Making announcements can serve as useful oral speaking practice at any grade level. As with other types of speech activities, criteria for making announcements should be developed by the class. These criteria should address the recommended format and manner of presentation and serve as guidelines for the students. Some guidelines include the following:
After the announcements are made, peers or the teacher might write the student announcer an informal note, commenting on the strengths of the presentation and including one suggestion for improvement.
Listeners should be encouraged to concentrate on the speaker making the announcement, taking care not to become distracted. As well, listeners should give appropriate responses to the speaker, confirming their understanding or asking questions for clarification.