If you have ever sat through 6 periods of class presentations, you know that class presentations can be a total nightmare! Presentations usually entail a student reading straight off a script (in a robotic voice, not making any eye contact), another student who can’t stop giggling, the one kid whose job is to hold the poster (and doing a terrible job of it) and unengaged audience members who are simply thinking about their own project and presentation. I know most teachers simply don’t do presentations because they seem to be a waste of time- having to take multiple class periods and there doesn’t seem to be much bang for their buck. But, if you are not having students present their work or their project, you are doing a huge disservice to your students. Being able to communicate in an effective manner is critical for people when they enter the workforce. Effective communication takes practice. A lot of practice. Check out my twist to classroom presentations and your students will be experts in no time. (a win for everyone)

How it Works

1. Divide your class groups in half. One half will be presenting, while the others are the audience.
2. Have your presenting groups (half of the groups) stand in various places in your classroom. It can even be at their tables. Have each of the remaining groups (audience) go to a presenting group.
3. Allow the presenting group 5 minutes to present to their small group.
4. Have the small group audience rotate to the next presenting group. The presenting group presents again to another audience. Yes… I said again. This is perfect because they don’t just present and sit down and it is over with. They have an opportunity to get comfortable and refine their presentation for the next group.
5. After students present to each of the audience groups, the audience now becomes the presenters and will present to rotating groups.

Why it Works

1. Practice makes progress! Students get multiple opportunities to present.
2. It allows students to present anywhere in the classroom. Students feel more comfortable when they aren’t standing front in center of the classroom.
3. Audience members are not distracted because they are not sitting at their desks (near their project or their presentation).
4. It offers a more intimate setting where students can learn from their peers.
5. Everyone can present in just one class period! No more wasted time!

I can’t tell you how much this method of presenting has changed my classroom and has increased my students’ presentation skills. It has made my students learn to engage their audience and most importantly speak more confidently.