Category: Juniors

Debate Readiness with Amy Eichholz starts MONDAY – 2/13/23

Posted on by Heather Neumann

We, at Lasting Impact!, are proud to offer a variety of Clubs and Classes! We have excellent instructors who care deeply and passionately for our students. Amy Eichholz is one of these instructors, and she is also my friend. We have been doing Speech and Debate together for over a decade. She has taught countless early, beginning debaters in one of the largest Speech and Debate Clubs in the MidWest. We are stoked to be starting another Debate Readiness Class this spring 2023. It starts Monday… and there is still time to sign up! Click HERE to register, or check out the description and Amy’s bio below…

Are you interested in a gentle introduction to some of the skills used in debate? Learning to think critically and communicate rationally about a wide variety of subjects is one of the best benefits of debate. For new debaters, the learning curve can seem steep, especially for young debate students. Debate Readiness exists to equip young thinkers with some basic tools for their debate toolbox. In this course, we will introduce logical fallacies, basic economics and lawmaking, and current the NCFCA resolutions.

Booklist:
The Fallacy Detective by Nathanael Bluedorn
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Marbury
Whatever Happened to Justice by Richard Marbury

Ages: 10 – 15

Bio: Amy Eichholz
I am a homeschool mom who began novice debate class over a decade ago alongside my oldest son, and while he and all his siblings have graduated from novice debate, I’m still happily there. I coach in my local club, Salt & Light, where I have the joy to see beginning debaters gain skills and confidence as they learn to think and communicate critically and deeply about important issues. Prior to homeschooling my children, I taught fifth through twelfth grades in public and private schools, with an emphasis on special needs and gifted education. I love debate because it synthesizes critical thinking skills and applies them in exciting, real world ways and is a powerful crucible the Lord can use to humble, teach, and grow us as His disciples. Oh, and I love to knit!

Lasting Impact! New Line Up- 2021 Fall Speech and Debate Clubs and Opportunities

Posted on by Heather Neumann

I know it sounds crazy, but are you ready for fall!? There is something exciting about the planning process that I absolutely love! Therefore, I thought you might like a hint as to what is in store through Lasting Impact!

Online Speech Club –

Meet with students from across the country learning together the Art of Communication. Lead by Heather Neumann, the Ms Frizzle of the competitive speech world. This one semester club will meet weekly, and teach valuable lessons to implement into Speech and Debate. Each student will perform and have a speech ready by the end of the semester.

Interp Club – NEW

Grow your interpretive skills with this new innovative club. Students will grow through a variety of experiences- cold reading, monologues, play reading, prose, and much more. Students will also be preparing an interpretive piece used for competition. This club will meet weekly, first semester and is lead by Heather Neumann.

Apologetics Club –

Come and grow and figure your out how you would answer questions of your faith. Weekly meetings include elements of learning how to compete in Apologetics, but mostly diving into how one would answer such questions as explain the meaning and significance of the trinity, why does God allow evil, etc.

Limited Prep Club –

Who couldn’t benefit from learning to think on their feet better. This unique club will explore the elements of putting together your thought process. The main focus of this club will be Impromptu Speaking, but other Limited Prep events will be covered.

Debate Clubs –

As always, Lasting Impact! plans to offer both beginning and advanced Debate Clubs for both Team Policy and Lincoln Douglas Debate.

The Debate Circuit –

Yes! The Circuit will be back! Weekly rounds via Zoom to help your cases get refined. There will also be an outrounds included. The Circuit starts late Sept and ends before Thanksgiving.

Junior Opportunities –

Speech and Debate doesn’t need to start in High School. Lasting Impact! will also be offering Order in the Court again with Julie Romeo, Beginner Speech – for students ages 9-12, and Debate Readiness with Amy Eichholz.

In addition to all of these fantastic clubs we have a plethora of information for families, club leaders, and coaches. We are putting together NEW worksheets and videos to help simplify the teaching process. We are excited for what the 2021-22 has in store! Whether you are online or in person, Lasting Impact! aims to have the resources you need to succeed! Registration will be opening up SOON! Space will be limited.

Don’t forget Summer Camps are right around the corner!! Contact us if your club wants to have the Lasting Impact! Team come your way!! Please contact us if your have any questions!!

Preparing Your Younger Student For Debate? By: Amy Eichholz

Posted on by Heather Neumann

We are so blessed to have Amy Eichholz as part of the Lasting Impact! Team! She has been teaching Beginner Debate for years, and has seen the benefits through her own children, as well as the numerous students who have had her as a coach. We are excited to offer Debate Readiness to our online community. For more information on the class click HERE or go to the SHOP on our site, OR keep reading to hear Amy’s heart on preparing young debaters…

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Storytelling: The Beginning Speaker’s Greatest Weapon by: Anna Fox

Posted on by Heather Neumann

I was the first of my siblings to enter the daunting world of public speaking. For me, it happened as it has happened to many others: my mother informed me that I would be doing Speech and Debate, and no amount of terror and pleading on my part could convince her otherwise. Of course, like so many before me, I soon fell in love with the activity and the deep friendships that were ripe to be formed in this environment.
I joined in mid-December, and in January headed off to the first tournament armed with a Lincoln-Douglas case and an After-Dinner Speech. As a beginner speaker thrown into the deep end, I was forced to learn quickly how to stop my knees from shaking, and how to think on the fly. Nowhere was this more evident than in the category of impromptu. Over a year, I learned how to go from fifth-and-below in impromptu to winning a tournament.

The secret? Stories.

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How to Engage Younger Students in Speech and Debate

Posted on by Heather Neumann

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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