Finding their voices

More than ever, students will be asked to contribute information in rich conversations. In readiness for college, careers and partnerships, speaking and listening skills are essential. SpeechStory provides the safe environment wherein growing minds may explore ideas and practice effective techniques for sharing them with others.

william

“I’ve always loved space, and like a lot of kids, I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up. When I turned 6 years old I received my favorite birthday present ever - a kid-sized NASA space suit. My dad and mom took me to the Air and Space Museum and just let me run around from one exhibit to the next wearing that outfit. You can bet I got a lot of funny looks! I’ll never forget when a tall man dressed in a military uniform walked up to me, leaned down and said ‘looks like you might be flying one day.’ Those few words turned my dream into a goal.”

ANtonina

“My great-grandfather loved farming and used to say ‘I help farmers feed the world’. He had come to the United States after World War II speaking no English and knowing only one person in New York. It turned out that person was my great grandmother! He got a job with the John Deere tractor company and worked there his entire life. He started by fixing tractors and eventually helped design their equipment. Today John Deere is producing smart machines that can use data to make farms more productive than ever. I’m going to follow in my great-grandfather’s footsteps, and it will be through technology that I’ll help feed the world.”

lucy

“I think in pictures. When we moved into our new house, all the walls were white. My mom said they had a clean look, but to me they looked like lonely, empty canvases…canvases waiting for me. The first painting started in my bedroom. I painted bright colorful flowers, with bees and butterflies here and there. Then I added a jungle tree, with purple orchids and a green parrot. It made me happy to have all that cheerful art around me. Soon after, my grandma had to move into the Senior Home where all the walls in her room were white. It seemed sad to me, so guess what I did? I filled her room with joyful pictures. That was the beginning of my future business idea: Room Blooms.”