But learning to

give a good oral report is a skill that will help your teen forever. Here are some tips:

• Organize the report. An oral report is much like a written report. It should have an introduction to “hook” the audience. The body should include three or four main points. The conclusion should help the audience remember the main idea.

• Rehearse the report. At first, your teen should practice the report alone. But then she should give it for friends or family.

You can help by letting your teen know if you can follow the presentation. Also let her know if she’s speaking too fast or too slowly, and too loud or too soft.

• Practice using visual aids. Make sure your teen knows what to do with posters and other visual aids.

• Time the report. Most oral reports have a time limit. By timing the report, you can help your teen see if it’s too long and needs to be cut.

• Make eye contact. Speakers who look at the audience seem more confident. Be sure your teen practices this.

• Use hand gestures. Your teen does’t have to gesture every second. But a few well-chosen hand motions can draw attention to the important points.

• Relax. Nearly everyone gets nervous. Taking a few deep breaths before starting can help calm the nerves.

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