www.bakersfieldvoice.com

Discovery students find success at Kern County Oral Language Festival

Discovery Elementary students know the meaning of “dedication.”
On Jan. 21, a group of eight students from Discovery’s sixth-grade arrived at the Standard Middle School auditorium for the annual Kern County Oral Language Festival, confident they were well prepared for their verse choir event.
Not surprisingly, the students were first to arrive at 7:30 a.m. After all, the group had been meeting at this hour for regular practice sessions each weekday since October to prepare themselves for the competition.
Any parent of an oral language participant is a witness to the commitment it takes to memorize and perform a published piece of literature that must be between three and five minutes in length and recited without prompting or notes.
There are rules to follow in each category (no moving the feet and no solo speakers in verse choirs) and other guidelines that, at times, seem daunting.
Success in oral language competitions is not unique to this group and is not unique to Discovery.
Two members of the 2005 verse choir were returning to Standard’s stage for the second time. Other Discovery finalists, whose stellar presentations garnered them opportunities to compete at the regional level this year, also had prior experience as county contenders.
What exactly, then, is the school’s secret in developing such high achievers?
The answer is dedication.
Discovery’s staff, including some of the best educators and mentors in California, places a high priority on the oral language competition, often dedicating time before, during and after school to ensure students’ readiness for an event that creates an opportunity for participants to gain confidence in public speaking.
At Discovery, it is common for the children to report at 7:30 a.m., at noon and again at 3:15 p.m. for daily practices.
By the time these students reach the regional level of competition, it is likely that they have performed their piece more than 100 times before teachers, administrators, parents and fellow students. Surprisingly, the kids don’t seem to mind.
This year’s coach (who’s no stranger to the county competition) allows her students to choose their own practice schedule.
Sixth-grade teacher Ally Parker, who has proven success coaching other verse choir groups, allows the children to make decisions in all aspects of the oral language competition and doesn’t believe in pushing them beyond their limits.
In response, this year’s verse choir group worked determinedly with Mrs. Parker, and despite having to get up early every day to arrive at school 30 minutes before the campus opened, they never complained.
Their dedication paid off. Discovery’s sixth-grade verse choir took home second place in this year’s Kern County Oral Language Festival, earning Fruitvale School District another of many top finishes at the county level.
By the end of the day, the students were pleased with their near flawless performance and proud to place second out of the 16 school districts competing.
The trophy was great, but when asked what they enjoyed most about the festival’s outcome, the answer seemed unanimous: “We get to sleep in!”