Programs > Classroom Plus > Preparing for your Speaker

Preparing For Your Speaker

Over the years, we have gathered some tips that lead to a successful experience for you, your students, and the volunteer speaker.

1. Communicate with the speaker before the presentation.

• Contact your speaker at least a week in advance of the presentation to confirm the visit and to discuss the topic, as well as any specific points you would like covered.
• Some of our volunteers are familiar with speaking to groups of students, but others are not. The inexperienced speakers may appreciate ideas on how to get your students' attention - you are an expert at this and any advice for the speaker is helpful.
• You may also learn information that can be used to introduce the speaker to your class.

2. Prepare your students for the speaker.

• Let the students know in advance that a speaker is coming. The speaker should be augmenting the classroom experience - make sure the students have some background information on the speaker's topic or profession.
• Have students develop questions before the speaker arrives. Possible questions might address the speaker's education, motivation, mentors, philosophies, experiences and profession, or specifics on the topic. Consider supplying these questions to the speaker prior to the visit (this has proven be very helpful for our volunteers!). Remind students that the questions should be respectful. Stay away from questions such as, "How much money do you make?"

4. Fill out your survey form after the presentation.

• The link for this survey was included on your conformation email sent by BestPrep Classroom Plus staff. Completing the survey will help BestPrep facilitate quality Classroom Plus experiences in the future.
• If you have an excellent speaker, feel free to request him or her by name through Classroom Plus for a future date. Please do not schedule the speaker again without notifying your Classroom Plus associate…this is how we lose track of some of our best volunteers!

Please Remember…
The speakers are volunteering their time, leaving their regular jobs to share their knowledge. Help ensure a respectful and positive environment by remaining in the classroom throughout the presentation.

Contact Information
Rachel Schwalbach
Classroom Plus Program Associate
763-398-0090 ext. 235
rschwalbach@bestprep.org