Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources Speech and Debate for rising 6th graders and above

My daughter is interested in debate; I'm also interested in having her develop her verbal communication skills more. She is a rising 6th grader. For future reference, does anyone know of good speech/debate summer programs in CA or western USA, or any year-around organizations that offer speech/debate/public speaking training? I've contacted toastmasters, (no luck there), I"m also aware there are forensic leagues with religious affiliations, but I was looking for any other.

thanks.

Debate is a preety thick topic.
I'd start reading here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate
Then contact your state Lawyers Association and keep asking. Check with whatever High School you think DD might attend, and have a long talk with the coach/teacher.

My son attended a 2 week, overnight, summer Debate camp as a rising 9th grader, because they have a 'Pre-novice' division, and he was 'too young' but not by much. According to him the begginers work 9am to 9pm 6 days a week. He felt that the other kids in the Pre-novice division were there because their parents pushed them, while the more experienced kids really loved debate.

So, after you figure out what kind of debate you want her to learn, you might have to start a middle school level club locally to you. (You middle school might already have something available)

At the high school level here, they are always looking for parents to act as judges, and they provide training. I've been doing that, and it's very touching. It might seem like a waste of time, but I'll bet your daughter could get involved with timekeeping or tabulation.

Best Wishes,
Grinity

Hi Grinity,
Thanks for your info. My daughter likes the idea of doing debate, she "out-logic" me since the tender age of 3, she loves to do research and talk about issues and things. She can definitely improve on her speaking skills though (the "umms", "likes") and while she has no problems performing violin in front of people, she does not like to speak in front of people much, unless it is about a topic she is very comfortable (like science). So...I though basic public speaking experience would also benefit her, before real debate experience. The High School around here has a pretty robust debate team, and I believe the Middle School where she will be attending is trying to start up a debate team. I just thought it would benefit her to get comfortable speaking more formally in front of people when she is younger, than when she becomes more self-concious as a teenager.... A week or two of summer may be great. Have you or anyone else heard of Middle School Debate?

Volunteering as a timekeeper or tabulator sounds like a great way to experience it, too.

If your local high school has a robust debate team, I would definitely try to become involved. Get friendly with the Middle school coach too. Be sure to figure out what style(s) of debate they do. It's like training for Softball might not help much if you are going to be competing in a Baseball league.

As for speaking opportunities, I think that best way for a child of this age to get comfortable with public speaking is to do a research oriented educational public service project and learning to present her findings to the public. Destination Imagination, Oddessy of the Mind, and I think first Lego leauge also have an oral presentation aspect.

Good luck! And take a look at those high school debators before judging your DD too harshly, ok?

Grinity

Will Tosatmasters let a child that young join?