PARENTS

How To Help Support Your Student:

We love it when a parent can help support their students. While it's not quite the same as taking them outside and throwing the ball around, it's actually not all that different.

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For Speech Tournaments:

• Help with selecting a piece.

While we want your student to select their own piece because it's something that they themselves want tp perform, sometimes they struggle with this, at least at first. You can help by taking them to the library, encouraging them to talk to their coach for ideas or maybe a theatre or English teacher (even some History teachers could be a good idea). Sometimes looking up possible scenes, skits, speeches, etc on the computer along with your student can be helpful, depending on the student, and only if the student wants that help. But do not choose for them. The ultimate decision is theirs per their coach's approval.

• Encourage your student to memorize their piece early.

This way they can practice in their head at any time, such as while showering, eating breakfast, walking to and while on the school bus, etc. and it doesn't interfere with their other activities such as homework.

• Feeding them lines.

You can follow along with a copy of their script or speech and if they stumble can feed them the line while they rehearse.

• Providing them with a quiet place to work on their piece.

Just like with their homework, is always helpful.

• Encourage your student.

Always be encouraging, after all, students are typically their own worst critics.

• Be a great audience.

Remember, despite what they might say, you're always their number one audience. Cheer them on as you would with sports (well maybe don't paint your face school colors, but that energy is still wonderful).

• Be proud of them.

Remember, they are competing and are putting themselves out there. Even if they don't win, even if they struggle every step of the way, tell them and show them that you are proud of them. Sometimes, that makes all the difference.

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For Debate Tournaments:

• Finding evidence.

Thankfully, in most situations, your student's coach will have already provided a list of resources. Do not do any of the research for your student. However, if you know of an article or government legislature about the topic, you can provide that to your student. If your student is struggling with coming up with ideas, you could suggest possible arguments. For example, if the topic is AI research and your student is stumped, you could suggest something like, "What about law enforcement use of AI? Or the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes? AI use was a big part of their negotiations." But you would not want to guide them like, "You should write: The Studios wanted to scan in background actors paying them only once for that day's standard background acting pay, then own the actor's likenesses indefinitely with the ability to use their likeness in anything they wish, without ever having to pay the actor again."

• Encourage your student to get comfortable with their piece.

They likely will not be able to memorize their speech in the time that they have to prepare. However, being familiar with their piece means that they can look up from the speech from time to time, and they know which piece of evidence belongs to which point they have made.

• Providing them with a quiet place to work on their piece.

Just like with their homework, is always helpful.

• Encourage your student.

Always be encouraging, after all, students are typically their own worst critics.

• Be a great audience.

Remember, despite what they might say, you're always their number one audience. Cheer them on as you would with sports (well maybe don't paint your face school colors, but that energy is still wonderful).

• Be proud of them.

Remember, they are competing and are putting themselves out there. Even if they don't win, even if they struggle every step of the way, tell them and show them that you are proud of them. Sometimes, that makes all the difference.