what is the correct way to address an 8th grade graduation audience?
554243
I think you have the right idea.  Just think about who's going to be in the audience, and address them.\n\n"Good evening students, parents, teachers, and distinguished guests..." or whatever.
138632
Congratulations to you, and a hearty cheer for taking on such a challenging task.\n\nI arrived mid year once to teach 8th grade English and History.  The situation was not as...degenerated as you describe, but it was tough for both sides.\n\nI think others have given valuable advice.  These kids need structure and enforcement of rules, whether they know it or not.  Make your rules fair and apply them equitably and you should have some success.\n\nI do disagree with the idea of using a Homework pass as a reward.  Don't we assign homework because of it's value to learning?  Letting a student earn the privilege not to do an assignment completely dilutes its educational value to the students left doing it.  Other rewards are certainly useful, though.  Stickers actually work to motivate a lot of kids.  Even though they're in 10th grade, they'd still like to bring home a "refrigerator paper" to show mom and dad (or whoever's at home).\n\nI think you also need to acknowledge out loud the things many of these kids have gone through outside of school, as well as the turmoil they have faced in school with this course.  Lay out your rules early and often.  Follow through with disciplinary action, but be a nice, reasonable person.  Find out what the school administration would consider success for this course this year, tell the kids, then go for it.\n\nBest wishes.
317110
it's been stated that the average person holds daily conversations on an 8th grade level. imagine what their level of spelling is.
131511
well im in high school but heres my idea. advertise it to the whole school but talk to a few students you would think would really want to do it(book worms...) and let the kids choose a book but make sure its grade appropriate
914479
Taters and Tots... We have the Taters if you bring the Tots...\n\nCircus... Kids always want to run away to there...\n\nJust kidding... I just had to do that...\n\nBut try to think of something easy to remember, easy to say, and that sounds appealing... I know that's not what you are looking for... But I bet you could come up with something if you tried...
1063940
This may be too juvenile but have you or a student get up and walk to the center of the room. Hold out both arms. On one arm, say something general like. "I like to draw" and on the other, say "I enjoy the show 24" Then, have the students who 'agree' with those link to the corresponding arms, then they do the same thing with their arms, and then you keep going until everyone in the room is linked.\nIt's corny, but I did it at a high school leadership conference with kids from all around and we enjoyed it.\n\nAlso, you can set two equal rows of chairs facing each other, then have students sit in both rows. Have the students sitting across from each other get to know one another (exchange name, hometown, school, interests, etc..) then after about a minute, have one row shift, where everyone moves down a seat (and the last person goes around to the first empty seat, of course), and keep doing that until everyone in that row has sat in every seat in that row. It's similar to speed dating, and you usually don't remember much, but it's a good way to get people talking and make the atmosphere less uncomfortable.\n\nAlso, what really worked in my english class is to conduct class in a circle (if possible), that way, no one is really, in the back or can separate themselves from the group. You can lead discussions as the teacher in the middle.\n\nYou can also do an interest based version of musical chairs. Make sure there is one less chair for everyone in the room, then you or a volunteer (that isn't sitting in that extra chair) get up and state a interest you have like "I watched every minute of the NCAA march madness games" then everyone who agrees has to get up and change seats until that one person is left in the middle and they start the process again.\n\nOr you give everyone a small slip of paper. Tell them to write two things on the paper about themselves that are true and one that is not. Then you collect the papers, and you go through each one  with the class and they try to guess which is the lie. Then the person who wrote it can verify.
1026526
it just really means that your friend is going to graduate.. \nit means that your attending the graduation ceremony,..\nit usually means everyone in the class who is going to graduate...\nor anyone in the class that qualify to graduate...
674304
Putting in a personal note would be great.  You can send them prior to graduation even if they aren't invited to the ceremony.  Your parents may want to host an open house, you should talk to them about that now to avoid any hurt feelings.  The personal note could say "Hey--I'm graduating with honors!  Whoo-hoo!  Celebrate with me on May 27th starting at 4 PM at Ma's house.  Help me start next year (at college/at technical school/starting my career/being a bum for awhile) off right!"
498762
Well I would put the infor for the first date of graduation first.  skip a couple of lines and then put the other date next.\nIf you want to personalize it for each son put some kind of clip art that describes each son next to their info.
574873
Its always good to break the ice with a joke or witty remark. Dont worry about being nervous and shaky, if you are doing a speech for school everyone knows what you feel like. Be your natural self - dont try to be extremely proper or news anchorman like. Just be yourself, study what you wanna say, so you dont have to use to many notes. Use gestures and mimik where appropriate.
330517
I would cite examples that people in your school would agree with such as local students raising money for charity or doing volunteer work.\n\nIf you could look through your school newspaper for examples or your local paper, that would make a big impression.
196983
Show that you know and understand the audience's needs and concerns.  Address these needs and concerns, showing that what you propose is the best of all the possible alternatives.\n\nIt helps to be warm, friendly and humorous.
520570
Pick up line or presentation opening line?\n\nI'd go with:  "Wanna get rich?" for both options...then crack a joke if it's a pickup line.  No guarantee about success, but it WILL get their attention!
1001233
Before or after your presentation, you could distribute some simple (but yes, make it attractive as well) flyers / pamphlets to your audience.. It helps them know that you've put in a lot of effort to your presentation and that you're really interested for them to know what you've got to present to them.. That was what my groupmates and I did for our final year project's presentation and we got an A for it! The panel of lecturers liked it a lot! The other students did not have such flyers for their presentation, so that was advantageous to us as well..\n\nPresent your points and speak with the fullest confidence you can(but not arrogantly, as though you know everything - it's a turn off).. That's the most important - confidence.. Also, give the right body language (hand gestures, etc) and do not speak in mono-tones.. Speak clearly and loud enough for your audience to hear you as well.. Maintain good eye contact to your audience too, so that you can keep their attention focused on your presentation.. Rehearse a bit of all your important lines the day before, so that you will be fully prepared on what you want to say for the presentation.. Use proper English (I assume your presentation is going to be in English) with the correct wordings and grammar (I'm sure you've got all these taken care of).. \n\nOh yeah, since you've got killer presentation slides, try your best not to read "everything" from the slides - or it will kinda defeat the purpose of having killer presentation slides anyway.. \n\nTowards the end of your presentation, perhaps you could also present a demo (if relevant) to your audience - it helps them see the practical side of what you've been trying to convey to them earlier.. Make the demo interesting and do it creatively.. =) Your audience will like it.. \n\nFinally, do dress well for your big day and all the best for your presentation!
743964
My advice for editing: a kindergartener called you a low-life inferior? use a more realistic term there... I don't know what the relevance is of the summer heat... "run" should be "ran". Get rid of the "of courses". First off, it is redundant to start two sentences in the same way back-to-back, and secondly it indicates a tone a little too casual for the essay. fix "going busting", change "can" to "could" (don't change tenses). "remembered" should be "remember", "hide" should be "hiding" .\n\nAside from all proofreading, I hate to tell you that the point of the story is moot. It is a great idea to use a story to illustrate something about yourself for college apps, but make sure that the story is applicable to what you're trying to say about yourself!\nA story about an elementary school fight is hard to relate to an epiphany about trying hard in school. Sure, you were berated, but not in a way that relates to your level of education necessarily. Maybe say something about your mother telling you to always try hard in school so that you can lift yourself to a higher place in society?\nGood luck with northeastern (if you choose it)! both my girlfriend and best friend attend, and they love it!
153596
How about this:  "Please someone look at me!  I never got any attention as a kid so now I will SHOCK you into noticing me!  Please, PLEASE LOOK AT ME--SOMEONE--LOOK AT ME!!!"
365994
I would bring some age-appropriate materials to give them a sense of how our language mixes with our culture.\n\nSomething like a menu from McDonald's or KFC would be ideal as they are most likely well aware of may items on the menu in their own language.\n\nYou could also introduce them to some American summer camp ideas like different camp foods, games and classic sing-along songs.\n\nThe key is to engage them as directly as possible and encourage them to interact utilizing the language as much as possible.\n\nIn terms of "what" you should teach, I think it is prudent to see where they are coming form.  Many of them may already have a basic understanding of English.  Context may be the issue there.  If they are staring with NO vocabulary, start with the conversational basics.