Parents in 2020 are entering into uncharted waters as the new school year looms on the horizon. While many schools will be offering in-school instruction during COVID-19, others are opting to go virtual. Parents have the choice of going with the standard option or homeschooling on their own accord. Those who choose to homeschool will face countless challenges in providing a curriculum that is on par with their child’s grade level and school instruction.
One such challenge presented to many homeschool parents is how to teach public speaking and proper communication while in a homeschool setting. While this is far from an easy task, new technologies and applications (text to speech, voice generators, etc.) are making the process more approachable for all homeschool parents, even those just dipping a toe in the water.
Below, we’ll outline five key ways to teach your child public speaking while homeschooling.
#1 Don’t Call It What It Is
Kids can be pretty literal in terms of phrasing. The term “public speaking” can prove a looming prospect to kids, especially those who veer on the shy side. If you want your child to engage at home while still learning vital communication and public speaking skills, get creative with the naming of the lesson. Instead of “public speaking” makeup something fun and lofty like “voice acting” or “playing TV host.” Make it a fun game or activity that kids are happy to engage with, not something they may be frightened to fail at.
#2 Utilize Text-To-Speech Voice Generators
Technology is going to be your best friend as a homeschool parent, especially when teaching communication. Text-to-speech technology, specifically an online voice generator, is an easy tool to help children learn how to speak properly. All you have to do is input text or something your child has written and let them hear out loud how it should be properly enunciated and delivered. When kids hear public speaking in different voices, accents, and inflections they come to understand pacing, tone, and phrasing while speaking.
#3 Teach Reason
The practice may make perfect when it comes to learning something new, but with children, we often go into the techniques of speaking before we establish the “why” or “reason” for speaking. Start slow and let them practice speaking. Have them create a message they think is worth delivering and tell them why it is important to be able to get that message across in a clear concise way.
Focus on technique after you’ve laid a foundation for why and how speaking is important, especially in the context of the important point they will want to get across. Make sure to make it fun! Have them craft an argument for why one superhero is better than another or why pancakes are better than waffles. Watch as your child learns the basics of delivering an impassioned response.
The Takeaway
Homeschooling and at-home learning provide a whole host of challenges to parents. After all, for many, this is unfamiliar and new. Yet teaching children how to communicate effectively is paramount in guiding them into adulthood. Thanks to voice generator technology, text-to-speech, and laying basic foundations of why speech matters, any homeschool parent can help a child to thrive in this new normal.
