Lesley Valencia-Email: Valencia_L@aps.edu
Room C-16
897-0110 ext. 40090
Course Overview
Communication Skills is designed with six goals focused on student success:
1) to equip students with test taking skills and to prepare students for specific standards based assessments; 2) to develop public speaking and presentation skills; 3) to foster collaboration and group process skills; 4) to continue and enhance career readiness skills and examine career pathways; 5) to analyze and create media messages; 6) to instill values related to social justice and cultural diversity and differentiate instruction to allow all students to learn. Communication Skills will develop students’ organizational and research skills; improve students’ ability to work as members of productive groups; facilitate exploration of career interests, creation of practical resumes and cover letters, and provide opportunities to practice interview skills. Students will be able to use mass media to their benefit and create messages, and students will work to understand stereotypes, appreciate differences in cultures, and work with the teacher to learn in ways appropriate to their abilities and needs.
MATERIALS/SUPPLIES/COMPUTER USAGE:
2" 3 Ring Binder - Student Notebook
Notes taken in class
Various handouts
Completed Student Work
Chromebook when one is available
Course Objectives:
Respond reflectively to written and visual texts
Evaluates the information, explanations, or ideas of others
Synthesize and evaluate information to solve problems across the curriculum
Demonstrate critical thinking skills to evaluate information and solve problems
Apply knowledge of reading process to evaluate print, non-print, and technology-based information
Communicate information in a coherent and persuasive manner using verbal and non-verbal language
Apply grammatical and language conventions to communicate
Demonstrate competence in the skills and strategies of the writing process
Use language, literature, and media to understand the role of the individual as a member of many cultures
Students will identify their career interests and aptitudes to develop educational plan which supports personal career goals
Students will develop and demonstrate responsible and ethical workplace behaviors
Students will develop effective leadership, interpersonal, and team skills
Assignments throughout the course of the year
Quizzes
Exams over units and final exams
Journal Writing
Monthly Personal Essays
Speeches: Impromptu, Introductory, Informative, and Persuasive
Notebook organization with notes
Large group, small group, and individual practice
First Semester
First Six Weeks
Introductory Materials
Intra- and Interpersonal Introductions
Organizational skills: Setting up the notebook
Etiquette skills/making a good first impression
Nonverbal communication terms and analysis
Impromptu Speeches
Study Skills
Note-taking
Listening skills
Organizational skills: Keeping up the notebook
Using your agenda
Learning Styles
Various learning styles
Recognizing personal learning style
Basic learning theory
Second Six Weeks
Team Building
Building on personal learning styles
Reinforcing group work structure
Problem solving
Speeches
Learning basic communication
Speech skills
Audience skills
Reviewing sample speeches
Reinforcing outlining skills
Introductory Speeches
Third Six Weeks
Speeches Continued
Research skills
Citation skills
Informative Speeches
Composition
The Writing Process
Persuasive writing
Expository writing
Final
Portfolio Presentations
Final Speeches
Exam review
Exam covers first semester curriculum
Second Semester
Fourth Six Weeks
Nonverbal Communication
Review basic communication skills
Learn the fundamentals of nonverbal communication
Body Language: Gestures, facial expressions, and artifacts
Cross-cultural communication
Stereotypes
Identifying and analyzing common stereotypes
Teaching tolerance
Fifth Six Weeks
Employment/Life Skills
Creating Resumes and Cover Letters
Business correspondence
Interviewing skills
Career inventory, research, and presentation
Job Shadow Day
Mock Interview
Personal finances
Persuasive Speeches
Reviewing speech skills
Reviewing audience skills
Reviewing sample speeches
Reviewing research and citation skills
Rhetoric and argumentation skills
Persuasive Speeches
Sixth Six Weeks
Media Literacy
Persuasive techniques
History of print media
Advertising
Movies
Evolution of electronic media
Internet safety
Final
Portfolio Presentations
Final Speeches
Exam review
Exam covers second semester curriculum
TEACHER INFORMATION
Mrs. Valencia can be reached via email at Valencia_l@aps.edu or by phone at the school, 897-0110 ext. 40090. If extra assistance is needed, students can see me during lunch, or after school. I am usually in my room and appointments can also be made.