1. I Hate Public Speaking!

Do you start to sweat when faced with the prospect of speaking in public? Do you experience nausea and panic? You may have glossophobia, or the fear of speaking in public. The fear of public speaking is very common and can range from not wanting to get up in front of the class and speak to not even wanting to get called on when sitting at your desk. Because public speaking is now a national education standard, all students will be called on to give a speech at some time. Search your newspaper for an interesting topic. Research it and practice giving a speech about it in front of your family.

Common Core/National Standard: Presenting information, findings and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that the listener can follow the line of reasoning

2. Student Reads Outstanding Book

Summer is a great time to read, and chances are that you've already read a book or a story you've enjoyed. Think of an incident that happened near the beginning of that book or story. Consider what happened, who was involved, where it happened, when it happened, why it happened and how it happened. Now, with family or friends, read an article on the front page of today's newspaper. Talk about how the journalist who wrote the story conveyed the information and decided which information was the most important. On your own, try your hand at writing a news article based on the incident in the book or story you liked.

Common Core/National Standard: Writing fluently for multiple purposes to produce compositions, such as personal narratives, persuasive essays, lab reports and poetry.

3. Temple Tragedy

What happens when a person thinks he is better than others because of their skin color or beliefs? In the worst cases, tragedy occurs. Members of a Wisconsin Sikh temple had that experience last week, and now they are mourning the deaths of six of their members. The temple members were gunned down in a shooting rampage by a former U.S. Army soldier who allegedly was linked to white supremacist groups. Wade Michael Page was a member of a skinhead band, and FBI agents are investigating other potential white supremacist affiliations. He opened fire on the temple as worshippers gathered for services. Six people were killed and three were injured, including a police officer. FBI special agent Teresa Carlson said the bureau was investigating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism. The shooting comes in the wake of the massacre of 12 people in a Colorado movie theater. Search your newspaper for articles about the Sikh shooting and the gunman who was involved. Then research the history of the white supremacist movement in the United States and write an analysis of its activities today.

Common Core/National Standard: Writing and developing a topic with well-chosen, relevant and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details and examples.

4. Studying Abroad

Each year, thousands of high school students from around the world travel to a different country, live with a different family, attend a different school and work on mastering a new language. These students are all part of foreign exchange programs. Last week, about 60 students from countries such as Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong and more arrived in Phoenix, Arizona, to spend a year studying in this country. Paulina Seifert, a 16-year-old from Wolfsburg, Germany, was one of those students stepping off the plane. She told the Arizona Republic that she is looking forward to “meeting new friends, establishing bonds with her new host family and becoming accustomed to American culture.” The hardest part will be being away from her friends, she said. Find a newspaper article about studying abroad. Or find one online. Research a country you would like go to and discuss being an exchange student with your parents.

Common Core/National Standard: Coming to discussions prepared, having read or researched materials under study.

5. Feed Me!

People have to eat. That’s the bottom line, so agriculture is a safe bet when it comes to picking college majors. According to a USA Today article, enrollment at many colleges of agriculture is booming. These schools offer training in a variety of areas of agriculture, including horticulture science, agriculture business and addressing world hunger. They give students critical skills when searching for employment after graduation, said Ian Maw of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. Pennsylvania State University has seen an increase of more than 40 percent in agriculture enrollment since 2004. Iowa State University officials say they are straining to train enough people to meet industry demands. Search your newspaper for stories about agriculture. Or find examples online. Research various jobs in the industry and write about one area that interests you.

Common Core/National Standard: Writing informative texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information.