SOL 4.1 - I can use effective oral communication skills in a variety of settings.

a) Present accurate directions to individuals and small groups.

• When you are working in small groups, speak politely and calmly to your group members. 
• Allow your fellow group members to speak without interruptions.
• Think about the clearest way to get your point across without being rude.

b) Contribute to group discussions across content areas.

• Our class will discuss the content we are learning, in ALL SUBJECTS.
• Every student is expected to contribute to the these discussions with answers or ideas.
• Every student is expected to listen to others when they are speaking. 

c) Seek ideas and opinions of others.

• The best opportunity to complete this standard is when you're writing. Seek the opinions and ideas of your classmates who might help make your writing better. 
• You can also seek ideas and opinions of others during recess. 

d) Use evidence to support opinions.

• During class discussions, Mr. Price will often ask you to support or justify your answer.
  Not only does your participation in class discussions count toward your grade, but so does your ability to support your answer with evidence. 

e) Use grammatically correct language and specific vocabulary to communicate ideas.

• When you are speaking in a classroom discussion OR to Mr. Price directly, you should speak correctly.
  • Here are some common errors you should try to avoid:
    • Saying "mines" instead of "mine."
    • Starting questions with "Is you..." or "Is we..." instead of "Are you/we..."
    • "I'm not doing nothing." instead of "I'm not doing anything."
• Use correct vocabulary when answering or discussing lesson content. 
  For example:
  • Saying "add," "subtract," "multiply," or "divide" when explaining math problems. 
  • Saying "numerator" and "denominator" when discussing fractions.
  • Saying "greater than" or "less than" when comparing numbers.

f) Communicate new ideas to others.

• When you have an idea that you feel would help others or contribute to a conversation, please raise your hand and share that idea. If you're in a small group, wait for an appropriate moment to share your idea with your group. Always acknowledge your teammates' ideas and be polite. Listen to others and always your manners.

g) Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with diverse teams.

• In our classroom there are many different types of learners. Some understand things quickly, while others take a little longer to understand. That is ok. You should always be mindful that some of your classmates might a bit ahead of you or a bit behind you. You will often be working with others who learn differently than you. Always be supportive and always be encouraging; never be rude or cruel. Your grade depends on it. 

h) Demonstrate the ability to work independently.

• We work in stations and groups frequently; however, you must learn to work on your own. If you aren't willing to try, even if you fail, then you will never succeed when it counts.
  Mr. Price expects his students to watch him model a skill, followed by a chance to try it with him, then YOU must be willing to try that skill on your own. Whether it's at your desk or in a station, you must complete an assignment without someone helping you. Please don't ask for help until you've used all your strategies to work out the problem. Later, you will have a chance to work on skills you don't understand with Mr. Price.