips (iCEV and others)  Podcasts

Real World Examples- Guest Speakers  Manager at McDonald’s  Vet  Florist  Master Gardener  Foundation rep/Scholarship provider  School of the Arts  College recruiters  Bankers  Fellow Ag teachers  Game warden  News reporter  Occupational therapist  Accountant  Tax service  SpEd Diagnostician  Aaron Alejandro  State officers  Engineers (Electrical, Petroleum, Civil, Aero, Chemical)  Dow Agroscience Sales  Probation officer  Nursing  Lawyers  Welding Safety Inspectors/Managers  Chef  College students  Police officer  Insurance agent  Local artist  Welding program reps  Landscapers  Civic organization leader  Welding inspector  Dog groomers  Service dog trainers  Professor  Physical Therapist and Assistants  Oil field driller  Armed forces reps

Field Trips (check your school’s policies!!)  Food bank  Dairy  Blue Bell  Local farm  Meat processor  Feed yard  College tour  Nursery  Vet clinic

Thinking outside the box  Freaky Fun Friday  Leadership Friday  Career Exploration Extravaganza

Prepare your students!!!  Review behavior expectations  Remind them the speaker may be just as nervous as they would be in front of a classroom  Ask questions (have some prepared beforehand)  Have 2 or 3 greet the speaker BEFORE you do!!!  Go over how to do this! Even to the point of putting words in their mouth!  Stay in the room!

Say THANK YOU in some way-  Chapter goody item  Feed them  Bottle of water please  Have one of the students write a thank you note and let everyone sign  MAKE SURE YOU PUT IT IN THE MAIL!!!  Invite them to the banquet!

Your CLOSING Reflection  You find yourself a teacher in your ideal school with the ideal classroom…  Match your amazing lesson with an ideal amazing guest speaker (at least 3)  How will you go about securing this guest speaker?