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1. Use picture books
2. Take field trips
3. Link information with biographies
4. Include stopping points in readings
5. Have students test each other
6. Interview assignments
7. Use Skype or zoom to connect with experts virtually
8. Real life presentations
9. Open Class Discussion
10. Watch documentaries/movies on specific content.

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No matter the age picture books that illustrate content is beneficial to building background knowledge. For example if I were trying to teach about the conditions of WW1 visual images would be best. Students would be able to see the attire, what the trenches looked like, what the soldiers ate, what weapons were being used etc.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-na.ssl-images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F91ooj7LHB7L.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTreaties-Trenches-Blood-Nathan-Hazardous%2Fdp%2F1419708082&tbnid=kjAw7tNZI1tT3M&vet=12ahUKEwir_O6R2Lf1AhXZqHIEHcdTDt4QMygAegUIARDZAQ..i&docid=GdAseesZfjihiM&w=1801&h=2399&itg=1&q=treaties%20trenches%20mud%20and%20blood%20full%20book&hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwir_O6R2Lf1AhXZqHIEHcdTDt4QMygAegUIARDZAQ

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Help the settings of content being taught in a class come to life with field trips. Not just in person field trips but with today's technology classrooms can take virtual field trips as well. This is always a good way to build background knowledge because it creates a in person visual. Example of this would be a field trip to the US battle ship of New Jersey. Shows learners exactly how the ship looked was operated and used in battle.

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America’s Most Decorated Battleship

USS New Jersey (BB-62) – United States Navy Battleship

The Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial regularly ranks as one of the best museums in NJ, one of the best things to do in Philadelphia, and serves as an entertaining attraction in New Jersey for families. Not only do you see exhibits of artifacts from the largest battleship’s past, but you are put into the exhibit as you go through the tour route. Sit in the chair from which Admiral Halsey commanded the biggest battleship and the 5th Fleet. Stretch out on the bunks where the sailors slept. Climb into the 16” gun turret and learn how the projectiles were loaded. The New Jersey is one of the most interactive U.S. battleship museums.

The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial provides an up-close look at our nation’s military history. Guests of all ages and interests will enjoy their visit to this floating U.S. Navy museum of our nation’s largest battle ships ever built. From World War II to Korea, Vietnam and active duty during the 1980s, this is among the can’t-miss U.S. Navy museum ships open to the public today. A wealth of history along with engaging activities aboard our battleship museum awaits! This is a true crowd-pleaser among attractions in New Jersey for families. If you’re looking for things to do in Camden, NJ or even what to do in New Jersey, the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial is among the best museums in NJ!

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The Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial regularly ranks as one of the best museums in NJ, one of the best things to do in Philadelphia, and serves as an entertaining attraction in New Jersey for families.

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Linking written information such as stories about the holocaust to the author makes learners reach a different level of connection. It's always important to do a little bit of reading or watch background videos on your author to see how exactly they are connected to the content. A good example of this is

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Stopping points in readings offer feedback and shared thoughts in classrooms. Have questions set aside at these certain stopping points that challenge the readers attentiveness to the content. This allows for the reading to have a better chance of sticking and offers information broken up into pieces instead of a lot of information at once

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This is one that I absolutely love because you learn something different from every student. In students testing each other and questioning each other on content, 1 as a teacher you learn what students know best and 2 students absorb all this different information from their peers that they might have known. This example also gets to showcase students opinions.

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This concept involves an expert in the content field coming into the classroom and delivering a presentation. This presentation is often going to be specified on whatever the instructor main objectives for the unit are on. It's good to offer this to students to hear a different voice in the classroom for a change. A good way to end these presentations is to offer a chance for students to ask questions. Good teachers would require their students to take notes on the presentation!

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Being a guest speaker is a great marketing tool, as it can position you - or someone in your organisation - as an expert or specialist in your field.

Not everyone can be an outstanding guest speaker, but I firmly believe most people can be great guest speakers if they put in the time and effort to do a great job. But be warned if it's not done well, it can be a negative marketing exercise.

Below I have put together 15 tips for being a great guest speaker

1. Be prepared

I feel like some of you think I am stating the obvious - but unfortunately I'm not!

I have been to far too many presentations where the guest speaker is clearly skilled in their area of expertise but they haven't prepared for this specific presentation. This can result in terms or concepts not being explained properly, a fragmented delivery of content and repetitive information.

2. Dress to impress

This does not necessarily mean corporate attire in every circumstance. Ask the event organisers what the dress code is and make sure you will be appropriate. If you have a personal brand that differs to the dress code (ie you're super casual and they're in suits), make sure you find a middle ground. You need to be true to your personal brand, but you also need to respect your audience.

Any presentation - whether it is a public presentation at a networking group or an invitation to speak to an organisation - is promoted to attendees. You will have either given them the topic or they have provided it to you. Either way, make sure you stay on topic.

There is nothing more frustrating than giving up time to attend a function and listen to a guest speaker, only for them to not cover the advertised topic.

4. Keep your pace and volume steady

When you are presenting you want to ensure that you speak at an even speed - not too fast and not too slow.

This is an area that I am constantly working on, as I often get excited by the subject matter I am delivering and start to speak quite quickly! But I am aware of this, so when it starts to happen I give myself a talking to in my head and try to slow back down again.

You also want to keep your volume of delivery so that all attendees can hear you. If you have a microphone that helps, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of it. In fact, sometimes when I attend an event the speaker obviously thinks that because they have a microphone they don't have to project their voice - this is not true! It then means that despite the microphone I can't hear everything they are saying.

5. Be a patient guest speaker

Take a breath after delivering a key point. That way it will have time to sink in. You can also repeat the point to really drive it home.

6. Use a visual presentation wisely

One of my favourite business videos, which still stands the test of time, is Death by PowerPoint. If you are going to have some visual elements, make sure you have them professionally designed to align to your brand, that only relevant content is included - and of course, don't read from slides!

7. Be smart about humour

Not all of us are comedians - and that's ok! Don't try to be a comedian if you're not, but on the flip side don't be afraid of enlisting a laugh. Obviously don't deliver a stand-up comedy routine, but read the room and if appropriate you can make some funny references.

Remember to keep it professional though and don't be offensive.

8. Stay positive

Don't start with an apology! The audience don't need to know that you've had a terrible day, or week - that your computer fried itself, or your kids are sick, or that you've got a lot of deadlines.

9. Show up

This may seem obvious, but I am talking about this from two perspectives. Obviously turn up to the event itself, but you need to 'show up'. It doesn't matter how tired or lethargic you feel, once you get up in front of that audience you need to be 'on'.

10. Read the audience

If you sense them getting bored, change tack or volume etc. So really pay attention to what your audience is doing.

11. Look at your audience

This should really not need to be said - but don't read from notes! It's ok to have notes to remind you of what you want to cover, but don't read from them.

A tip is to prepare the full notes to organise your thoughts and read over in preparation, but do not use those as a speech notes. Instead pick out the major headings and use those as your notes.

Then it will be impossible for you to read. This way you can actually look at your audience and understand when something is resonating with them.

12. Tell a story

An anecdote or an example told via a story is a great way to draw the audience in. It needs to be relevant though, or the audience will be left feeling a bit confused.

13. Pose questions carefully

If you have read the room correctly you will know whether or not to attempt feedback and two-way interaction. You don't want to pose a question only to be met by silence. Awkward!

14. Allow for questions

Make sure you time your presentation to allow for questions at the end. This is often expected at events and people will hold back their questions until the end.

15. Ask for feedback

The way this occurs depends on the type of guest speaker you were. Sometimes people won't be comfortable providing constructive feedback directly to you, so you should enlist the help of someone else.

There you have it! My 15 tips for being a great guest speaker.

But further to that - if you are looking for a guest speaker for your event, please get in touch as I would be happy to have a chat about your needs and the topics I can speak on!

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The basics for being a great guest speaker

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Being a guest speaker is a great marketing tool, as it can position you - or someone in your organisation - as an expert or specialist in your field. Not everyone can be an outstanding guest speaker, but I firmly believe most people can be great guest speakers if they put in the time and effort to do a great job.

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Face to face interviews with people who have information to offer us on a certain topic being taught is great. Not only does this allow us to gain knowledge and address any questions we may have but you also get a chance to start and form your own opinion by listening to information from different interviewees.

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Documentaries and movies offer all the above. They are a great way to build background knowledge at the start of a lesson. In my opinion they are even cooler to watch at the end of the lesson because as a viewer you're then able to connect everything within the movie or interview. A good example of a movie that would be great on building background knowledge within a social studies class is Blood Diamonds. This movie goes off of so many factual concepts of Sierra Leone and gives visual representation to go with it.

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Everyone loves open class discussions. A good way to utilize this is to assign a class to read a paragraph then open the floor to them. Ask them what they like about the paragraph or what they don't like. Ask what they may predict in the near future for the book. For me personally in a history class I like to use class discussions when I am doing KWL charts I love to start lessons and assess what my students already know.

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Classroom Discussions: Strategies & More

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This is simply a spin off from in person interviews. This offers a virtual interview with different experts in the select content area of study. Questions in these interviews can be both fact based of opinion based. Its best to establish a open discussion sort of interview so the interviewee feels open to being 100% honest at all times.