Questions to ask before signing up for online camps and classes

It is awesome to live in a world with so many opportunities! Our youth have so many options to explore and with protocols still up in the air throughout the country, it’s only natural that everyone is moving online. Summer School, Camps, and Classes, what do you choose? What will be the best fit when it comes to learning online? The Speech and Debate community is growing and it’s awesome to have so many options! As a parent for over 25 years, home educator for over 20 years, and an online business leader for almost four years, these would be the questions I would ask before signing up my students for an online camp or class…

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Debate – Is TP or LD right for me? by: Wyatt Eichholz

Ah- summer a time to sit back and relax!! Unless… you want to get a jump start on Resolutions, learning more about argumentation styles, rhetoric, and debate! This is meant to be a helpful guide for you. Yes, you! Well, that is if you are new to the Speech and Debate universe or just aren’t sure which style of debate is right for you.

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How to Engage Younger Students in Speech and Debate

I often get asked the questions… what age is best to start Speech and Debate, how do get my younger students engaged, what things can I do to help my child explore these areas? I love these questions!! I love working with students who think they will have no interest in Speech and Debate. Honestly, this is part of our jobs as Speech Coaches, Club Leaders, Teachers, and Mentors (and even parents). Over the next few weeks, we will be digging deeper on the subject of how to encourage growth for our children and students during these unique times…

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Ready, Set, Go! Making and Reaching Your Goals This Season by: Kaitlyn Butts

Goal Handouts from Coaching Helps

During the Lasting Impact! Summer Online Intensive, we talked about how to make the most of your year in Speech and Debate. In that session, we broke down the season into stages and talked about what makes each section of the year so unique. We also talked about the importance of making goals and managing those goals well throughout the year. This isn’t something that happens on its own, it requires you to take initiative and then act with consistency and diligence. As we transition into the academic year, it is time to decide how you will incorporate speech and debate preparation, and I’m here with a few suggestions to help you manage your time well and proceed steadily onward...

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Wednesday Workshops THIS Week – Humor, TP, and LD

​This week we have a full line up waiting for you! Why workshops? I am always telling students in order to walk down a path the more you explore and understand what you are getting into the better! This is the same with Speech and Debate! You have the opportunity to get your feet wet before jumping in!! Each of the workshops provides a skilled coach prepared to equip you with the tools for your tool box. As always, workshops are only $5 for members. We use an online tool called Zoom to connect our students from across the country. Some workshops will turn into Recorded Workshops, but unless you purchase the workshop, there is no guarantee! Sign up NOW

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Wednesday Workshops are Tackling Apologetics and College with Kaitlyn Butts

Two more opportunities this week to learn from a seasoned pro! Kaitlyn Butts is excited to talk about getting the most out of Speech and Debate by competing in Apologetics, as well as how to use the skills you are learning to advance your college career and beyond. These online workshops will be recorded through our online forum called Zoom, however there is no guarantee they will make it into our Recorded Workshops. So, be sure to sign up! Recordings will be sent to the email registered and remember- Workshops are only $5-$10 for members! Sign up NOW! Or keep reading to see what Kaitlyn has to say…

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Online Intensive THIS Week!! Coaches Announced…

We’re so excited for the discussions that will be taking place during the Online Speech and Debate Summer Prep Intensive this coming weekend. If you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to check out the full schedule and register today! Now it’s time to introduce the awesome coaches that will be lecturing, leading sessions, and answering your questions this weekend. They are excited to help you start your season strong and share their experiences and advice…

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Using Your Summer for Growth in Speech and Debate

Are you ready to start thinking about how to prepare during the summer? As I always say… Speech and Debate is all year long!! You are probably thinking… are you kidding me? When do we get a break? Well, I’m not saying you have to have all your speeches or cases written in July, but this is the perfect time for growth and exploration! Here are three ways to make the most of your summer!

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Speech and Debate Summer Prep Intensive… sign up NOW!

Lasting Impact! is excited to announce our first annual Speech and Debate Online Summer Prep Intensive especially geared for students, parents, and coaches!! Do you feel like you and your family could use some coaching when it comes to-

  • How to become more prepared for Speech and Debate?
  • How do we make Speech and Debate part of our curriculum?
  • Where do we get started if we want to learn more about Debate, or Speech events?
  • How do I pick an event?

Look no further! Lasting Impact! has put together a two-day ONLINE Workshop filled with information from our amazing, top notch coaches!

Come for one session or all! This is two full days packed for you to get the most out of your summer and upcoming season!

Sessions may include… final schedule will be announced soon!

Summer Apologetics Prep
Thinking about Extemp
Mars Hill with Isabelle Clausen
Speech and Debate from a Biblical Worldview
Is Interpretive or Platform Speaking For Me?
Starting a Club
Novice and Advanced Speaking
Debate Breakdown/Resolution Analysis
Parental Support
Where to Begin with Speech and Debate?
Making the most of the year
How to use your summer

We look forward to being a part of your Summer Speech and Debate prep!!!

Sign Up Now! ONLY $25 per family!!

Credibility Crash Course

Undoubtedly one or two things come to mind when you hear the word, credibility:  that guy who makes up sources for his extemp round, or that team that slices up their evidence cards so that they say what they want them to say instead of what the author actually said.  If that is the extent of your definition of credibility, you might need to stretch your understanding of the term.

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Why is the MESSAGE important in your Speech?

Making sure your speech has significance is going to allow your judges the ability to connect with you, which in turn will hopefully cause your rank to improve. Sure, delivery is important, but it is what you are saying that is going to leave a lasting impact...

Young speakers struggle with figuring out what their topic is going to be on, nevertheless making it have the "So What Factor". Guiding them through the importance of having a message is something you should spend time in club doing. Here are my reasons WHY speakers should have a message...

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Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

I spent a lot a of time and research on this article. One might think... Kristi and Heather and the Lasting Impact! Team just come up with random articles to write about and then poof, we write! Nope, sometimes God lays something on our hearts that we need to research or look for answers or look to the "experts."

I know many of us struggle with the fear of public speaking! Whether you are a new student, a returning student, or parent - getting up in front of an audience is hard! So - I did my research - I spent hours looking up the best ways to deal with "stage fright". Then I did the next best thing- asked our amazing coaches, how they combated their fears. Here is what I found...

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