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This is a description of an annual project. I have had questions from parents about the benefit of the project, so I thought an explanation might be helpful. Brief Description and Attribution to a Major Instructional Strand This artifact is an assignment used to correct a deficit in social skills in the high school. In order to make our students better citizens, it is important to stress activites that encourage better social skills. After meeting many parents, teachers, and students leaders with no confidence or ability to introduce themselves and properly shake hands, I developed this activity. I require the students to shake hands with twenty adults. An adult is someone at least ten years older than the students. Two of the adults must be the principal and the superintendant. The students are required to go up to the adult with no preamble, introduce themselves, shake hands, and have the adult sign that the student did an acceptable job. We have a whole class period dedicated to discussing how to make proper introductions and shake hands formally. We discuss volume, rate, and enunciation of the introduction. This is a fun and necessary activity because it encourages social skills and self esteem. Demonstrated Skills and Behaviors The actual skills demonstrated are out in public. I allow students to shake my hands between classes, so I get to see how the students are approaching the project. The students have to be able to say their name in a way that will allow someone to repeat it. They must be clear and confident. They have to look people in the eyes while shaking their hands. Also, the students have to be able to give and receive a handshake without seeming awkward. I did not realize that shaking hands and making introductions was such an acquired skill. So many of our younger students have to overcome rushing through their names or excessive giggling before they can perform this activity. Many of our older students attempt to break bones when shaking hands. This activity actually helps teach a skill that is needed for good first impressions. Teachers Are Committed To Students and Their Learning (NBPTS Core Proposition #1) This artifact is a great one for accommodating different learning styles. Because it does not involve writing, students with special needs often excel at this assignment. Many students who falter in class because of reading comprehension succeed with the handshaking project because it involves actions as opposed to regular class work. Even the shy students usually benefit from this assignment because it forces them to interact with others.

Teachers Know the Subject They Teach and How to Teach that Subject to Students (NBPTS Core Proposition #2) Because we go over the requirements before the assignment is given, the students are aware of the expectations of the assignment. They know that the principal and the supt's signatures are worth five points apiece. The students are aware that this is because they are to be able to shake hands of authority figures. They also know that they must have all twenty signatures or they will lose the other ten points. This project is worth a test grade. This grade stresses the importance of this project to the students as well as giving faltering students a chance to easily raise their grades. Teachers Are Responsible for Managing and Monitoring Student Learning (NBPTS Core Proposition #3) We discuss the rubric, expectations, and benefits in class so every student is aware of what is acceptable and whay they are doing this project. The students are aware that first impressions are important. They are also aware that introductions are integral parts of a first impression. The students know that social skills are important to working with others in cooperative groups and that this activity fosters one aspect of social skills. Reflection I love this project, but it does have its challenges. I have had to explain its value to parents who do not understand the need to make students better citizens as well as better students. Many parents do encourage theis project becasue they see the benefit of the students knowing how to introduce themselves and be confident. I feel that this project helps me grow as an educator. By stressing the importance of social skills to my students, I am reiterating that point to myself. I find that after this assignment, I notice my own handshaking and introduction skills start to improve. I need to continue to develop activities that parallel the concepts within the curriculum and encourage more positive social behaviours in my students. The students often see social skills as something they leave at home except for special occasions. The biggest challenge of the activity is that it is sometimes difficult to emphasize the importance of the skills in the activity.