how to start speech at school

15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Powerful speech opening lines set the tone and mood of your speech. It’s what grips the audience to want to know more about the rest of your talk.

The first few seconds are critical. It’s when you have maximum attention of the audience. And you must capitalize on that!

Instead of starting off with something plain and obvious such as a ‘Thank you’ or ‘Good Morning’, there’s so much more you can do for a powerful speech opening (here’s a great article we wrote a while ago on how you should NOT start your speech ).

To help you with this, I’ve compiled some of my favourite openings from various speakers. These speakers have gone on to deliver TED talks , win international Toastmaster competitions or are just noteworthy people who have mastered the art of communication.

After each speaker’s opening line, I have added how you can include their style of opening into your own speech. Understanding how these great speakers do it will certainly give you an idea to create your own speech opening line which will grip the audience from the outset!

Alright! Let’s dive into the 15 powerful speech openings…

Note: Want to take your communications skills to the next level? Book a complimentary consultation with one of our expert communication coaches. We’ll look under the hood of your hurdles and pick two to three growth opportunities so you can speak with impact!

1. Ric Elias

Opening: “Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”

How to use the power of imagination to open your speech?

Putting your audience in a state of imagination can work extremely well to captivate them for the remainder of your talk.

It really helps to bring your audience in a certain mood that preps them for what’s about to come next. Speakers have used this with high effectiveness by transporting their audience into an imaginary land to help prove their point.

When Ric Elias opened his speech, the detail he used (3000 ft, sound of the engine going clack-clack-clack) made me feel that I too was in the plane. He was trying to make the audience experience what he was feeling – and, at least in my opinion, he did.

When using the imagination opening for speeches, the key is – detail. While we want the audience to wander into imagination, we want them to wander off to the image that we want to create for them. So, detail out your scenario if you’re going to use this technique.

Make your audience feel like they too are in the same circumstance as you were when you were in that particular situation.

2. Barack Obama

Opening: “You can’t say it, but you know it’s true.”

3. Seth MacFarlane

Opening: “There’s nowhere I would rather be on a day like this than around all this electoral equipment.” (It was raining)

How to use humour to open your speech?

When you use humour in a manner that suits your personality, it can set you up for a great speech. Why? Because getting a laugh in the first 30 seconds or so is a great way to quickly get the audience to like you.

And when they like you, they are much more likely to listen to and believe in your ideas.

Obama effortlessly uses his opening line to entice laughter among the audience. He brilliantly used the setting (the context of Trump becoming President) and said a line that completely matched his style of speaking.

Saying a joke without really saying a joke and getting people to laugh requires you to be completely comfortable in your own skin. And that’s not easy for many people (me being one of them).

If the joke doesn’t land as expected, it could lead to a rocky start.

Keep in mind the following when attempting to deliver a funny introduction:

• Know your audience: Make sure your audience gets the context of the joke (if it’s an inside joke among the members you’re speaking to, that’s even better!). You can read this article we wrote where we give you tips on how you can actually get to know your audience better to ensure maximum impact with your speech openings
• The joke should suit your natural personality. Don’t make it look forced or it won’t elicit the desired response
• Test the opening out on a few people who match your real audience. Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary
• Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you

4. Mohammed Qahtani

Opening: Puts a cigarette on his lips, lights a lighter, stops just before lighting the cigarette. Looks at audience, “What?”

5. Darren Tay

Opening: Puts a white pair of briefs over his pants.

How to use props to begin your speech?

The reason props work so well in a talk is because in most cases the audience is not expecting anything more than just talking. So when a speaker pulls out an object that is unusual, everyone’s attention goes right to it.

It makes you wonder why that prop is being used in this particular speech.

The key word here is unusual . To grip the audience’s attention at the beginning of the speech, the prop being used should be something that the audience would never expect. Otherwise, it just becomes something that is common. And common = boring!

What Mohammed Qahtani and Darren Tay did superbly well in their talks was that they used props that nobody expected them to.

By pulling out a cigarette and lighter or a white pair of underwear, the audience can’t help but be gripped by what the speaker is about to do next. And that makes for a powerful speech opening.

6. Simon Sinek

Opening: “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?”

7. Julian Treasure

Opening: “The human voice. It’s the instrument we all play. It’s the most powerful sound in the world. Probably the only one that can start a war or say “I love you.” And yet many people have the experience that when they speak people don’t listen to them. Why is that? How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world?”

How to use questions to open a speech?

I use this method often. Starting off with a question is the simplest way to start your speech in a manner that immediately engages the audience.

But we should keep our questions compelling as opposed to something that is fairly obvious.

I’ve heard many speakers start their speeches with questions like “How many of us want to be successful?”

No one is going to say ‘no’ to that and frankly, I just feel silly raising my hand at such questions.

Simon Sinek and Jullian Treasure used questions in a manner that really made the audience think and make them curious to find out what the answer to that question is.

What Jullian Treasure did even better was the use of a few statements which built up to his question. This made the question even more compelling and set the theme for what the rest of his talk would be about.

So think of what question you can ask in your speech that will:

• Set the theme for the remainder of your speech
• Not be something that is fairly obvious
• Be compelling enough so that the audience will actually want to know what the answer to that question will be

8. Aaron Beverley

Opening: Long pause (after an absurdly long introduction of a 57-word speech title). “Be honest. You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

How to use silence for speech openings?

The reason this speech opening stands out is because of the fact that the title itself is 57 words long. The audience was already hilariously intrigued by what was going to come next.

But what’s so gripping here is the way Aaron holds the crowd’s suspense by…doing nothing. For about 10 to 12 seconds he did nothing but stand and look at the audience. Everyone quietened down. He then broke this silence by a humorous remark that brought the audience laughing down again.

When going on to open your speech, besides focusing on building a killer opening sentence, how about just being silent?

It’s important to keep in mind that the point of having a strong opening is so that the audience’s attention is all on you and are intrigued enough to want to listen to the rest of your speech.

Silence is a great way to do that. When you get on the stage, just pause for a few seconds (about 3 to 5 seconds) and just look at the crowd. Let the audience and yourself settle in to the fact that the spotlight is now on you.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about starting the speech off with a pure pause that just makes the beginning so much more powerful. It adds credibility to you as a speaker as well, making you look more comfortable and confident on stage. 

If you want to know more about the power of pausing in public speaking , check out this post we wrote. It will give you a deeper insight into the importance of pausing and how you can harness it for your own speeches. You can also check out this video to know more about Pausing for Public Speaking:

9. Dan Pink

Opening: “I need to make a confession at the outset here. Little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I’m not particularly proud of. Something that in many ways I wish no one would ever know but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal.”

10. Kelly McGonigal

Opening: “I have a confession to make. But first I want you to make a little confession to me.”

How to use a build-up to open your speech?

When there are so many amazing ways to start a speech and grip an audience from the outset, why would you ever choose to begin your speech with a ‘Good morning?’.

That’s what I love about build-ups. They set the mood for something awesome that’s about to come in that the audience will feel like they just have to know about.

Instead of starting a speech as it is, see if you can add some build-up to your beginning itself. For instance, in Kelly McGonigal’s speech, she could have started off with the question of stress itself (which she eventually moves on to in her speech). It’s not a bad way to start the speech.

But by adding the statement of “I have a confession to make” and then not revealing the confession for a little bit, the audience is gripped to know what she’s about to do next and find out what indeed is her confession.

11. Tim Urban

Opening: “So in college, I was a government major. Which means that I had to write a lot of papers. Now when a normal student writes a paper, they might spread the work out a little like this.”

12. Scott Dinsmore

Opening: “8 years ago, I got the worst career advice of my life.”

How to use storytelling as a speech opening?

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” Steve Jobs

Storytelling is the foundation of good speeches. Starting your speech with a story is a great way to grip the audience’s attention. It makes them yearn to want to know how the rest of the story is going to pan out.

Tim Urban starts off his speech with a story dating back to his college days. His use of slides is masterful and something we all can learn from. But while his story sounds simple, it does the job of intriguing the audience to want to know more.

As soon as I heard the opening lines, I thought to myself “If normal students write their paper in a certain manner, how does Tim write his papers?”

Combine such a simple yet intriguing opening with comedic slides, and you’ve got yourself a pretty gripping speech.

Scott Dismore’s statement has a similar impact. However, just a side note, Scott Dismore actually started his speech with “Wow, what an honour.”

I would advise to not start your talk with something such as that. It’s way too common and does not do the job an opening must, which is to grip your audience and set the tone for what’s coming.

13. Larry Smith

Opening: “I want to discuss with you this afternoon why you’re going to fail to have a great career.”

14. Jane McGonigal

Opening: “You will live 7.5 minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”

How to use provocative statements to start your speech?

Making a provocative statement creates a keen desire among the audience to want to know more about what you have to say. It immediately brings everyone into attention.

Larry Smith did just that by making his opening statement surprising, lightly humorous, and above all – fearful. These elements lead to an opening statement which creates so much curiosity among the audience that they need to know how your speech pans out.

This one time, I remember seeing a speaker start a speech with, “Last week, my best friend committed suicide.” The entire crowd was gripped. Everyone could feel the tension in the room.

They were just waiting for the speaker to continue to know where this speech will go.

That’s what a hard-hitting statement does, it intrigues your audience so much that they can’t wait to hear more! Just a tip, if you do start off with a provocative, hard-hitting statement, make sure you pause for a moment after saying it.

Silence after an impactful statement will allow your message to really sink in with the audience.

Related article: 5 Ways to Grab Your Audience’s Attention When You’re Losing it!

15. Ramona J Smith

Opening: In a boxing stance, “Life would sometimes feel like a fight. The punches, jabs and hooks will come in the form of challenges, obstacles and failures. Yet if you stay in the ring and learn from those past fights, at the end of each round, you’ll be still standing.”

How to use your full body to grip the audience at the beginning of your speech?

In a talk, the audience is expecting you to do just that – talk. But when you enter the stage and start putting your full body into use in a way that the audience does not expect, it grabs their attention.

Body language is critical when it comes to public speaking. Hand gestures, stage movement, facial expressions are all things that need to be paid attention to while you’re speaking on stage. But that’s not I’m talking about here.

Here, I’m referring to a unique use of the body that grips the audience, like how Ramona did. By using her body to get into a boxing stance, imitating punches, jabs and hooks with her arms while talking – that’s what got the audience’s attention.

The reason I say this is so powerful is because if you take Ramona’s speech and remove the body usage from her opening, the entire magic of the opening falls flat.

While the content is definitely strong, without those movements, she would not have captured the audience’s attention as beautifully as she did with the use of her body.

So if you have a speech opening that seems slightly dull, see if you can add some body movement to it.

If your speech starts with a story of someone running, actually act out the running. If your speech starts with a story of someone reading, actually act out the reading.

It will make your speech opening that much more impactful.

Related article: 5 Body Language Tips to Command the Stage

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Final Words

So there it is! 15 speech openings from some of my favourite speeches. Hopefully, these will act as a guide for you to create your own opening which is super impactful and sets you off on the path to becoming a powerful public speaker!

But remember, while a speech opening is super important, it’s just part of an overall structure.

If you’re serious about not just creating a great speech opening but to improve your public speaking at an overall level, I would highly recommend you to check out this course: Acumen Presents: Chris Anderson on Public Speaking on Udemy. Not only does it have specific lectures on starting and ending a speech, but it also offers an in-depth guide into all the nuances of public speaking. 

Being the founder of TED Talks, Chris Anderson provides numerous examples of the best TED speakers to give us a very practical way of overcoming stage fear and delivering a speech that people will remember. His course has helped me personally and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to learn public speaking. 

No one is ever “done” learning public speaking. It’s a continuous process and you can always get better. Keep learning, keep conquering and keep being awesome!

Lastly, if you want to know how you should NOT open your speech, we’ve got a video for you:

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

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How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers

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One of the hardest things about public speaking is knowing how to start a speech. Your opening line is your first impression. It’s how you capture attention. It’s how you captivate the audience. So how do you make sure you nail it every time?

The best way to know how to open a speech is to look at what has worked in the past. When we examined the top speeches of all time and the most popular TED talks of all time, we found some interesting speaking patterns.

Time has identified the top 10 greatest speeches of all time. They are:

Opening Lines of the Top 10 Greatest Speeches of All Time

#1: Socrates – “Apology”

#2: Patrick Henry – “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”

#3: Frederick Douglass – “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery”

#4: Abraham Lincoln – “Gettysburg Address”

Opening Line: “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

#5: Susan B. Anthony – “Women’s Rights to the Suffrage”

#6: Winston Churchill – “Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat”

#7: John F. Kennedy – “Inaugural Address”

Opening Line: “We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom — symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning — signifying renewal, as well as change.”

#8: Martin Luther King, Jr. – “I Have a Dream”

#9: Lyndon B. Johnson – “The American Promise”

#10: Ronald Reagan – “Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate”

How do all of these historical greats start their speeches? Is there a difference between these and some of the more modern top TED talks?

Before we dive in, let’s recap with some critical do’s and don’ts when opening a speech:

Opening Lines of the Top 10 TED Talks of All Time

Here are the opening lines to the top 10 Ted Talks of all time according to view count:

#1: Sir Ken Robinson – “Do schools kill creativity?” Opening Line: “Good morning. How are you? It’s been great, hasn’t it? I’ve been blown away by the whole thing. In fact, I’m leaving.”

#2: Amy Cuddy – “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are” Opening Line: “So I want to start by offering you a free, no-tech life hack, and all it requires of you is this: that you change your posture for two minutes.”

#3: Simon Sinek – “How Great Leaders Inspire Action”

#4: Brene Brown – “The Power of Vulnerability” Opening Line: “So, I’ll start with this: a couple years ago, an event planner called me because I was going to do a speaking event.”

#5: Mary Roach – “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Orgasm” Opening Line: “All right. I’m going to show you a couple of images from a very diverting paper in The Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine.”

#6: Julian Treasure – “How to Speak so that People Want to Listen” Opening Line: “The human voice: It’s the instrument we all play.”

#7: Jill Bolte Taylor – “My Stroke of Insight” Opening Line: “I grew up to study the brain because I have a brother who has been diagnosed with a brain disorder: schizophrenia.”

#8: James Veitch – “This is What Happens When You Reply to Spam Email” Opening Line: “A few years ago, I got one of those spam emails.”

#9: Cameron Russell – “Looks Aren’t Everything; Believe Me, I’m a Model” Opening Line: “Hi. My name is Cameron Russell, and for the last little while, I’ve been a model.”

#10: Dan Pink – “The Puzzle of Motivation” Opening Line: “I need to make a confession at the outset here.”

What can we learn from these opening lines? There are some patterns that can help us. First, let’s start with what you shouldn’t do. Have you ever made one of these cardinal speaking sins?

Never Start a Presentation with…

Anything technical! This is a big mistake people make when they have not done a tech check ahead of time or are feeling nervous. Never start with these openers:

• Is this microphone working?
• Can you hear me?
• Wow, these lights are bright!

Your nervousness. Many people think it is vulnerable to start with how nervous they are about speaking — you can mention this later, but it should not be the first thing. Why? People will then only be looking for signs of your nervousness. Don’t start with:

• I’m so nervous right now!
• Wow there are so many people here.
• I’m not a great public speaker.

A lackluster or non-believable nicety. It’s great to be grateful to the person who introduced you, but it’s not a great way to include the audience. It’s ok to thank the audience for being there—but do it at the end (not as your opening line). These are all too boring:

• Thanks for having me.
• Thanks for that intro.
• Nice to be here.

Boring, shmoring! I have an exception here if you can make it funny. Ken Robinson started with a nicety and then turned it into a joke. He said, “ “Good morning. How are you? It’s been great, hasn’t it? I’ve been blown away by the whole thing. In fact, I’m leaving.”

More Public Speaking Resources

Get even more public speaking tips with our related resources:

• 10 Presentation Ideas that will Radically Improve Your Presentation Skills
• 6 Public Speaking Apps to try Before Your Next Presentation
• My Top 5 Favorite Public Speakers
• 15 Science-Based Public Speaking Tips To Become a Master Speaker
• How to Give Captivating Presentations
• How to Give an Awesome Toast

How to Start a Presentation

A story. The absolute best way to start a presentation is with a story. There is nothing better to capture the imagination and attention of an audience. Try to use these speaking openers as fill-in-the-blanks for your speech.

• I’m here for a reason. And it’s an interesting story…
• The best thing that ever happened to me was…
• Once upon a time…

In his talk, “The lies our culture tells us about what matters,” David Brooks started off with a great opening line AND a story. He said, “So, we all have bad seasons in life. And I had one in 2013. My marriage had just ended, and I was humiliated by that failed commitment.” Makes you want to watch right…

And if you need help on storytelling basics, be sure to check out some of my top 5 favorite speakers .

A BIG idea. Sometimes you want to share your big idea right up front. This can be helpful because it is intriguing and gets people clued in right away. All TED speakers try to integrate their big idea early.

• You’re here for a reason. It’s…
• The single most important thing I want to share with you today is…
• Today, I want to share a big idea…

I love how Stacy Smith starts off her talk with her big idea framed in an interesting way. She said, “Today, I want to tell you about a pressing social issue. Now, it’s not nuclear arms, it’s not immigration, and it’s not malaria. I’m here to talk about movies.”

Special Note: Be very careful to NOT deliver your one-liner by re-reading your title slide. You also want to position it as exciting and intriguing. For example, don’t say, “Today I am going to talk about body language.” Instead say, “Today I am going to teach you the single most important thing you can do to improve your charisma… and it starts with your body.”

A quirky one-liner. If you can use humor — do it! Humor or curiosity is a great way to start a speech on a high. You can get creative with these! Think of an interesting fact about you, your audience or your topic that can lead you into your content.

• One thing most people don’t know about me is…
• A teacher, a mother and a duck walk into a bar…
• I want to tell you something surprising.

When I gave my TEDx London Talk I started off with a quirky one-liner that immediately got a few laughs. It was “Hi, I’m Vanessa and I am a recovering awkward person.” It worked so well it is also the first line of my book, Captivate . 

II love the way Eve Ensler opens her speech with an interesting one-liner: “For a long time, there was me, and my body.”

This is a great tip from Conor Neill. He says that it is great to start with a question that the audience is asking themselves or would be very curious to know the answer to. This might be phrasing a pain point or worry for your audience.

• Do you ever worry about…?
• Have you ever wondered…?
• You might have always thought…

See Cono Neill’s examples here: 

Did you know…? Any interesting factoid or curiosity is bound to intrigue your audience. This is great if it leads into your content or a story. I like to start with did you know… Here are some that I use. You will have to fill in the blank for your audience:

• Did you know that it takes less than a second to make a first impression ?
• Did you know that your nonverbal communication is 12.5 times more powerful than your words ?
• Did you know that we are lied to 200 times a day ?

Jamie Oliver does this amazingly in his TED Talk. He starts with this mind-blowing fact, “Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead through the food that they eat.”

Hopefully these opening lines will give you some ideas to use to open your speech.

How to End a Speech: My Favorite Closers

Do you know how to end on a high? Leave a lasting impression in your presentation? Science tells us that the first and last parts of your presentations are the most important. Get our FREE download to get our closer guide.

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20 thoughts on “how to start a speech: the best (and worst) speech openers”.

Love your material

didnt help me but still good stuff

Thank you Vanessa. I’ve been a public speaker for 25 years and I’m impressed with your content here. Thank you. Looking forward to a deep dive into more of your material. With gratitude.

Found these examples super informative. Can’t wait to mix match the examples to see which one will work best for my presentation!

I am preparing to make a presentation on Public Speaking and came across your article. This is very instructive and timely too.Many thanks.

Comments are closed.

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How to Start a Speech: The Best Ways to Capture Your Audience

You’ve heard the saying,  “First impressions are lasting; you never get a second chance to create a good first impression” —  right?

The same is true when talking about how to start a speech…

The truth is, when you start your speech, you must focus everything on making a positive first impression on your audience members (especially if you are doing the presentation virtually ). Capturing the audience’s attention from the very beginning is crucial to prevent them from being distracted, losing interest, or forming negative opinions.

The introduction is the formal greeting for speeches, so let’s be sure to get this right to hook the audience. Understanding the importance of speech openings can significantly impact making a strong first impression. Planning and delivering the first words with confidence and relevance is essential, as they set the tone for the entire presentation and ensure you deliver a professional start, free from hesitation or irrelevance.

Here are 15 different ways to start a speech as well as 2 extra BONUS tips at the end.

1) Thank the Organizers and Audience

You can start by thanking the audience for coming and thanking the organization for inviting you to speak.

Refer to the person who introduced you or to one or more of the senior people in the organization in the audience.

This compliments them, makes them feel proud and happy about your presence, and connects you to the audience like an electrical plug in a socket.

2) Start With a Positive Statement

A presentation tip at the start is to tell the audience members how much they will like and enjoy what you have to say.

For example, you might say:

“You’re really going to enjoy the time we spend together this evening. I’m going to share with you some of the most important ideas that have ever been discovered in this area.”

Remember that  speaking is an art,  so be an artist and take complete control of your performance,

3) Compliment the Audience

You can begin by complimenting the audience members sincerely and with great respect.

Smile as if you are really glad to see them as if they are all old friends of yours that you have not seen for quite a while.

You can tell them that it is a great honor for you to be here, that they are some of the most important people in this business or industry, and that you are looking forward to sharing some key ideas with them.

You could say something like:

“It is an honor to be here with you today. You are the elite, the top 10 percent of people in this industry. Only the very best people in any field will take the time and make the sacrifice to come so far for a conference like this.”

4) Start Your Speech With the First Sentence Referring to Current Events

Use a current event front-page news story to transition into your subject and to illustrate or prove your point. You can bring a copy of the newspaper and hold it up as you refer to it in your introduction.

This visual image of you holding the paper and reciting or reading a key point rivets the audience’s attention and causes more people to lean forward to hear what you have to say.

5) Refer to a Historical Event

For many years, I studied military history…

Especially the lives and campaigns of the great generals and the decisive battles they won. One of my favorites was Alexander the Great. Standing in the symbolic shadow of such historical figures can provide a powerful and engaging start to any speech, especially when drawing parallels to contemporary challenges.

One day, I was asked to give a talk on leadership principles to a roomful of managers for a Fortune 500 company.

I decided that the campaign of Alexander the Great against Darius of Persia would make an excellent story that would illustrate the leadership qualities of one of the great commanders in history.

I opened my talk with these words:

“Once upon a time there was a young man named Alex who grew up in a poor country. But Alex was a little bit ambitious. From an early age, he decided that he wanted to conquer the entire known world. But there was a small problem.

Most of the known world was under the control of a huge multinational called the Persian Empire, headed by King Darius II. To fulfill his ambition, Alex was going to have to take the market share away from the market leader, who was very determined to hold on to it.

This is the same situation that exists between you and your major competitors in the market today. You are going to have to use all your leadership skills to win the great marketing battles of the future.”

6) Refer to a Well Known Person

You can start by quoting a well-known person or publication that recently made an interesting or important statement.

One of the subjects I touch upon regularly is the importance of continual personal development.

I will say something like:

“In the twenty-first century, knowledge and know-how are the keys to success. As basketball coach Pat Riley said, ‘If you are not getting better, you are getting worse.’”

7) Refer to a Recent Conversation

Start by telling a story about a recent conversation with someone in attendance.

For instance, I might say:

“A few minutes ago, I was talking with Tom Robinson in the lobby. He told me that this is one of the very best times to be working in this industry, and I agree.”

8) Make a Shocking Statement With a Startling Fact

You can start your talk by making a shocking statement of some kind.

For example, you might say something like:

“Here’s a startling fact: According to a recent study, there will be more change, more competition, and more opportunities in this industry in the next year than ever before. And 72 percent of the people in this room will be doing something different within two years if they do not rapidly adapt to these changes.”

Click here If you want to learn more techniques to wow your audience.

9) Quote From Recent Research

You can start by quoting a relevant, recent research report.

One example is:

“According to a story in a recent issue of Businessweek, there were almost 11 million millionaires in America in 2018, most of them self-made.”

10) Start Your Speech With a Strong Opening By Giving Them Hope

The French philosopher Gustav Le Bon once wrote, “The only religion of mankind is, and always has been hope.”

When you speak effectively, you give people hope of some kind.

Remember, the ultimate purpose of public speaking, is to inspire people to do things that they would not have done in the absence of your comments.

Everything you say should relate to the actions you want people to take and the reasons that they should take those actions.

11) Be Entertaining

Bill Gove used to walk onto the stage after his introduction if he had just finished talking to someone on the side and was breaking off to give his talk to the group.

The audience got the feeling that his entire talk was one continuous conversation, devoid of meaningless filler words .

Bill would often go to the edge of the stage and then drop his voice in a conspiratorial way, open his arms, and beckon the audience members to come a little closer.

He would say, “Come here, let me tell you something,” and then he would wave them forward as though he was about to tell a secret to the entire room.

The amazing thing was that everyone in the room would lean forward to hear this “secret” that he was about to share. People would all suddenly realize what they were doing and break out in laughter. It was a wonderful device to get the audience into the palm of his hands.

12) Ask a Question

You can open by making a positive statement and then pose a rhetorical question to engage your audience and set the stage for your presentation.

Try something like this:

“This is a great time to be alive and in business in America. But let me ask you, what does it truly mean to be self-employed in today’s economy?”

Raise your hand to indicate what you want people to do. I have used this line, and after a moment of thought, I then say to someone who looks intrigued in the front, “How many people here feel truly self-employed?”

Invariably, someone will say, “We all do!”

I then compliment and affirm the answer: “You’re right! We are all self-employed, from the time we take our first jobs to the day that we retire; we all work for ourselves, no matter who signs our paychecks.”

Similarly, a 17-year-old science fair winner effectively engaged their audience with a question at the beginning of their TED Talk, showcasing the power of this technique.

13) Open With a Problem

You can start with a problem that must be solved. If it is a problem that almost everyone has in common, you will immediately have the audience’s complete and undivided attention.

For example, you could say:

“Fully 63 percent of baby boomers are moving toward retirement without enough money put aside to provide for themselves for as long as they are going to live. We must address this problem and take action immediately to ensure that each person who retires will be able to live comfortably for the rest of his or her natural life.”

Introducing a new idea at this point can be a powerful way to engage your audience further, by promising a solution that is both innovative and beneficial.

14) Make a Strong Statement, Then Ask a Question

You can start by making a strong and powerful statement and then ask a question. You then follow with an answer and ask another question. This gets people immediately involved and listening to your every word.

Here’s an example:

“Twenty percent of the people in our society make 80 percent of the money. Are you a member of the top 20 percent? If not, would you like to join the top 20 percent or even the top 10 percent? Well, in the next few minutes, I am going to give you some ideas to help you become some of the highest-paid people in our society. Would that be a good goal for our time together today?”

15) Tell a Personal Story

You can start your talk with a personal story. Some of the most powerful words to capture the complete attention of the audience and make a personal connection are, “Once upon a time…”

From infancy and early childhood, people love stories of any kind. When you start off a presentation with a personal anecdote using the words, “Once upon a time…” you tell the audience that a relatable story is coming. People immediately settle down, become quiet, and lean forward, eager to hear how your experience might mirror their own or offer them new insights.

When I conduct full-day seminars and I want to bring people back to their seats after a break, I will say loudly, “Once upon a time there was a man, right here in this city…”

As soon as I say these words, people hurry back to their seats and begin to listen attentively, connecting with the story on a personal level.

Incorporating a personal story is very effective.

In fact, it’s probably one of the best public speaking tips I’ve learned to this day.

Bonus Tip: Tell Them About Yourself

Very often, I will start a serious speech or presentation to a business, sales, or entrepreneurial group by saying:

“I started off without graduating from high school. My family had no money. Everything I accomplished in life I had to do on my own with very little help from anyone else.”

It is amazing how many people come up to me after a talk that began with those words and tells me that was their experience as well.

They tell me that they could immediately identify with me because they too had started with poor grades and limited funds, as most people do. As a result, they were open to the rest of my talk, even a full-day seminar, and felt that everything I said was more valid and authentic than if I had been a person who started off with a successful background.

Building a bridge like this is very helpful in bringing the audience onto your side.

Bonus Tip: Get Them Talking to One Another

You can ask people to turn to the person next to them to discuss a particular point.

For instance, you could say:

“Tell the person next to you what you would like to learn from this seminar.”

Whatever you ask your audience members to do, within reason, they will do it for you. Your commands and your thought leadership will easily influence them, as long as you ask them with confidence.

By following any one of these tips for starting your speech, you are sure to grab your audience’s attention every time. How do you start a speech? Let me know in the comments.

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About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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16 Public Speaking Tips for Students

It's normal to be nervous—here's how to relax

• Use Relaxation Strategies

Maintain Perspective

Be confident when speaking.

Public speaking can *really* hard, especially if you struggle with social anxiety or if you don't have a lot of experience talking in front of groups. Research suggests that 61% of university students in the U.S. have a fear of public speaking. Fortunately, many strategies can help you build your confidence and strengthen your public speaking skills.

Public speaking tips for students aim to reduce anxiety that can interfere with giving presentations or speeches in class. These tips aren't just helpful for speaking in front of a big group. If you have social anxiety disorder (SAD) ,  these strategies can also help you feel more comfortable speaking in front of a group or telling a story among friends.

At a Glance

If you have social anxiety and need to give a speech  in elementary school, high school, college, or university, it helps to be as prepared as possible . Beyond preparation, however, there are strategies that you can use to reduce anxiety...without feeling like the urge to fake an illness so you can stay home and skip it.

Practice, preparation, and relaxation strategies are essential for students dealing with anxiety about public speaking. It's also important to maintain perspective; remember, other people get nervous, too! As you practice, you'll start to feel more confident about talking in front of groups, which will help you present your best self with a lot less anxiety.

Practice Your Public Speaking

Even great speakers practice their speeches beforehand. Practice out loud with a recording device or video camera, and then watch yourself to see how you can improve. If you are feeling brave, practice in front of a friend or family member and ask for feedback.

Research has even shown that imaginary practice can be an effective way to combat feelings of public speaking anxiety.

Talk About What You Know

If possible, choose a topic for your speech or presentation that you know a lot about and love. The audience will feel your passion for the topic, and you will feel less anxious knowing that you have a lot of experience to draw from when other students ask you questions.

Talking about things you are knowledgeable about can help you feel more confident and comfortable when you are speaking in public.

Concentrate on Your Message

When you focus on the task at hand, anxiety is less likely to get out of control. Concentrate on the main message of your speech or presentation and make it your goal to deliver that message to the other students in your class.

Grab the Audience's Attention

Most of your fellow classmates will pay attention for at least the first 20 seconds; grab their attention during those early moments. Start with an interesting fact or a story that relates to your topic. Other ways you can generate interest include:

• Asking rhetorical questions
• Inspiring emotion
• Generating curiosity
• Relating an interesting historical event

Have One Main Message

Focus on one central theme, and your classmates will learn more. Tie different parts of your talk to the main theme to support your overall message. Trying to cover too much ground can leave other students (and you) feeling overwhelmed.

Tell Stories

Stories catch the attention of other students and deliver a message in a more meaningful way than facts and figures. Whenever possible, use a story to illustrate a point in your talk.

Preparation Can Reduce Public Speaking Anxiety

Being prepared to speak in public can also be important if you have social anxiety disorder. Feeling confident and prepared to give your speech may help lessen your feelings of anxiety. Some of the things that you can do to prepare include:

Visit the Room

If you have access to the classroom where you will be speaking outside of class hours, take the time to visit in advance and get used to standing at the front of the room. Make arrangements for any audio-visual equipment and practice standing in the exact spot where you will deliver your speech.

Unfamiliarity can often make social anxiety worse. By making yourself more comfortable with the setting and room where you'll be delivering your speech, you'll feel much more at ease.

Rack Up Experience

Volunteer to speak in front of your class as often as possible. Be the first one to raise your hand when a question is asked. Your confidence will grow with every public speaking experience.

Researchers have found that practicing in a virtual format can also be helpful. You might try out virtual experiences that allow you to practice in front of a supportive audience or invite friends and family to watch you practice your presentation in person or through video conferencing.

Observe Other Speakers

Take the time to watch other speakers who are good at what they do. Practice imitating their style and confidence. Consider attending local events or presentations at your school. Watching TED Talks or speeches on YouTube can also be helpful.

Organize Your Talk

Every speech should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Structure your talk so that the other students know what to expect. Then write it down on notecards and spend time practicing what you will say.

Use Relaxation Strategies to Manage Anxiety

Taking steps to deal with your feelings of anxiety can also make public speaking easier. Fortunately, there are a lot of anxiety-fighting relaxation strategies that can help calm your mind and body.

It's a good idea to practice relaxation strategies before you give your speech. The more you practice them, the better you'll be able to use them when they are needed.

Some other things that you can do:

Tell Someone About Your Anxiety

If you are speaking in front of a high school or college class, meet with your teacher or professor and describe your public speaking fears . If you're in elementary or high school, share your fears with your parents, a teacher, or a guidance counselor.

Sometimes sharing how you feel can make it easier to overcome stage fright.

Visualize Confidence

Visualize yourself confidently delivering your speech, feeling free of anxiety, and engaging the students in your class. Although this may seem like a stretch for you now, visualization is a powerful tool for changing the way you feel.

Elite athletes use this strategy to improve their performance in competitions, and research has shown that it can be a helpful tool for combatting speech anxiety.

Proven Anxiety-Busters

Relaxation strategies can be super helpful for fighting speech anxiety. Some that you might try include:

• Deep breathing
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Guided imagery
• Positive self-talk
• Mindfulness

Find a Friendly Face

If you are feeling anxious, find one of your friends in class (or someone who seems friendly) and imagine that you are speaking only to that person.

Press Play for Advice on Finding Courage

Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares a strategy to help you find courage when you need it the most.

Follow Now : Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts

Remember that other students are on your side. Think about a time when you have been an audience member and the student delivering the speech or presentation was noticeably nervous. Did you think less of that student? More likely, you felt sympathetic and wanted to make that person more comfortable by smiling or nodding.

Remember—other students generally want you to succeed and feel comfortable. If, for some reason, the audience is not on your side or you experience  bullying  or social exclusion, be sure to discuss this with a parent, teacher, or guidance counselor.

Sometimes just knowing what makes a good speech can help you feel more confident. Focus on some of the following elements and practice them before you have to speak in public.

Develop Your Own Style

In addition to imitating good speakers, work on developing your own personal style as a public speaker. Integrate your own personality into your speaking style and you will feel more comfortable in front of the class. Telling personal stories that tie into your theme are a great way to let other students get to know you better.

Avoid Filler Words

Words such as "basically," "well," and "um" don't add anything to your speech. Practice being silent when you feel the urge to use one of these words.

Vary Your Tone, Volume, and Speed

Interesting speakers vary the pitch (high versus low), volume (loud versus soft), and speed (fast versus slow) of their words. Doing so keeps your classmates interested and engaged in what you say.

Make the Audience Laugh

Laughter is a great way to relax both you and the other students in your class, and telling jokes can be a great icebreaker at the beginning of a speech. Practice the timing and delivery of your jokes beforehand and ask a friend for feedback. Be sure that they are appropriate for your class before you begin.

If all else fails, smile. Your fellow classmates will perceive you like a warm speaker and be more receptive to what you have to say.

Don't Apologize

If you make a mistake, don't offer apologies. Chances are that your classmates didn't notice anyway. Unless you need to correct a fact or figure, there is no point dwelling on errors that probably only you noticed.

If you make a mistake because your hands or shaking, or something similar, try to make light of the situation by saying something like, "I wasn't this nervous when I woke up this morning!" This can help to break the tension of the moment.

It's natural to feel frightened the first time you have to speak in front of your class. However, if you fear continues, interferes with your daily life and keeps you awake at night, it may be helpful to see someone about your anxiety.

Try talking to a parent, teacher, or counselor about how you have been feeling. If that doesn't get you anywhere, ask to make an appointment with your doctor. Severe public speaking anxiety is a true disorder that can improve with treatment .

Gallego A, McHugh L, Penttonen M, Lappalainen R. Measuring public speaking anxiety: Self-report, behavioral, and physiological .  Behav Modif . 2022;46(4):782-798. doi:10.1177/0145445521994308

Spence SH, Rapee RM. The etiology of social anxiety disorder: An evidence-based model . Behav Res Ther. 2016;86:50-67. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2016.06.007

García-Monge A, Guijarro-Romero S, Santamaría-Vázquez E, Martínez-Álvarez L, Bores-Calle N. Embodied strategies for public speaking anxiety: evaluation of the Corp-Oral program .  Front Hum Neurosci . 2023;17:1268798. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2023.1268798

Kroczek LOH, Mühlberger A. Public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in Virtual Reality improves performance in real-life .  Sci Rep . 2023;13(1):13968. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-41155-9

Banushi B, Brendle M, Ragnhildstveit A, et al. Breathwork interventions for adults with clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders: A scoping review .  Brain Sci . 2023;13(2):256. doi:10.3390/brainsci13020256

Vogel WH, Viale PH. Presenting with confidence .  J Adv Pract Oncol . 2018;9(5):545-548.

By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master's degree in clinical psychology.

How To Start a Speech/Presentation: Learn to Greet and Introduce Yourself

• Post author: Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka ACMC
• Post published: March 6, 2024
• Post category: Scholarly Articles

How To Start a Speech (With Examples) : A speech is a discussion presented to an audience, whether informal or official. Giving a speech allows you to speak to a group of people and share your ideas and, more often than not, your opinions. Speeches may be found in a variety of settings and for a variety of reasons. Public speaking is a wonderful art form, and it may be even better when the speaker has a goal in mind.

The speech writing process becomes simpler and smoother when you have a defined target and purpose in mind. While anybody can deliver a speech, having the appropriate goal and a broad awareness of the surroundings and your audience may help make it more successful. Some speeches are intended to educate, while others are intended to entertain.

Recommended: Best ways to start a debate (Introducing yourself)

Table of Contents

Components of a Speech

It’s time to compose the speech with an introduction, body, and conclusion once you’ve studied your audience, chosen a topic, gathered supporting resources and developed an outline. The broadcaster’s maxim is followed in these important parts:

(1) Let them know what you’re about to say.

(2) Inform them.

(3) Inform them of what you’ve said.

a. The Introduction: Tell them what you’re about to say: A strong opening grabs the audience’s attention, previews the topic and important ideas, and establishes your authority as a speaker. Employing a quotation, telling a tale, raising questions, presenting comedy, using surprising facts or figures, offering an illustration or anecdote, and mentioning historical or contemporary events are all effective methods to draw attention.

The introduction directs the audience’s attention to the most important elements. The impact of your speech, which is generally saved for the end, should be added at the beginning of the speech, according to science communicators. The opening establishes your trustworthiness with the audience: They’re curious as to why they should believe what you’re saying. As a result, establishing oneself is essential. The opening establishes your trustworthiness with the audience: They’re curious as to why they should believe what you’re saying. As a result, establishing oneself is essential.

Also see: How to speak in public without fear or anxiety

b. The Body : You will include reliable sources, such as scientific papers, in the body of the speech and refer to them throughout the speech. The key concepts of the speech should flow organically from the speech’s goal and thesis statement in this section.

It’s ideal to limit your content to two to five key points, with a maximum of seven.

Focusing on three major issues is recommended by scientists’ communicators for scientific talks. If you have too many, your viewers will forget your main points. Focusing on three main ideas and providing solid supporting reasons for each of them can help your speech be remembered. Supporting points to aid in the development of your thesis and the justification of your main statements.

c. Conclusion : The conclusion sums up what the audience was expected to learn or be convinced to do throughout the presentation. Key phrases such as “ finally ,” “ let me end by stating ,” and “ in conclusion” might be used to indicate that the conclusion is near. Because the conclusion is your last chance to inspire your audience, it should conclude with a powerful remark.

A good finish for a persuasive speech is a call to action, in which you tell the audience what they should do with what they’ve learned. Many times, a mirrored conclusion can be used, which refers back to, or “ mirrors ,” the information you present in the introduction.

Recommended: Interesting ways to end you debate presentation

Best and Impactful Ways to start a speech Presentation

1. Quote : Using a famous or relatable quote to begin a speech is one way to capture the audience’s attention. If you’re giving a speech about politics, for example, you could use a powerful quote that communicates a central political theme to connect with the subject of your speech. Starting your speech with a quote can also help to engage the audience and get them thinking about what you’re saying.

People love quotes because they are motivating and inspiring, as well as easy to remember. The well-considered words of history’s greatest orators can sometimes be the difference between a successful speech and one that fails. For example, “ If your actions inspire others to dream bigger, learn more, do more, and grow bigger, you’re a leader.”

Also see: Best education system in the world

2. Question of Rhetoric: A rhetorical question is an effective spoken communication tactic. These questions will help you engage and engage your audience in your presentation. They aid in the regulation of your words and the thinking of the audience.

A competent public speaker knows how to get his audience to take action on his message.

For example, “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” is a famous rhetorical question posed by William Shakespeare. Do we not laugh if you tickle us? Do we not perish if you poison us? And if you wrong us, aren’t we entitled to retaliation?

3. Introduce in a straightforward manner: Another popular and efficient technique is to begin your speech with a brief introduction that leads into a forceful remark. For example, a speech about the rising earthquakes in a small town caused by fracking may benefit from a short start.

They may start their speech by telling how they grew up in a tiny community before moving on to a powerful message on the effects of fracking. The goal of using the short beginning strategy is to utilize it as a springboard for a compelling, thought-provoking, or otherwise persuasive remark that communicates your speech’s theme.

Recommended: How to become a good conversationalist

4. Thank the Organizers and the Attendees: If you want to adhere to the basics of public speaking, simply thank the persons who made your presentation possible. Thanking the event organizers and the audience complements them, makes them pleased and delighted to have you there, and establishes a strong connection between you and the audience.

Refer to the individual who introduced you to one or more of the organization’s top executives in the audience, and congratulate them as a sign of respect. In your complimentary remarks to the company, be humble and honest.

5. Scenario: Using a “ what if ” scenario to pique the audience’s interest in your speech works like a charm. To elicit your audience’s imagination, begin your speech with a “what if” question.

“What if you had been blind all your life and just got to see the world today?” for example. So far, how have you visualized the world? And what draws you to these hues? Is there anyone who is colorblind, by the way?”

Also see: How to start a conversation with someone for the first time

6. This day in history : One of the key reasons why people assemble to listen to talks is to learn something. The audience will immediately pay attention if you begin your speech with a historical fact.

If your speech occurs on March 5, for example, you may begin by saying, “On this day, March 5, 1963: Arthur “ Spud ” Melin, co-founder of Wham-O, patents the Hula Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became a big phenomenon across America when it was first released by Wham-O in 1958.” In the first four months of manufacture, an estimated 25 million Hula Hoops were sold.”

7. Anecdote or Experience : To make your audience feel connected, begin your speech by sharing personal stories. You might start by telling them how much you think they’ll appreciate what you’re going to show them.

“I first fell in love while I was in high school.” , for example. From infancy and childhood, people have a strong need for tales of all kinds. People sit down, get quiet, and lean forward like kids around a campfire as soon as they discover you’re about to tell a story.

Also see: How to introduce a Guest in an event

8. Silence : Pauses are the most valuable aspect of talks. Silence, when used well, has greater eloquence than words. When you need to highlight anything, take a little pause. Knowing when to take a breather might help you deliver your message more effectively.

9. Make up a tale : You might also tell a tale to start your speech. The storytelling technique can help you develop audience anticipation and get them thinking about how your narrative will relate to the issue. Consider the case of an honors graduate who delivers a speech at a graduation ceremony.

The graduate might utilize narrative to capture the audience’s attention and engage them in the presentation. Similarly, narrating a tale elicits emotional responses from the audience as they listen, which may greatly engage them and make them invested in what you’re saying.

“Once upon a time” is one of the most potent words that may quickly attract the audience’s attention since people of all ages like stories of all kinds.

Also see: How to hold a long conversation with a girl

10. Statistics : Start your speech with fascinating and original information that will wow your audience. Incorporating statistics into your presentation is an excellent way to give your message a quantitative and persuasive edge. It provides a basis for you to build your argument, defend your claim, and demonstrate your position.

Giving figures in your beginning might be as simple as saying, “ In 2021, there were 12,000 homeless people strolling the streets of California. ” By 2023, the number is expected to nearly quadruple.” This form of messaging highlights the need to tackle the problem of homelessness since the number is persuasive, detailed, and alarming.

11. Make a joke : To engage the audience, you may crack a joke or employ a comedic technique. Telling a joke or engaging in light-hearted banter with your audience might help you connect with the folks in the crowd.

This may have a significant influence on how attentive the audience is when you introduce your speech’s topic. Additionally, for positive-themed presentations and speeches, delivering a joke or making the audience laugh might be useful. Making jokes at the start of your presentation informs the audience that you aren’t too serious and that they can relate to you.

For example, a good beginning maybe, “If you can hear me, please start clapping to baffle those who can’t hear what I’m saying.”

Recommended: Best approach to handle inferiority complex

12. The challenge open : Audiences want to be challenged and inspired to participate in a cause that they care about. If you’re trying to boost sales, raise money for a project, recruit volunteers, or change legislation, start your speech with a challenge. It’s not enough to believe in your message; you must also act on it.

You may start your speech with “Leaders see potential where followers see difficulties, I’m here today to urge officials to persuade individuals who are skeptical of the project to see past the roadblocks in the development of this local park and consider providing a better environment for citizens.”

Recommended: How to avoid falling in love with someone

Knowing how to begin a presentation or speech is one of the most difficult aspects of public speaking. The first sentence of a presentation leaves an effect on the audience. Each speech should include three key sections: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. You should outline before writing the speech. An outline is a structure that arranges the major and supporting elements in the order that you feel will have the most impact on your audience.

Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.

• Games, topic printables & more
• The 4 main speech types
• Example speeches
• Commemorative
• Declamation
• Demonstration
• Informative

Introduction

• Student Council
• Speech topics
• Poems to read aloud
• How to write a speech
• Using props/visual aids
• Acute anxiety help
• Breathing exercises
• Letting go - free e-course
• Using self-hypnosis
• Delivery overview
• 4 modes of delivery
• How to make cue cards
• How to read a speech
• 9 vocal aspects
• Vocal variety
• Diction/articulation
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• About me/contact
• Speech examples
• Student Council speeches

Student Council Speeches

By:  Susan Dugdale  

How to write a winning speech: a template, guidelines, plus example speeches

Student Council Speeches mark the end of an election campaign.

Will yours be successful?

The final answer is in the hands of your fellow students. It's entirely their decision.

However, up until they mark their voting papers 'yes' or 'no' you have the potential to make their choice of candidate for the upcoming year 'you'.

How to write a great student council speech 

Use the quick links below to find what you need to write a great student council speech, whether it's the President, Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer role you're after.

• the primary purpose of your speech
• a template that includes all the necessary elements of a good Student Council speech
• points to consider carefully before you write
• an example Student Council President speech
• an example Student Council Vice President speech
• an example Student Council Secretary speech
• an example Student Council Treasurer speech
• a printable speech planner and outline to download
• vital tips for rehearsal . These make the difference between looking and sounding polished and bumbling.
• a link to a collection of videoed student council speeches
• how to manage anxiety about speaking in front of others

Understanding your speech purpose

Understanding the nature or purpose of your speech could make all the difference between winning and losing.

Student Council speeches are persuasive speeches . Their ultimate goal is to get you the YES vote.

To help you achieve that use the template, (framework or pattern), below to cover all the essential elements you need to pull together.

In addition, it will structure your speech logically, and effectively, from its opening through to its close.

(I've turned the template into a printable enabling you to plan and outline your speech efficiently and easily. You can download it from the link further down the page.)

Return to Top

Student Council speeches template

• Greeting - Attention Getter - The Hook You'll need an opening statement or rhetorical  question to sit your audience up with open ears and minds. For more see: How to write a speech introduction: 12 of the best ways to start.  
• Who you are - your name, your place or grade in the school, and maybe, your hobbies or interests, and the clubs or teams you're a member of. For example, Amnesty International, the speech and debate club, cross-country and basketball. And if you've used a campaign slogan work it in. It'll jog people's memories. 'Ah, yes, that person!', they'll think. Being known and familiar gives you a head start.
• What you want - the role you are campaigning for: President, Vice President,  Treasurer, Secretary, Historian...
• What you are going to do for the audience - benefits to them in exchange for their vote. (Brief summary -you will expand this in the body of your speech.)
• Credibility - your qualification or expertise establishing your fitness for the role you want. (Brief summary - you will expand this in the body of your speech.)
• Transition leading to...
• Your Main Idea 1 - For example: your goal for the role, what you want to achieve, how you plan to do it, the benefits to your audience - what painful problem(s) will you solve for them, your fitness for the job, transition to...
• Main Idea 2 - Supporting ideas - details and examples - transition to...
• Main Idea 3 - Supporting ideas - details and examples - transition to...

NB. Only include a second and third idea if you have time to expand on them. If not, move through to the conclusion.

• Summary of main points
• Re-statement of what you want - to be elected to the role you're running for
• Re-statement of the benefits to the audience
• Closer, clincher, call for action

Points to consider BEFORE you write your speech

You'll make a better job of completing the printable student council speech template if you  take the time to go through the points below.

And then, read the student council speech examples, before you start to write.

Research the role

Think about your audience, what tone or choice of vocabulary is best suited to them.

Avoid trying to impress with either 'big' words or use of slang. Both are traps! Be yourself. Authentic. Real.

Keep your language conversational rather than overly formal and use smaller rather than large sentences.

Try using active rather than passive words. These convey enthusiasm. For examples, see this page on using action verbs . You'll discover how to go from boring bla bla bland to dynamic excitement.

What 'hook' will you use to get them to listen? Humor? Humor is good if it is relevant and inclusive rather than exclusive. (No 'in' jokes!).

Your goal in the role you want

Avoid setting up expectations that you will deliver beyond your capability. :-)

It might be very tempting, but can you really reduce school hours, increase academic standards, introduce a range of exciting new extracurricular activities, as well as have a 'green day' and a movie night every month? Please keep it real!

Your credibility or qualifications

Now is not the time either to be shy or arrogantly big-headed! Let the audience know how right you are for the role you want.

Set yourself apart from other candidates by sharing compelling personal stories or anecdotes that both support your pitch, and show you understand the key issues that matter to your fellow students.

Your school's requirements

If your speech does not meet pre- established criteria in any way you may find it is returned to you edited. It's safer to find out what those criteria are BEFORE writing to avoid having to re-write or worse, being disqualified entirely.

Mockery and personal insults are not clever. They boomerang back on you, letting your audience know you're not to be trusted and neither are you ready for leadership.

Readily acknowledging the skill and expertise of your fellow candidates sincerely in a way that doesn't demean yourself, or them, shows an open mind and maturity.

Aim to have your speech ready BEFORE the deadline.

Give yourself time to prepare thoroughly, including time to review of your opponents' campaigns. That can be very useful for seeing their strengths as well as their weaknesses, which you can then respond to in your own material.

Student Council President speech example 

Here's a sample student council speech. I've written it from the perspective of someone running for President.

As you read it, imagine it said aloud. That will help you get the rhythm and flow of language. The speech is between 3 - 4 minutes long, depending on how quickly you speak.

Vote Sophia Clarke for Student Council President

"I’ve got a question for you. I’m not asking you to shout your answer out, or raise your hand. All I’m asking is that you give it room in your mind. Let it sit for a bit, and have a think about it.

My question is – do you believe like I do, that all of us deserve the opportunity to make the best of ourselves? Not second best, 3 rd , or even, highly commended. The BEST.

I’m Sophia Clarke. I’m in the 12 th  grade, and I’m running for president. My vision is that each student is enabled to develop the skills and confidence to become the bigger, better version of themselves. The best they can be.  Regardless of who they are, and what they need to achieve that.

It’s an audacious goal. Some would say an idealistic, rather than a realistic, one.

However I say it’s awesome. And that you’re intelligent people who realize that reaching any goal starts with taking the first step.

So let me remind you why choosing me, Sophia Clarke, for president, is also choosing a better chance for yourself, and everyone else to grow.

I know you, and I know your needs well. I’ve served on your behalf in multiple roles through my years here; secretary, auditor, public relations officer, and have successfully taken on multiple issues. You’ll know some of those through directly benefiting from them.

It was me who was behind the push to get a regular anti-bullying program running throughout the school. That was two years ago, and now the  Teens Against Bullying  message underpins what we expect and strive for in our every day dealings with each other.

We know incidents of bullying are far fewer as a result. As our orange tee shirts say we ‘choose kindness, acceptance and inclusion’ for each other, and our selves.

Who has been involved in our mentoring-homework program? Either as a buddy-tutor or as a student getting a helping hand? And who, like me, is passionate about making sure that everybody gets a fair go?

In the past year, under my watch that program has escalated. We have over 50% more tutors across more subject areas and more students taking up the offer of help. That is a fabulous outcome for everybody. Truly win-win.

A tick in the box alongside my name is a tick for the continued growth of those programs. Their value is proven. They allow each of us to grow and experience the strength and confidence that comes from knowing that we can make a positive difference in other people’s lives as well as our own.

When you vote me for President you get my capacity to organize, to liaise, to listen and to speak, working for the benefit of everybody.

A 'yes' for me is a 'yes' for appreciating and celebrating diversity.

A 'yes' for me, Sophia Clarke for President, is 'yes' to a better you.

And together that is a 'yes' to a better life, and a better school, for all of us."

Student Council Vice President speech example

Like the speech above, this one runs to approximately 4 minutes when said aloud. Try it and see.

Nod your head if you've heard of the phrase '2nd fiddle' or '2IC'.

What about 'sidekick'?

Not booting a ball in from a sideline but a trusty partner to whoever it is who has the leading role. Like Robin is for Batman.

Or like, {name of your country's Vice President or Prime Minister} is for {name of country's President or Prime Minister} or {name of your school's Vice Principal} is for {name of your school's Principal}!

Well, that's what I aspire to - to become the trusty, tried and true sidekick to the President on our student council.

My name is Jason Hull. I'm in Grade 12 and proudly standing in front of you today as a candidate for the role of Vice President. Yes, I am asking you to give me something of immense value - your vote.

I know what the issues, here at {name of school} are. As part of my campaign, I've interviewed you, and listened. I promise your ideas will be acted on.

Afterall I've trained for this role, put in the time. You know, I know how to get things done.

Last year I served as Secretary and the year before that I was a representative for the committee - proof that I'm committed to bettering our school environment not just for you, but for everybody!

With your support, I'll be your go-to guy when you want to make sure that your opinions and feedback reach the decision-makers.

One of my main goals as your Vice President is to champion your initiatives: amongst others, that's the library extensions you told me about, the desire for healthier food choices in our cafeteria, and the urgent need to increase and diversify the workforce and out-reach opportunities that so many of you mentioned.

Whether you're passionate about improving our school facilities, or enhancing our community involvement, I'll be there to guide and help you. 

In the role of Vice President, I will work alongside the President fulfilling my duties to the best of my ability. 

Together, we'll make sure that your concerns, and hopes are not just heard but actively pursued. Not 'I' will make sure, but 'we'.

There is no 'I' in we, and that too, is a prerequisite of the Vice President's position: the capacity to put aside ego and to work productively for the good of all.

Because together, we, the Vice President, the President and the other council members, are stronger and can achieve more.

The Vice President role may be a support act but it's a vital one.  To succeed in it, collaboration is key. I promise to work hand in hand not only with the President but also with the entire student council team, our teachers, and our administration on your behalf.

Unity is strength. More than ever, we need to nurture understanding, kindness and respect for each other. Regardless of your grade, interests, or background, I want every one of you to feel valued and heard.

That's a goal many would say is impossible.

However, I say, we need to be the difference we want to see in the world. And to borrow those famous words of Helen Keller's: "Alone we can do so little. Together we can so much."

It would be an honor to be your voice, your eyes and your ears as Vice President.

So, I ask you, will you trust me to have your best interests at heart? Will you enable me to work on your behalf?

And are you willing to give me, Jason Hull, your vote for best sidekick, aka. Vice President?

I'll take those smiles, as a 'Yes'.

Example Student Council speeches for Secretary and Treasurer

Click the link to read an:

• example Student Council speech for the role of Secretary . Plus, an overview of the Secretary's main tasks and responsibilities.
• example Student Council speech for the role of Treasurer . Plus, an overview of the Secretary's main tasks and responsibilities.

(This page was getting far too long to include them both here. ☺)

Get the printable student council speech outline

Click on the image below to open a downloadable printable student council speech planner and outline pdf. (Please note it will open in a new window.)

Your completed outline will provide both the structure and the content you need to efficiently write your speech.  

After you've finished writing your speech

Now that you've finished writing, you're ready to begin work on your delivery: how you present the speech to your audience.

The first step in that process is making sure your speech fits comfortably into whatever time you've been allocated.

After that comes rehearsal. The information you need for both steps is below.

Timing and word count

Student Council Speeches are generally brief: around 1-4 minutes long which isn't a lot of time! That's between approximately 150 - 600 words at an average speaking rate of 150 words per minute.

To be safe say your speech out loud as if you were delivering it for real and time it. In some schools going overtime can result in being disqualified.

Going faster to fit everything in

Please do not be tempted to say it faster to get everything you planned said. As a strategy it doesn't work. You'll end up gabbling: speaking far too quickly and people won't be able to understand what you're saying.

Cutting out extra material

If you have got too much material for the time limit, cut it. Choose the least important ideas to let go of first. Then move on to rephrasing to reduce the number of words used to express a point.

When you think it's done, repeat the test. Say it out loud as if you were actually giving it, and time it.

If you're now within the allotted time, you are ready for rehearsal.

For more about word count see: how many words per minute in a speech

How to rehearse your speech

Please, please  rehearse your speech ! Do not be tempted to wing it. The more you rehearse the easier it will be to deliver it well.

Remember it is only 1 to 4 minutes long! In that time your goal is to have your audience ready to vote for you.

You can help them make that decision by being confident and prepared. You will show that through:

• your speaking style  - natural, sincere, fluent, understandable (clear and able to be heard without straining)
• your body language  - relaxed, open gestures, good eye contact and smiling
• your personal grooming or presentation  because how you look 'speaks' too. Make sure that your clothing and general grooming supports your speech because, like it or not, you will be judged on both!

Go to: how to rehearse a speech properly .

 Videoed Student Council speech examples  

How do other people handle a Student Council speech? What's their content and delivery like?

Are they funny? Formal? Too hurried? Confident? Familiar with the audience?

It can help to look at what others have done. Even if it's only to decide their way will not be your way!

Click the link to access a collection ten videoed student council campaign speeches from the 2018 student council executive board candidates for Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA. 

At the foot of the article you'll find links to the videos of the school's 2015, 2016 and 2017 student council campaign speeches.

A word of warning

Ps. panic not.

If you find yourself getting anxious over the thought of delivering your speech, please check this page for help.

• How to deal with acute public speaking anxiety: 14 ways that will help

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Speech Writing

How To Start A Speech

How to Start A Speech - 13 Interesting Ideas & Examples

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First impressions are crucial in public speaking, and starting a speech well is often the hardest part. It's the moment to capture your audience's attention or risk losing it. 

Many find this difficult, as a poor start can lead to disinterested listeners and missed opportunities. In this blog, we'll explore simple and creative ways to begin your speech, ensuring you engage your audience right from the start. 

Keep reading to find effective techniques to start your speech!

• 1. Different Ways to Start a Speech
• 2. How To Start Different Types of Speeches
• 3. What Not To Do While Starting a Speech
• 4. How to Start a Speech Examples

Different Ways to Start a Speech

When it comes to inspiring, persuading, and influencing audiences, your speech’s most essential element is the opening. 

So how do you start your speech in a way that will get the audience on your side?

Here are ten effective ways to start your speech successfully every time.  

Begin with a Quote

Quotes are gems of wisdom that resonate with people. They inspire and motivate while being easy to remember. 

Well-thought-out words of history’s best orators can sometimes be the ticket for your successful speech. 

One good example is: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams.

Start with Statistics

Statistics are the proof that can add weight to your words. 

By opening with compelling and personalized statistics, you can add a quantifiable and persuasive aspect to your message. It provides you the basis for building your argument, supporting your claim, and proving it right.

An example could be: “72% of adult internet users use Facebook”.

Pose a Rhetorical Question

Rhetorical questions are engaging and thought-provoking. They invite your audience to think and participate in your presentation. These questions can captivate your listeners and lead them down the path of your message.

A very famous rhetorical question of all times by William Shakespeare is:

“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not get revenge?” - The Merchant of Venice.

Open with a 'What If' Scenario

Creating a "what if" scenario sparks curiosity and imagination. You can use this technique to encourage your audience to envision a different perspective or a unique situation related to your topic.

For example: “What if you were blind for your life and today you just got to see the world? How have you imagined the world so far? And how do these colors attract you? By the way, is there anyone who is color blind?”

Make an Interesting Statement

You can start your speech with a powerful and catchy statement without asking the audience to pay attention to you. Interesting statements are very useful in engaging the audience and persuading them to listen and agree with you. 

A famous statement from Amy Cuddy’s Ted talk “ Your Body May Shape Who You Are ” is:

"So I want to start by offering you a free, no-tech life hack, and all it requires of you is this: that you change your posture for two minutes."

Share a Personal Anecdote or Experience

Sharing personal experiences creates a genuine connection with your audience. It allows them to relate to you on a human level and sets the stage for a compelling narrative.

For example: “I was in high school when I first fell in love…..”

People love stories of any kind from infancy and childhood. As soon as people learn that you are going to tell a story, they immediately settle down, become quiet and lean forward like kids around a campfire.

Give Meaningful Pauses

Pauses are the unsung heroes of a speech. Well-timed silence can emphasize your message and create an impact that words alone cannot.

Take a little pause every time you need to emphasize something. Knowing where to take a pause helps you make your message effective. 

For example: 

“Lyla is dead.”

“But they don’t know it yet.”

Envision a Scenario

By using the word "imagine," you can transport your listeners into your narrative. According to Frank Luntz, “One word automatically triggers the process of visualization by its mere mention: imagine.”

“Imagine” scenarios put the audience directly into the presentation by allowing them to visualize the extraordinary scenes. For example:

“Imagine you are hiking on Mount Everest, and you are just about to reach the peak, but suddenly you slip and roll down to the ground. How would you feel at that moment?”

Refer to the Historical Event 

You can capture your audience’s attention by referring to a historical event related to your speech. Well-known historical events are good reference points to get the audience to use their imagination. 

For example: “During the 1960s and ’70s, the United States intervened in the civil strife between North and South Vietnam. The result was a long running war of attrition in which many American lives were lost, and the country of Vietnam suffered tremendous damage and destruction.”

Start with Humor

Humor, when used thoughtfully, can instantly connect with your audience. It lightens the mood and draws people in, but it's essential to tread carefully to avoid offense.

An example of a humorous beginning is: “Speak when you are angry – and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” - Dr. Laurence J Peter.

Usage of humor is a genius trick to get your audience involved in your speech.

Create Suspense

Starting your speech with suspense can immediately capture your audience's curiosity and keep them engaged as they eagerly anticipate what comes next. This technique is effective for drawing your audience into a story, a mystery, or a problem that needs solving.

Example: "As the clock struck midnight, and the footsteps echoed in the darkness, she knew that her life was about to change forever. But, what was waiting for her beyond that door?"

Open with a Definition

Defining key terms or concepts at the beginning of your speech can set the stage for a clear and focused discussion. This is especially useful when your topic involves technical or specialized terms that your audience may not be familiar with.

Example: "Today, let's begin with a clear understanding of 'sustainable development.' It refers to the practice of using resources in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Invoke a Contradiction

Opening with a contradiction can intrigue your audience by presenting two seemingly conflicting ideas or statements. This encourages them to explore the topic further and seek resolution.

Example: "In a world where we often believe that 'time is money,' today, we'll explore a paradox – how sometimes, time spent without rushing can be the most valuable time of all."

These opening techniques can help you capture your audience's attention and set the tone for a successful speech. The choice of which one to use will depend on your topic, audience, and the overall tone you want to convey.

How To Start Different Types of Speeches

Speech openings are not one-size-fits-all; they should be tailored to the specific type of speech you're delivering. 

Here, we'll explore how to start various types of speeches , providing examples to illustrate each approach.

How to Start a Graduation Speech

Starting a graduation speech is a unique opportunity to inspire and reflect on the journey of the graduates. A great way to begin is by acknowledging the significance of the moment. For instance:

Example: "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty, proud parents, and, of course, the brilliant Class of 2023 - today, as we stand on the precipice of our future, we are not just marking the end of an educational journey but celebrating the beginning of countless new adventures."

How to Start a Persuasive Speech

In a persuasive speech , your aim is to influence your audience's thoughts, beliefs, or actions. Begin with a statement that grabs attention and introduces your persuasive intent:

Example: "Picture this: a world where every individual makes small, conscious choices every day to reduce their carbon footprint. Today, I'm here to persuade you that we can create that world, one step at a time."

How to Start a Presentation Speech

Starting a presentation speech requires a balance between engaging your audience and previewing the content. Open a speech or presentation with an engaging fact or question related to your topic:

Example: "Did you know that in just the last five years, the world has generated more data than in all of human history before that? Today, we're going to delve into the fascinating world of data analytics and its impact on our lives."

In each of these examples, the opening lines are designed to fit the specific type of speech. 

Remember that a well-crafted opening not only captivates your audience but also makes the rest of your speech more impactful.

What Not To Do While Starting a Speech

Starting a speech can be daunting, and it's easy to make mistakes that can undermine your credibility or fail to engage your audience. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

1. Avoid Starting with Apologies Opening your speech with an apology, such as "I'm sorry if this is boring" or "I'm not a great speaker," sets a negative tone and diminishes your authority. Instead, begin with confidence and enthusiasm to captivate your audience from the start.

2. Don’t Use Overused Clichés Starting with clichés like "Webster's dictionary defines..." or "Since the dawn of time..." can make your speech sound unoriginal and uninspiring. Aim for a fresh and unique opening that grabs attention.

3. Avoid Overloading with Facts and Statistics While facts and statistics can be powerful, bombarding your audience with too many at the start can overwhelm and disengage them. Instead of starting straight with data-heavy facts, create a seamless speech format that weaves in fact and information smoothly. 

4. Steer Clear of Irrelevant Jokes Humor can be an excellent icebreaker, but starting with an irrelevant or inappropriate joke can backfire. Ensure that any humor used is relevant to your topic and suitable for your audience.

5. Don’t Read Directly from Your Notes Reading verbatim from your notes or slides can make your opening seem rehearsed and impersonal. Practice enough to deliver your opening naturally, making eye contact with your audience to establish a connection.

6. Avoid Long-Winded Openings A lengthy opening can lose your audience's attention quickly. Keep your introduction concise and to the point, leading smoothly into the main content of your speech.

7. Don’t Start with Negative Statements Beginning with negative statements or criticisms can alienate your audience. Focus on positive and engaging statements that draw listeners in and set a constructive tone for your speech.

8. Avoid Technical Jargon Starting with complex technical terms or industry jargon can confuse and alienate your audience. Use simple, clear language that everyone can understand, especially in the opening.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a strong and engaging opening that sets the stage for a successful speech.

How to Start a Speech Examples

Here is an example of how to start a speech on stage:

Here are some more samples of how to start a speech for students:

How to Start a Speech Introduction Example

How to Start a Speech About Yourself?

How to Start a Speech In School?

How To Start A Speech In English

How To Start A Speech In English For Students

How To Start A Speech For Kids

How To Start A Speech In School Assembly

Need more examples? Have a look at these speech examples and get inspired!

Now that you've learned various ways to start your speech and make a strong impression, you're well-prepared for your speaking journey.

Not quite the perfect writer? Don’t worry! Whether you have ' do my essay for me ' request or 'write my speech' request MyPerfectWords.com has got you covered.

Our experts are here to ensure you receive high-quality speeches, debates, essays, or any other type of writing.

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Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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Keep reading

How to Start a Speech: 9 Tips You Can Use

Imagine standing in front of an eager audience, every pair of eyes on you. You only have a moment to capture their attention with your speech, or you’ll lose them. If you begin it well, your words have the potential to get the crowd buzzing and inspire your audience to action. Yet, to do this, the beginning of a speech needs to be captivating, which is not always easy to pull off, even for experienced speakers. For this reason, it’s crucial leaders know how to start a speech, as it’s an asset used throughout their entire careers.

9 Tips on How to Start a Speech

1. don’t wing it, 2. create an imaginary scenario, 3. use a quote, check out these quotes to get some ideas:, 4. use humor.

You can always start your speech out with a joke. Admittedly, this can be tricky to pull off since humor is subjective, but a joke can immediately put the audience at ease. Pick a joke that’s tasteful and relevant to the topic at hand. For obvious reasons, you should avoid starting with a joke if the subject of your speech is serious or sad.

5. Pose a Question

If you’re struggling with a way to begin your speech, why not try asking a question? The question you choose can be a literal question, such as, “How many people here run their own business?” Or you can go the rhetorical route by asking a “what if” question. A “what if” question is a great way to get people thinking about possible scenarios. For example, think about a speech that started by saying, “What kind of world would it be if every leader fulfilled their full potential?” The audience would immediately begin coming up with ideas and imagining what such a world would look like.

6. Pick a Statistic

7. shock the audience.

In another popular TED Talk, Pamela Meyer begins by making a shocking  announcement : “Okay, now I don’t want to alarm anybody in this room, but it’s just come to my attention that the person to your right is a liar.” Think of what a compelling way that is to get people to put down their phones and look at the speaker. It also ties nicely into the subject of her speech, “How to Spot a Liar.” With a shocking statement, you too can capture people’s attention in just a few seconds.

8. Describe a Problem

9. share a story, bonus tips for starting a speech, the one thing you should not do.

If there’s a surefire way to lose your audience right at the start, it’s by simply introducing yourself. First off, in most speech settings, someone will likely have introduced you anyway, so it would be a waste of time. Secondly, most people in the audience will already know who you are and why you are there. Introducing yourself treats your audience like children and may even lead to some people zoning out immediately. Don’t dawdle or play schoolteacher with the people in front of you. Launch right into your speech with the skills discussed earlier. The results will speak for themselves.

Start Your Speech Out the Right Way

Giving a speech is an art form that often relies on what happens at the start. Try out the above tips the next time you need to give a speech. Using  assertive communication  is another way to establish a connection with your audience. With the right beginning, you’ll have people following you every step of the way until you’ve finished.

Want more great quotes for starting a speech?  Check out the following:

50+ Success Quotes to Inspire Leaders

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How to Start a Speech

Last Updated: January 12, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 396,984 times.

The best way to start a speech depends on the type and topic of the speech, your audience, and the overall tone of the event. The best way to ensure a successful speech is to grab your audience’s attention in the beginning of the speech; if you do so, they will likely stick with you to the very end. While there is no one way to capture an audience’s attention, there are several methods that may work. Choose the one that is the best fit for the event and your own personality.

Winning Your Audience’s Attention

• At an event held in honor of a particular person, you might tell a humorous story involving you and the person being honored. Just make sure that the story or joke is not embarrassing or potentially offensive.
• Try out your joke on a few different people before delivering it in your speech. If the joke falls flat or is offensive, cut it from your speech. [2] X Research source

• Try something simple that cuts to the chase, like “Seat belts save lives.”

• If your speech is about mood disorders, you might make a statement along the lines of, “Depression, manic depression, and mood disorders of a similar strain can have deadly side effects.”
• If you are giving a speech on self-defense, you could say something like, “If you're out alone and suddenly assaulted, your reaction in the first few seconds can be the difference between survival and death.”

• For a speech about dogs, you could describe the standard characteristics or daily life of a dog using a first person point of view, and end with the statement, “I am a dog.”

• A statistic about declining or increasing birthrates in a specific region or country could alert people to population issues.

• For a speech in which you are trying to persuade the audience to take protective measures against the sun, you can bring up a statistic relating to the number of people who die from skin cancer on an annual year.

• For a speech about maternity care in the United States, you could tell a story about an experience related to maternity care that you or someone you know went through.
• If you were delivering a speech about how to bake a cake to kids or teens, you might describe a situation in which a child made a cake for a parent or loved one for a special occasion. Include details about how the recipient appreciated the gesture.

• Try to choose a quote from a well-known source, since more people will likely respond to it if they recognize who spoke it.
• Inspirational quotes are a popular way to open a graduation speech. Usually, the speaker would choose a quote that talks about dreams, education, looking toward the future, or building character.
• Quotations are not often used to start demonstrative speeches.

• If you are trying to persuade an audience about the importance of forming healthy eating and exercising habits, you might start with a statement made by a well-known expert on the matter to engage the audience.

• For a speech about how to lose weight, you could begin by showing before and after pictures of people who used the method you are about to describe.

• If you are trying to persuade an audience to buy a specific language learning program, you could give an example of someone who used that program and who now lives in a country that speaks the language learned.

Engaging Audience Participation

• For a speech about how to winterize your car, you could ask the audience something like, “How many of you have ever felt your car slipping on an icy street? Or who here has had their car stall on the side of the road during freezing temperatures?”

• If you are giving a speech about holiday traditions, you could ask, “What was your favorite holiday tradition growing up?”

• For example, if you’re giving a speech about booking a dream vacation, you might start with: “Imagine you are on a tropical beach. Feel the sand under your feet and the sun beating down on your shoulders. You can hear the ocean waves and wind swishing through the palm trees.”

• If you’re giving a speech about teaching online classes versus in-person classes, you might ask, “What’s your biggest concern about teaching an online class?” Call on a few people to hear their concerns. Chances are, you’ll be addressing their concerns in your speech already.

• You might say to the audience, “Turn to your neighbor and tell them your favorite kind of exercise.”

• If you are trying to explain why the audience should buy a certain kitchen utensil, open by describing a common scenario that might happen in the kitchen for which that utensil could be used.

Improving Your Ethos

• This is most often seen at eulogies and weddings. The speaker introduces himself or herself and begins to explain who they are in connection to the subject being addressed. If you are delivering a wedding toast, you might begin by talking about your connection to the bride, groom, or couple getting married.
• It can also be used at an event being held by an organization. In that case, the speaker might explain her position within the organization.

• For example, if your speech is about the lack of women working in technology, you might find a recent story about how girls are being discouraged from pursuing science in high school.

• If you were giving a speech at a Christmas party or fundraiser, you could talk about your Christmas memories or something you love about the season.

Understanding Types of Speeches

• The tone of an informative speech is usually fairly flexible and often dependent on the topic of the speech. For instance, a speech about cancer would demand a serious start and serious tone, while one about the history of the yo-yo would be very lighthearted.

• Demonstrative speeches are often on the lighthearted and non-academic side, so the openings of such speeches tend to be more relaxed. That said, if you do end up dealing with a serious topic, such as how to stay safe in a hurricane or tornado, make your introduction and overall speech fairly serious.

• These types of speeches can be the most difficult to deliver because, as the speaker, you have to be engaging enough to "sell" your opinion to those listening in.
• Persuasive speeches are often serious and may use a serious opening, especially if the speaker is trying to persuade an audience to take a certain beneficial action or to adopt a new perspective about a topic. The only time that a persuasive speech might take on a more casual, lighthearted tone is when the speaker is trying to sell an actual product.

• A serious or sorrowful occasion will usually call for a somber or nostalgic tone, but a celebratory occasion demands an opening and a speech that is entertaining or uplifting. For instance, a speech delivered at someone's wedding should be a lot more lighthearted than one delivered as a eulogy, and both will be very personal. A graduation speech must be general enough to relate to a wide audience.

Delivering the Speech

• This will ensure that you’re comfortable with the speech and you’ll be able to relax a bit.
• Memorize the first sentence of your speech. This will help you overcome anxiety of starting out the speech strongly. Bring a hard copy of your speech with you as well.

• If you are giving a brief speech, you likely won’t need to drink any water in the middle of your speech. If your speech is longer, then you might want to find a good moment to pause and take a small sip. Don’t gulp the water down; you will risk spilling it on your shirt or making yourself cough.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/attention-getters-for-speeches
• ↑ http://www.amanet.org/training/articles/Start-Your-Speech-Out-Right.aspx
• ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/publicspeaking/chapter/9-2-the-attention-getter-the-first-step-of-an-introduction/
• ↑ http://libguides.lamar.edu/content.php?pid=23277&sid=2818461
• ↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
• ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-publicspeakingprinciples/chapter/using-testimony/
• ↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/oralcommunication/guides/how-to-engage-your-audience-and-keep-them-with-you
• ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/publicspeaking/chapter/18-2-special-occasion-speeches/
• ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/11-1-informative-speeches/
• ↑ http://www.comm.pitt.edu/persuasive-speaking
• ↑ http://www.comm.pitt.edu/commemorative-speaking
• ↑ https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/public-speaking-know-your-audience
• ↑ https://hbr.org/2019/09/how-to-rehearse-for-an-important-presentation
• ↑ < https://opentextbc.ca/studentsuccess/chapter/presentation-aids/
• ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/eye_contact_tips_to_make_your_presentations_stronger
• ↑ https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/speaking-audience

About This Article

How you start a speech will depend a lot on what it’s about, but you should always aim to grab your audience’s attention. You should start by introducing yourself and explaining your connection to the topic. For example, if you’re giving a wedding toast, talk about how you know the married couple. Speak in a clear, loud voice, which will encourage your audience to pay attention. Telling a joke can be a good way to break the ice and focus your audience on what you’re saying, but make sure humor is appropriate for the occasion first. Alternatively, make a startling statement about your topic. For instance, you could begin a speech about self-defense by saying, “If you’re out alone and get assaulted, the way you respond in the first few seconds can make the difference between life and death.” As you speak, look out at the audience and maintain eye contact, which will make your speech more engaging. For tips on how to prepare to deliver your speech, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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School Speeches

School speeches generator.

Ever had any experience of delivering a school speech that made everyone stood up on their toes as their applause filled the auditorium as your speech example  comes close to an ending? If you haven’t experienced such a feat before and are just days away from delivering your first ever school speech, you need to know that there are a lot of ways to deliver your speech which leaves a lasting impact on the audience. Don’t fill your mind with thoughts that inspire the growth of anxiety for we offer you tips for effectively imparting the message of your speech to your audience.

• Speech Templates and Examples
• Graduation Speech Examples

But before anything else, not being oblivious to what school speeches are is essential for you to come up with brilliant ideas as you start composing your speech. Examples of downloadable school speeches are also offered in this article which you may use as your reference anytime.

School Student Graduation Speech

Size: 75 kB

Sample School Speech

Size: 56 kB

Law School Speeches

Size: 85.0 kB

Just like any other speeches, the main purpose of the speech should be to deliver your message to a crowd in which the points are moot to those who live by different philosophies or ideas. School speeches have a wide scope of discussion. They can tackle economic, societal, health (in general), cultural, and even individual issues, and aim to raise awareness about these issues. Speeches are filled with ideas that break the norm yet persuade the audience to consider them by making them think. Your points can be easily fortified if you do an in-depth research about your topic and by citing factual instances as your examples. You may also see the  Motivational Speech

The content of the inspirational speech consists of perfectly organized ideas that lead your audience to the core on how you understand things and how the ideas came to be. The ideas are products of critical analysis rather than just relying on the opinions of random sources that are displayed on digital platforms. When the ideas are presented in a disorganized manner, your points or arguments can be easily countered because jumping from one idea to another without a good transition can suggest something beyond what you have failed to research. Now, that is one thing you wish to avoid. Delivering a speech that causes only confusion to the audience does not even equate to not delivering any scholastic speech at all.

School speeches are deemed as vital scholastic projects or activities for this prepares the students in facing possible future impediments that could detriment the growth of humanity. There is power in words that can even bend cultural follies that are continually venerated and preached in the current. Taking into consideration that a school speech is a collaboration of critically analyzed ideas which will be proposed to the public, speeches are meant to inspire other ideas other than what is already in it. Your ideas that stir the ideas of others refers is a response from your audience. That is why it is important for you to choose the right words and terms and doing an extensive research on a certain topic in the process of composing your school speech so that your ideas will suggest other brilliant ideas coming from the audience. You may also see  the Welcome Speech .

Although this scholastic practice is rated biasedly by persons who share different opinions, this is a very good way to prepare young students in combatting future idealists who do not think about the social welfare than merely their own. There are lots of learnings in a well-crafted school speech that enables the minds of the young ones to think beyond the borders of school textbooks. And for you to make a good educator, state something that will leave your audience with a lasting impact on their lives.

Clarke School Speech

Size: 21.0 kB

Writing a School Speech

Writing a school speech can be a challenge if your teacher assigns you a topic you despise or are completely oblivious to. But, not being able to compose an effective one is not a very good enough reason given the access to the internet and school libraries, or other sources you can refer to. To help you out with difficulties in composing one, refer to our tips below. You may also see the  award speech examples .

• Instead of thinking or complaining about how difficult your topic is, motivate yourself to learn about it . A topic which is foreign to you may sound extremely difficult already. The technique for instances such as this is to encourage yourself to learn about certain topics which you know nothing about. Your unwillingness to perform school duties because your teachers have not discussed anything about your topic be the reason why you fail to compose an effective school speech. It comes with the absolute necessity that you do extensive research for your assignments; thereby, increasing the degrees of your understanding of the concept of certain matters to suffice individual curiosity and get rid of ignorance. You may also see the  speech examples for students
• Make certain that your sources are reliable . It has become rampant in today’s age where the spread of fallacious news is forcibly imposed on people who buy any ideas. When doing your research, you have to make sure that the ideas you have gathered are factual. This is why there is a need for you to do an extensive research than just rely on one source. If ever you spot some points in your reference that is questionable to you, don’t hesitate to research more about that point. In the age of digital revolution, the main source of acquiring information is via the internet. There are blogs or articles that may present opinions and ideas rather smartly, even though the ideas being referred to are not accurate. You don’t want your speech to be an embodiment of misleading information. The purpose of your informative speech is to educate, so always take some time to think about the sources of your information before preaching your ideas to your audience.
• Organize your ideas well and deliver a good argument. The organization of thoughts and ideas is important for you not to create ambiguities. A well-organized idea paired with the perfect choice of words is what makes a speech effective. Also, you have to make sure that your ideas from factual sources are arranged perfectly to guide your audience to your main point. If you fail to arrange your ideas, there are instances where one of your ideas breeds to audience assumptions that contradict your other ideas.
• Start with something that stirs the audience’s interests, and end your school speech with a statement that leaves a lasting impact on the audience . Starting with a quote not common to all or a statement that speaks of the very core of your ideas is a good way to entice your listeners. In case your speech fails to do so, your audience will be stricken with boredom and would not bother giving your ideas and opinions the chance to be heard. Furthermore, once you are through with presenting your ideas, write a conclusion that persuades your audience to consider your perspective. This can be attained by writing a conclusion that declares an idea that makes them think rather than declare how your ideas are right and must be implemented. Ending your school speech with a question is a good way to make your audience think, and come up with ideas that even you know nothing about. You may also see the  presentation speech .

School Speech by Superintendent

Size: 187 kB

Sample Speech for Secondary Schools

Size: 232 KB

Head Boys Speech to the School

Size: 120 KB

Middle School Speech

Size: 324 KB

High School Beginning Speech

Size: 653 KB

Summit School Speech Program

Size: 220 KB

With everything that is mentioned above, crafting a commendable school speech would be a whole lot easier. Of course, there remains still the challenges in crafting one but knowing the purpose alone of a speech already unloads the cumbersome thought of making a school speech for purposes of completing your school requirement. State your ideas well, and influence your audience with your brilliant ideas. You may also see the  college graduation speech examples .

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• Staff Management

New school year: the art of a head’s welcome back speech

Sitting in my study in school, on a hot August morning in Moldova, and staring at a blank page for my “welcome back” speech, the words of the late Sir Tim Brighouse kept coming back to me: “School leaders need to be both a historian and a futurologist.”

This is my tenth “state of the union” speech, and my sixth at my current school, and finding the right words is never simple, not least because you know that among the buzz of everyone being back together, there is a slight melancholy that summer is over.

However, for school leaders it’s vital that this welcome back speech is used to inspire some esprit de corps for the new year ahead, while also mixing in important school updates, reflections on success from the past year, areas for improvements and plans for the year ahead.

Getting all that right is not easy, but I have found that breaking the speech out into three distinct sections allows a head to be both historian and futurologist.

The ‘welcome back’ speech for a new school year

The exam results and the school improvement priorities may be dominating your every thought for most of August but I always start the speech with something lighthearted, sometimes with reference to the most palatable meme of the summer.

My three children, Gen Z to their core, often joke that they do not want to be in “my propaganda stories that I have a life outside of school” - so, of course, I always share a few summer holiday snaps to prove that I had a break, too.

Then I move on to welcoming new staff. This, though, is not without its pitfalls - you don’t want to put a nervous new teacher front and centre if that will only add to their nerves or make them feel singled out somehow.

More on international schools:

• Providing consistent CPD on a global scale
• Founding schools: why it’s not for the faint-hearted
• Education reforms must embrace technology’s power

I always ask beforehand how they want to be introduced, whether they are happy saying a few words, giving a wave or simply having their name read out. I can recall watching on mortified in some schools when the word “speech!” has been shouted at the newbies.

Then I move to sharing good news stories from the summer: marriages, new babies, house moves and so forth. Again, it’s best to get approval beforehand but sharing good moments underlines the collegiate atmosphere that any good school should have.

You can’t avoid some reference to exams in your welcome back talk - but this should be broad-brush and relevant to all staff to help them understand the school’s successes. Include all types of success stories from the past year’s cohorts, not just the ones about four-A* students off to Oxbridge.

Connect staff to these stories as a firm reminder of what we, as a school, have done and what we are building on for the coming year - a reminder of why we push through on wet Wednesdays in November when the adrenaline of August is but a distant memory.

Any messages of praise should be shared in this section, too - positive words from trustees, the board or even past students will resonate. Don’t keep them to yourself.

Usually I make the final part of this section of the speech an interactive element. For example, I will ask staff to share their personal highlights of the past year - sometimes serious (“I helped a student hit their required grades for university” ), sometimes fun (“I found my favourite coffee cup”) and sometimes surreal (” I bumped into a student on a beach in Spain and was asked if I would be teaching their class next year” ).

The final section of my speech is the time to talk mission, vision and values. People do appreciate it, and it is not just something that should be memorised for any future inspection. It is about why we are all here in this school and this context. This is the leadership stuff they expect.

Building on this, it can be helpful to outline what the key priorities are for the school going forward - perhaps shared through a well-known template like “what works well/even better if” - but this should be broad so that individuals or departments do not feel singled out.

You can use this to engage staff for a breakout session for a few minutes, too: ask them to chat with each other about three things they want to achieve in the year aligned with the school’s goals.

Usually, then, it’s just a case of wishing everyone well for the new school year and reminding them that it’s a marathon not a sprint and it’s fine to smile before Christmas. End with an inspirational quote. I find that this from the poet Maya Angelou hard to beat.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Rob Ford is director of Heritage International School in Chisinau, Moldova

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When to Refer a Student for Speech Therapy

Many speech issues can be corrected with therapy, so it’s important that teachers know the signs of a potential problem.

When you think of students receiving speech therapy, you probably think of a student who has difficulty pronouncing sounds. How many students have you had who say “wabbit” instead of “rabbit” or stutter? While these students may need help from the school speech therapist, let’s identify some other students who could benefit from a speech-language evaluation by looking at what speech-language pathologists (SLPs) target in the school setting and what to do if you think a student needs to be referred to your school’s SLP. 

SLPs in schools work with students in many different areas: 

• Articulation for students who produce speech sounds incorrectly by substituting another sound or omitting the correct sound.  
• Fluency for students who stutter by repeating sounds, words, or phrases, or have other disfluencies in their speech, like taking long pauses between their words. 
• Receptive language for students who struggle to take in and understand what they hear. Students with receptive language disorders will often have difficulty following directions (not due to ADHD or other disorders), understanding information read to them, or following along during conversation.
• Expressive language for students who have trouble expressing themselves either verbally or nonverbally through writing. There are many signs to watch for, such as trouble producing correct grammar or syntax or cohesively providing a narrative. 
• Pragmatics for students who are challenged by social language skills, such as entering, exiting, or maintaining a conversation; understanding nonliteral language like sarcasm, idioms, similes, or metaphors; or understanding social aspects of communication, such as nonverbal language (facial expressions, gestures, body language, etc.) or rules like turn-taking. 

The following two areas are not often targeted in schools but are within SLPs’ scope of practice. Teachers who notice a student having these issues can refer them to their school’s SLP for help.

• Voice for students who have a vocal quality that is too raspy, high, nasal, or otherwise disordered in a way that affects their communication.
• Swallowing for students who often cough or seem to choke while eating or drinking or otherwise seem to have difficulty swallowing.

Reading is also within the scope of practice of SLPs, but these students are often best served by a reading specialist, dyslexia interventionist, or special education teacher. However, if your school does not have one of these amazing reading experts, you can certainly turn to your SLP. 

Collecting Data

When you encounter a student who exhibits some speech or language concerns, what do you do first? This process can vary by school, and legally a referral can be made formally or informally. However, a good first step is to collect data to bring to the SLP or special education team. For instance, if you are concerned about a student’s expressive language, you want to have specific examples of what you are seeing in class. Do they have trouble producing full sentences? Is their sentence structure inappropriate for the grade level? Do they have trouble defining or describing common items? Having exact incidences of their errors is helpful, as well as providing written work that supports your observations. 

It is important here to consider what a typical student of their age and grade level is capable of. Remember that “wabbit” kiddo from earlier? Would you be concerned if a pre-K student exhibited that articulation error? Probably not, right? However, if you saw that same error in a first grader, you would rightfully be concerned about their articulation skills and should consider making a referral.

A word of caution: Remember that all people speak in a particular dialect, and a dialect is inherently different from a disorder. Many of our students use a dialect that does not follow the rules of Standard American English, but that does not make it any less valid a communication style. Therefore, a student who says “toof” instead of “tooth” or “What you wanna do?” instead of “What do you wanna do?” may not need to be referred if their speech and/or language patterns are consistent with their dialect. 

Reaching out to an SLP

Once you have collected data that demonstrates a student’s area(s) of weakness, the next step is to present that to your school’s SLP or to a member of the special education team if your school does not directly employ a speech therapist. Once they have that information, they should schedule a referral conference to obtain consent from the student’s parent or guardian to conduct an evaluation.

If therapy is warranted, an individualized education program (IEP) will be put in place for speech therapy. In all IEP conferences, a general education teacher is a required participant. Your presence is not only legally mandated but vital when determining the student’s strengths and weaknesses. 

After consent is obtained and the evaluation is conducted, another meeting will be held with the IEP team to review the results and determine placement. If the student demonstrates a need for speech services, then the team will make decisions regarding minutes, placement, and goals. While writing the IEP, input from the general education teacher regarding the curriculum and grade-level standards is crucial in ensuring that the IEP is appropriate for this particular student.

As educators, we are our students’ best advocates. Classroom teachers are indispensable to those of us in special education, as they are the ones who know their students best and are often the first to identify students who are struggling. We need you to help identify the students who may need some extra assistance. Let’s work together to ensure that all students are receiving what they need to be successful.

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Schools are competing with cell phones. Here’s how they think they could win.

This photo provided by Spokane Public Schools shows Adams Elementary fifth graders pausing to pose for a photo while painting a mural at Spokane Community College, May 2024, in Spokane, Wash. (Spokane Public Schools via AP)

Isabella Pires first noticed what she calls the “gradual apathy pandemic” in eighth grade. Only a handful of classmates registered for service projects she helped organize at her Massachusetts school. Even fewer actually showed up.

When she got to high school last fall, Isabella found the problem was even worse: a lackluster Spirit Week and classes where students seldom spoke.

In some ways, it’s as if students “just care less and less about what people think, but also somehow care more,” said Isabella, 14. Some teens, she said, no longer care about appearing disengaged, while others are so afraid of ridicule they keep to themselves. She blames social media and the lingering isolation of the post-COVID era.

Educators say their tried and true lesson plans are no longer enough to keep students engaged at a time of struggling mental health, shortened attention spans, reduced attendance and worsening academic performance. At the crux of these challenges? Addiction to cell phones. Now, adults are trying new strategies to reverse the malaise.

Cell phone bans are gaining traction, but many say they’re not enough. They argue for alternative stimulation: steering students outdoors or toward extracurriculars to fill time they might otherwise spend alone online. And students need outlets, they say, to speak about taboo topics without fear of being " canceled " on social media.

“To get students engaged now, you have to be very, very creative,” said Wilbur Higgins, lead English teacher at Dartmouth High School, where Isabella will be a sophomore this fall.

Lock them up

A sign posted in the Wendler Middle School office on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 informs students that cell phones must be powered off and locked in lockers during the school day. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Cell phone pouches, lockers and bins have grown in popularity to help enforce device bans.

John Nguyen, a chemistry teacher in California, invented a pouch system because he was so distressed by bullying and fights on phones during class, often without adults interfering. Many teachers are afraid to confront students using phones during lessons, Nguyen said, and others have given up trying to stop it.

At Nguyen’s school, students lock their phones in neoprene pouches during classes or even all day. A teacher or principal’s magnetic key unlocks the pouches.

It doesn’t matter how dynamic the lesson, said Nguyen, who teaches at Marina Valley High School and now markets the pouches to other schools. “There’s nothing that can compete with the cell phone.”

Do something (else)

Lackawanna Police Officer Abdul Albaneh, who works with schools, demonstrates how to unlock a cellphone pouch that will prevent students from using their cellphones during the school day to improve student engagement, in Lackawanna, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2024, for when school resumes in September. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson)

Some schools are locking up smartwatches and wireless headphones, too. But the pouches don’t work once the final bell rings.

So in Spokane, Washington, schools are ramping up extracurriculars to compete with phones after hours.

An initiative launching this month, " Engage IRL " — in real life — aims to give every student something to look forward to after the school-day grind, whether it’s a sport, performing arts or a club.

“Isolating in your home every day after school for hours on end on a personal device has become normalized,” Superintendent Adam Swinyard said.

Students can create clubs around interests like board games and knitting or partake in neighborhood basketball leagues. Teachers will help students make a plan to get involved during back-to-school conferences, the district says.

“From 3 to 5:30 you are in a club, you’re in a sport, you’re at an activity,” instead of on a phone, Swinyard said. (The district has a new ban on phones during class, but will allow them after school.)

At a time of high absenteeism, he also hopes the activities will be the extra push some students need to attend school. In a Gallup poll conducted last November, only 48% of middle or high school students said they felt motivated to go to school, and only 52% felt they did something interesting every day. The poll was funded by the Walton Family Foundation, which also supports environmental journalism at AP.

Vivian Mead, a rising senior in Spokane, said having more after-school activities helps but won’t work for everyone. “There’s definitely still some people who just want to be alone, listen to their music, do their own thing, or, like, be on their phone,” said Vivian, 17.

Her 15-year-old sister, Alexandra, said morning advisory sessions have improved participation in the drama club that keeps the sisters busy. “It forces everyone, even if they don’t want to get involved, to have to try something, and maybe that clicks,” she said.

Get outside

Thirteen middle schools in Maine adopted a similar approach, bringing students outdoors for 35,000 total hours during a chosen week in May.

It’s empowering for students to connect with each other in nature, away from screens, said Tim Pearson, a physical education and health teacher. His students at Dedham School participated in the statewide “Life Happens Outside” challenge.

Teachers adapted their lessons to be taught outdoors, and students bonded in the open air during lunch and recess. At night, about half of Dedham’s students camped, incentivized by a pizza party. Several students told Pearson they camped out again after the challenge.

“Whether they had phones with them or not, they’re building fires, they’re putting up their tents,” Pearson said. “They’re doing things outside that obviously are not on social media or texting.”

Plea to parents

Parents must also make changes to their family’s cell phone culture, some teachers say. At home, Ohio teacher Aaron Taylor bars cellular devices when his own children have friends over.

And when kids are at school, parents shouldn’t distract them with check-in texts throughout the day, he said.

“Students are so tied to their families,” said Taylor, who teaches at Westerville North High School, near Columbus. “There’s this anxiety of not being able to contact them, rather than appreciating the freedom of being alone for eight hours or with your friends.”

Fight fears of being ‘canceled’

Some say other forces behind teen disengagement are only amplified by the cell phone. The divisive political climate often makes students unwilling to participate in class, when anything they say can rocket around the school in a messaging app.

Taylor’s high school English students tell him they don’t talk in class because they don’t want to be " canceled " — a term applied to public figures who are silenced or boycotted after offensive opinions or speech.

“I’m like, ‘Well, who’s canceling you? And why would you be canceled? We’re talking about `The Great Gatsby,’” not some controversial political topic, he said.

Students “get very, very quiet” when topics such as sexuality, gender or politics come up in novels, said Higgins, the Massachusetts English teacher. “Eight years ago, you had hands shooting up all over the place. Nobody wants to be labeled a certain way anymore or to be ridiculed or to be called out for politics.”

So Higgins uses websites such as Parlay that allow students to have online discussions anonymously. The services are expensive, but Higgins believes the class engagement is worth it.

“I can see who they are when they’re responding to questions and things, but other students can’t see,” Higgins said. “That can be very, very powerful.”

Alarmed at her peers’ disengagement, Isabella, Higgins’ student, wrote an opinion piece in her school’s newspaper.

“Preventing future generations from joining this same downward cycle is up to us,” she wrote.

A comment on the post highlighted the challenge, and what’s at stake.

“All in all,” the commenter wrote, “why should we care?”

August 28, 2024

t-notes archive

Next Issue: September 5, 2024

Thiel Happenings

Speech-language pathology and physician assistant programs celebrate summer graduations.

Thiel College completed its summer graduations with the recent Commencement Exercises for its Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and Speech-Language Pathology graduate programs.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Thiel alumna Megan Everett ’24 presented environmental solutions to Greenville, College

Megan Everett ’24 , a recent graduate of Thiel College, has been recognized for her innovative contributions to environmental sustainability through her independent study.

Thiel College Associate Professor of Communications Lana Kulik awarded tenure

Thiel College Associate Professor of Communications Lana V. Kulik, Ph.D. was recently awarded tenure.

Greenville High School Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Have Thiel College connections

Greenville High School will induct Thiel College wrestling coach Craig Thurber and alumnus Charles Semroc ’57 into the high school’s Athletic Hall of Fame later this month.

HR hosting important training program Title IX and Title VII

As part of Thiel College’s commitment to fostering a positive culture and and creating transparency and accountability, a special, in-person training program that will educate and address the obligations of Thiel College faculty, staff and student employees under Title IX and Title VII has been scheduled. Effective training and communication can help prevent incidents and promote a campus environment that does not tolerate discriminatory harassment, sex-based harassment, or violence.

The “Prevention of Discriminatory Harassment under Title IX and Title VII,” program will be  presented by Kimberly Colonna and Kelley Kaufman from McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC. The 90-minute program includes valuable information designed to educate employees and students on obligations and rights under Title IX and the broader Title VII, Civil Rights Act. It will provide attendees with practical advice about what constitutes harassment under the law and misconduct under College policies. Attendees will learn what to do if they see, hear of, or experience conduct that might constitute harassment or discrimination. This interactive program will feature scenarios, taken from real incidents and cases.

The training program is intended for all faculty, staff, and student leaders/employees.

The first session is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The second session is from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center. The content is the same for both sessions. 

Employee mixer at Padrone’s Pizza Thursday

An employee mixer begins at Padrone’s Pizza (140 Main St, Greenville) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. Mingle and meet with colleagues and get set to kick off a successful start to the semester. Attendees are encouraged to bring spouses and partners.

The restaurant will provide free snacks. 

• RSVP online .

For more information, contact Than Oo at ext. 2192.

Admisison schedule of events released

Employees should check their email for complete details on the Office of Admission’s fall visit dates.

Please note that additional dates/events could be added and we will communicate that information as soon as we have it. If you see students and families on campus during these events, please extend a warm TC welcome.

Fall Open House – Saturday, October 12 – 9 a.m.

Opportunity for students and families to attend a special open house that includes experiencing campus with a tour, a meal with the tomcats, and a presentation to learn about the admissions and financial aid process, including additional information on academic and athletic programs. High School seniors attending the event are encouraged to apply and bring their transcripts for an opportunity to walk away with a decision on their acceptance before the end of the day. Guests will be invited to attend the Football game after the open house.

Psychology and Sports Visit Day(featuring Dr. Bell) This visit opportunity will feature guest speaker, Dr. Bell, Sports Psychologist. Visitors will also have an opportunity to learn about the Admissions and Financial Aid process and visit with representatives in their academic area of interest.

Academic Scholarship Competitions – Saturday, Nov. 23, Saturday, Dec. 7, (Morning Start)

Opportunity for students to compete for 5 full-tuition scholarships.

Although important, the admissions events below are on a smaller scale and do not need as much representation from different departments on campus. Depending on attendance and/or program interest, we may call on certain departments to be available during these events and will reach out individually based on attendance and/or program interest.

Saturday Visits – Sept. 7, Sept. 14, Sept. 28, Nov.2, – 10 a.m.

Opportunity for students and families to visit on a Saturday morning. Each Saturday visit consists of a campus tour, meeting with an Admissions Counselor, and an opportunity to attend a home football game.

Twilight Tour & Tickets – Tuesday, Sept. 17, Wednesday, Oct. 9 – 5 p.m.

Opportunity for students and families to visit after school and work hours. Each Twilight Tour consists of a campus tour and a meeting with an Admissions Counselor. The families will then be given a “ticket” to attend the on campus games that evening as well. (Sept. 17 - Women’s Soccer, Oct. 9 – Women’s Volleyball and Men’s Soccer)

If you know of anyone - a family member, neighbor, or friend who is looking to attend college, please encourage them to visit Thiel College during one of these visit day opportunities or they can schedule an individual campus visit Monday – Friday – www.thiel.edu/visit .

For more informatiion contact Director of Admissions Sonya Lapikas at ext. 2172.

Ruth Miller and Rae Johnson have more ‘rizz’ than you!

@lifeatstpauls We like sweaters here #seniorliving #retirementgoals #nurse #cna #pca #itscoldinhere ♬ I SAID OOO ITS COLD IN HERE - papilocosta

Ruth Miller H’20 and Rae Johnson ’59 are on the left performing in this hugely popular TikTok video. The video has been viewed more than 26 million times. It does not feel like it today, but “sweater weather” can’t get here fast enough for Miller, Johnson and their friends! 😊

Johnson and Miller are also featured in a second TikTok doing a dance to the Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps .”

• Follow St. Paul’s Senior Living on TikTok .

ACUE event will cover AI

As part of Thiel College’s involvement with Belong: An Inclusive Learning Community, all faculty, staff, and administrators are invited to attend “The Three Es of Teaching with AI: Ethics, Equity, and Empowerment“ webinar at 3 p.m. Sept. 10.

This interactive 60-minute webinar will grant you insights into ethical and equitable teaching practices with AI, empowering attendees to equitably integrate generative AI tools on campus.

Student News

Student schedule adjusted following Labor Day holiday

With the undergraduate academic year starting on Tuesday, Aug. 27, the class schedule was adjusted. The Tuesday following Labor Day will be a Monday class day meeting schedule. The following day, the schedule will continue as normal with Wedesday classes meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Special Notes

Wellness Newsletter includes tips on working with chlosterol, prepping for an emergency, and a breakfast recipe.

• Download the Newsletter .

Thiel College welcomes...

• Brittany Gladysz, Lecturer of Physician Assistant Studies and Clinical Coordinator

Retirement plan meetings

Retirement plan advisors Jack Ryan and Sierra Christian from HB Retirement, are available to discuss employee retirement planning needs through conference calls and virtual meetings. Their office hours can be selected below.

Both are available to discuss

• Market Updates and Analysis
• Investment selection within the plan
• Retirement Income Planning
• Outside Investment Reviews
• Insurance needs analysis and policy reviews
• Comprehensive Financial Planning

Virtual : Ryan is available on August 28

• If you’d like to reserve a 15 or 30-minute time slot to speak with Ryan, please click HERE to schedule and select from the available times.

Virtual : Christian is available on August 29

• If you’d like to reserve a 15 or 30-minute time slot to speak with Christian, please click HERE to schedule and select from the available times.

Campus Events

Speech-Language Pathology Program Information Session August 28 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Zoom

The Thiel College Speech-Language Pathology Admissions Team will host an information session for those interested in learning more about the SLP Program. Faculty and staff will speak about course work, clinical rotations, the admissions process, financial aid and more.

For more information, contact the Office of Admission .

Opening Convocation August 29 at 11:30 a.m. Brother Martin’s Walk/William A. Passavant Memorial Center

The Thiel College community welcomes the Class of 2028 and new cohorts of graduate students to officially kick-off the fall 2024 semester.

Men’s soccer: Carlow at Thiel College August 30 at 5 p.m. Alumni Stadium

The Tomcats host the Carlow Celtics.

Women’s soccer: LaRoche at Thiel College August 30 at 7:30 p.m. Alumni Stadium

The Tomcats host LaRoche.

Men’s soccer: University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg at Thiel College August 31 at 7 p.m. Alumni Stadium

The Tomcats host the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg.

Monday Classes on Tuesday Sept. 3 Campus

Following the Labor Day holiday, Monday classes will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

’She Kills Monsters’ Auditions Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. William A. Robinson Theater

Auditions for the Fall 2024 theatre production of ‘She Kills Monsters’ by Qui Nguyen.

For more information, contant JK Rogers, Ph.D.

Women’s soccer: Penn State Beaver at Thiel College Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. Alumni Stadium

The Tomcats host Penn State Beaver.

Football: Carnegie Mellon at Thiel College Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. Alumni Stadium

The Tomcats host Carnegie Mellon University.

Community Events

• Read more .

Rotary Club Meeting Sept. 3 at noon Weyers Lounge, Howard Miller Student Center

The club meets every other Wednesday at noon.

Tomcat Tributes

Tomcat Tributes recognize the teamwork Thiel College employees exhibit each day. Employees can nominate co-workers for recognition in four categories (Random Act of Kindness, Going the Extra Mile, Had a Great Idea, Just Because).

• To nominate a fellow employee, visit the Campus Resources link on the Thiel Hub.

Going the Extra Mile Nominee: Lisa Blaney Nominator:  Randall Burnett M.A.’22 Tell us why you're nominating this Tomcat!  “Lisa has gone above and beyond to establish a friendly and inclusive atmosphere for all students using the mailroom facilities. She personally greets each student, takes the time to chat and make them feel at home, and ensures that the space is warm and inviting.”

Publishing Schedule

T-Notes is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters. It arrives Wednesday afternoons. The next edition will be out August 28, 2024. Send your event or news to [email protected] by noon Monday, August 26, 2024 to be published in that week’s edition.

Submit updates and news

The Office of Communications and Marketing is always looking for good content that can be featured in the weekly staff newsletter ( T-Notes ), the student newsletter ( Thiel Happenings ), the website Newsroom or on social media.

Please send any information about you, your students, your department or your colleagues to Dominick DiRienzo M.A.’22 .

Information about anything your department is featuring this year, any faculty accomplishments or student activity.

These updates do not have to meet a “newsworthiness” standard and do not have to be things that you are specifically doing or hosting.

If you have any questions, contact DiRienzo at ext. 2188.

Communications collateral

Employees should update the logos used on institutional materials, including email signatures, letterhead, PowerPoint slides, etc.

Thiel College has used the shield and wordmark combination as the official institutional logo for more than a year. They are the only approved logo for academic co-curricular and institutional use. Additional athletic logo packages are also available.

Email signatures, brand resources, and a job request form are all available online. A Dropbox folder has been set up with instructions and the materials necessary to create new email signatures. Employees can find other Thiel College-branded resources including letterhead, logos and PowerPoint slides in the same folder.

• Download brand assets .

Thiel College community members who need help with communications and marketing initiatives and collateral can now request those services with a job form. The request form is available on the communications and marketing webpage or linked directly below.

• Job request form

For more information, email the office .

Thiel College 75 College Ave Greenville, PA 16125 1-800-248-4435

HIT Verison 2

First day of school for CPS students: Mayor, CPS CEO greet students in person

Classes for about 328,000 students begin amid a heatwave as reading scores have rebounded to above pre-pandemic levels just as federal relief money for extra supports is running out..

Mayor Brandon Johnson and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez meet with students and ring the bell for the first day of school at Chalmers Elementary on Monday Aug. 25, 2024.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

From screaming kids reuniting with friends to nervous — but also relieved — parents telling their children to have fun and be safe, and educators welcoming their students with hugs, Monday featured the familiar sights and sounds of the first day of school.

Chicago Public Schools kicked off the school year through a heatwave that’s bringing the hottest days of the year, and with leaders saying academic achievement will continue to improve as the district works to serve students with increasing needs amid budget struggles.

Kassandra Varela walked her son and daughter to McAuliffe Elementary from their Hermosa neighborhood home on the Northwest Side and said it’s “amazing to have them back to their routine again.

“They’re always kind of scared,” Varela said. “This year, they’re not scared. They’re excited to come back.”

As long as it wasn’t their first year sending their kids to school, parents were generally ready for classes to start.

“No free time for me,” Varela added. “As soon as I get home, I work from home.”

Laila Fernandez was heading into 1st grade at McAuliffe “feeling nervous and excited” and hoping her new teacher would be nice.

Laila stood in line with the other 1st graders, looking at the kindergarteners. Some were crying. What advice would she give them?

“I would just tell them it is going to be OK,” Laila said.

Mayor and CPS CEO, at odds, visit schools together

Their school was the first stop on Mayor Brandon Johnson and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez’s customary first-day-of-school tour. The Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ reported this month that the mayor’s administration is laying the groundwork to dismiss Martinez , and there was some question as to whether they would visit schools together.

The two men didn’t interact much but Martinez claimed there’s never been greater alignment between City Hall, the Chicago Teachers Union and the school district.

“We all believe that our schools should be fully financed and fully resourced,” Martinez said. “We know we are not — and that is where the tension is at.”

Martinez said he is ready to make the case to state lawmakers that CPS needs more money. He said his goal is to see the district through the school year.

“I’m a CPS kid. I sit on the shoulders of so many teachers that really helped me to get to this place,” he said. “I really believe in this district, I believe in our staff, and I’m proud of the work we have done. And so that’s my focus.”

Greeting students outside McAuliffe, Johnson said only Christmas Eve is more exciting than the first day of school. He promised academic achievement would reach new heights this year.

At the second stop of the morning outside Chalmers STEAM Elementary in North Lawndale, Johnson told parents, “You’re not alone” and to “keep putting your arms around [your kids] and ask for support when you need it.”

“Kids, are you ready for the school year to start?” the mayor asked, with shouts of “Yes!” in response.

“Parents, are we ready for the school year to start?” he added, met with louder shouts of “Yes!”

Hand in hand with a few students, Johnson and Martinez rang a couple of bells near the Chalmers playground to kick off the year. The mayor asked those gathered: “Of course — to our CEO Pedro Martinez, give him a round of applause, please.”

Emma Skerrett waves goodbye to her mom Kasia before school at Funston Elementary School on the first day of school for CPS on Aug. 26, 2024.

Manuel Martinez/WBEZ

Managing the heat

Martinez’s team will have to get schools through an excessive heat warning in effect from noon Monday until Tuesday night because of “dangerously hot conditions,” the National Weather Service said.

Temperatures are expected to stay in the ’90s through Tuesday, testing many schools’ old air systems. CPS canceled all outdoor athletic contests Monday and Tuesday and planned to move practices indoors or nix them. Officials said recess and P.E. classes would be held indoors. CPS said all classrooms have air conditioning.

When classes let out for the day at Young Elementary in Austin, the thermometer read 95 degrees. An ice cream truck pulled up across the street blasting “The Entertainer” over its speakers — perfect timing for Jhene Dandridge, who just finished her first day of preschool on her 4th birthday.

Asked how her first day went, Jhene said, “Ice cream.”

Tarajae Lashlui, 10, was dead-set on getting snow cones with his mom — his favorite flavor is coconut, hers is blue — to celebrate his first day of 4th grade.

Tarajae said he was nervous but happy he didn’t have to make new friends because he already had a few in his class.

His mom, Tiara, was relieved school was back in session: “I ain’t got to to hear my name a million and one times anymore.”

‘This is joyful’

CTU President Stacy Davis Gates joined the party at Poe Classical School in West Pullman, where balloons and a deejay welcomed kids back.

“First day is my favorite day of the year,” Principal Eric Dockery yelled from the building’s fire escape.

Dockery announced each homeroom teacher over the mic, like a starting line-up, to a roar of applause. The principal and the school’s mascot, Raven, high-fived each kid as they entered the building while “It’s Time for the Percolator” played over the loudspeakers.

“This is joyful,” Davis Gates said. “You have a principal who’s high-fiving his staff and his faculty. You have staff and faculty who are, you know, standing shoulder to shoulder with family. These are the sustainable community schools that we want to be pervasive across the district.”

“This is a manifestation of every contract proposal that we have put forward since 2012,” Davis Gates added. “It feels good to be here.”

Staffing in the new year

The CTU has raised concerns about layoffs of teacher assistants since the district’s budget was revealed this summer.

Ben Felton, CPS’ human resources chief, said staffing is up overall despite there being fewer teacher assistant positions amid the budget deficit. He said officials prioritized other areas, and the district has 600 more teachers than last year with fewer teacher positions remaining unfilled.

There are also more paraprofessionals overall, including special education classroom assistants, plus additional art teachers. About half of all new teachers are Black or Hispanic, Felton said.

“We’re super proud and we’re really pleased that we’ve got more licensed educators in front of kids than any point in recent history,” Felton said. “And the diversity of our pipeline continues to improve because we believe that representation matters in the classroom.”

Pandemic in the rear-view mirror, budget trouble ahead

The beginning of a new semester puts CPS an additional year removed from the COVID-19 pandemic, and in a sign of students finding some stability, Martinez is touting preliminary data showing more kids are proficient in reading than before the pandemic. These new test scores come on the heels of a national study that found reading scores increased more than any other large urban district.

But math proficiency has been much slower to improve and is still below where it was before the pandemic.

Edgar Allan Poe Classical Elementary School Principal Eric Dockery gives high fives to students as they walk in a parade Monday morning into the school at 10538 S. Langley Ave. on the Far South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Martinez has not provided any insight into high school test scores from last school year. Previous results showed they were significantly behind where they were before the pandemic. Absenteeism rates remained high.

But graduation rates continue to inch up and are now at 83%.

Martinez and his team attribute the improvements, at least partly, to how they spent $2.8 billion in federal COVID-19 relief money over the last few years. Every school got an extra teacher and many got a cadre of tutors to work with struggling students. Felton said CPS has 2,500 more teachers today than before the pandemic. In addition, schools got money for summer and after-school programs where they not only received enrichment but also some extra academics.

The newfound stability could face challenges this year. That federal pandemic relief money is set to run out and the school district had to close a $505 million deficit to balance its budget . CPS officials said they kept cuts as far away from the classroom as possible, focusing instead on trimming in central office and operations.

But extra support, such as teachers and tutors for struggling students, were targeted to high-poverty schools, and now dozens of schools are without that help. The amount of money given to schools for after-school programs was also sharply reduced , according to Chalkbeat Chicago.

At the same time, Martinez says more high-needs students are enrolling. CPS enrolled nearly 8,900 new immigrants over the past two years, who are helping to stabilize enrollment — which increased to 328,000 last year — after a more than a decade of decline. Last year, a quarter of all CPS students were learning English, compared to less than 20% in the 2019-2020 school year.

Students and parents arrive at Epic Academy High School at 8255 S. Houston Ave. on the South Side on the first day of school for Chicago Public Schools on Monday.

Mayor doesn’t pledge support for CPS CEO

To end the school day, Johnson and Martinez visited Washington High School on the East Side with activists and teachers union representatives who have been pushing to have the old dilapidated building replaced by a new environmentally friendly school. Martinez said he’s looking into federal programs to help fund the project.

Even with Martinez standing next to him, Johnson refused to pledge his support for the CEO going forward.

Asked about Martinez’s job, Johnson focused on the need to advocate for state and federal funding, as he often does, saying the state of Illinois’ own estimate is that it owes CPS $1.1 billion more for schools.

The mayor said, “I can’t stress enough, we have federal partners, state partners, local partners, community based organizations, faith leaders, all working together to transform our public education system into something that we haven’t seen in a very long time, if not ever.”

SC nonprofit fostering specialized development at the start of a new school year

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Therapy Place is the Midlands’ only nonprofit pediatric therapy center. The team cares for children with special needs and creates individualized paths to success by using occupational, physical, and speech therapy.

For many parents, dropping their children off for their first day of school can be a challenge. It’s easier said than done for those whose child may require some form of specialized care.

As kids with special needs may not get the proper treatment they need in a typical school, one Midlands non-profit acts as an outlet for children with special needs.

The Therapy Place was an idea born almost 15 years ago when executive director and co-founder, Dawn Darby noticed a lack of resources for kids with special needs in her area.

“A lot of families come to us and say, “There’s no good daycare, there’s no good support groups” and so we try to create those things based on what the families say they need. We met and realized that there’s not a lot going on in Columbia or South Carolina for special needs,” Darby says.

She knows how hard it can be for the parents she serves, as her own son has cerebral palsy. She and her co-founder set out to make sure that no other parents would have to worry about proper care for their children.

“To know that there were things that were not available when my son was growing up and to know that we’re able to provide them now for these families. They don’t even have to know about the times when they weren’t around,” Darby reflects.

Having been in business for 11 years now, she sees the impact of her work on parents like Michelle Jones. Michelle has two kids who are both students at the Therapy Place. Like Dawn, she also has a son with cerebral palsy.

“It’s great to know that when I’m dropping my kids off at school, they’re getting a ton of attention and a ton of love from the staff, just like they would at home from us,” Jones says.

Students at the Therapy Place may have special needs, but the type of care that best suits each of them is individualized. All the techniques to work with them fall under speech, occupational, and physical therapy.

Darby says the goal of using these forms of therapy is to help reach goals and maximize a child’s independence. The techniques are proving to be true as Michelle has noticed significant progress in her son Noah since he began his program.

“Noah has progressed a ton since being here. When he started, he wasn’t walking independently at all and now he is. He’s also progressed a ton academically and in speech as well,” Jones says.

Most of the credit in Noah’s growth goes towards an innovative form of therapy that he’s been doing for a while, called the Thersauit. It’s an intensive therapy program in which a child puts on a unique suit that allows their joints to be properly exercised against resistance.

“During that period he got tons stronger and was able to use his body better than he was previously,” Jones says.

As Monday, Aug. 19 marked the team’s first day of school, The Therapy Place is in for a whole new year of changing lives and giving students the specialized care they need to succeed.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter , and download our apps . Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here .

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Missouri teen who just graduated high school paralyzed and placed on a ventilator from west nile infection.

A recent high school graduate in Missouri was left paralyzed and placed on a ventilator in an ICU after contracting West Nile virus.

John Procter VI, known as “BB” to family and friends, has been hospitalized for more than two weeks with severe symptoms that started as a headache and dizziness on Aug. 8, St. Louis 11 reported.

The 18-year-old went to urgent care and was told he had a tension headache and was sent home.

But his symptoms got worse with violent vomiting and a high-grade fever, putting him in and out of the hospital over the next few days.

“They thought he had meningitis, so they did some tests for that. It came back negative. Sent him home and said to give him over-the-counter medicine,” the teen’s father, John Procter V, told the local news station.

The medicine didn’t work, and then things got scary.

“The following day, he had stroke-like symptoms,” the older Procter said. “Unable to move and speech was real slurred.”

They rushed him back to the hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU and placed on a ventilator, he told the station.

After 16 days in the ICU — at the fourth hospital the teen had been to — Procter VI was diagnosed with West Nile virus, which is commonly spread through mosquitoes.

It took more than 20 doctors scratching their heads over the quick deterioration of the otherwise healthy teen to figure out what was causing the shocking effects.

“He has limited mobility, especially on his left side,” his father said. “He can’t support his weight; he can’t support his own head.”

But the teenager — who hopes to become a diesel mechanic — is making “small but vast” improvements, the dad wrote on a fundraising page set up to help cover medical expenses.

Doctors removed his breathing tube and gave him a tracheotomy to start breathing rehab and physical therapy.

“Doctors say this will be a marathon to try and get him back to what he was before this virus almost killed him,” he wrote.

While 8 out of 10 people infected with West Nile virus will develop zero symptoms, there are rare cases where the person can get severely ill like BB, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 1 in 150 people infected develop serious illnesses affecting the central nervous system such as meningitis or encephalitis. Symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, according to the CDC.

It can take several weeks or even months to recover from a severe case of the virus.

There have been 289 reported cases of West Nile across 33 states so far this year and 18 deaths.

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