Middle School Program
Residential Program
|
2 Weeks
|
$3,799 |
|
1 Week
|
$2,699 |
Commuter Program
|
2 Weeks
|
$2499 |
|
1 Week
|
$1,899 |
Our Middle School program is designed to welcome and support students who are passionate about speech and debate or learning about it for the first time. New in 2024, our program will provide a survey of multiple speech and debate events that will introduce students to a variety of formats and skillsets. Two-week students will have the opportunity to develop a final product in at least one event during the second week. Throughout the two-week program, students will develop research, public speaking, argumentation, performance, and collaboration skills through activities, games, debates, speeches, and performances. The program prepares students for competitive speech and debate as well as advanced classroom work, like writing research papers and presenting to their class. For middle school students who have significant competition experience, we encourage families to consider one of our event-specific programs where students can specialize in a single event for the entire two-week program.
How we teach | How students grow
ISD’s middle school program offers student a survey of multiple speech and debate events, including Public Forum Debate, Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking, Original Oratory, and Interp Events. During the second week, students will select one event area to specialize in and develop a final product that they can use to compete during the school year.
Our expert Middle School division instructors, led by NSDA Hall of Fame Coach Jay Rye (Montgomery Academy, Alabama), have years of experience working with students in grades 6-8 across multiple events. In addition, students have access to our entire high school senior faculty who specialize in specific events. ISD is committed to giving all campers, regardless of experience, equal access to our top instructors.
As with all of our programs, our Middle School Debate Division is focused on learning, not tricks, in a personalized setting. We uphold the integrity of speech and debate and provide students a solid foundation upon which their interest in speech debate can continue to grow.
For students with significant experience in middle school speech and debate competitions, we encourage families to explore our event-specific programs that allow students to specialize in a single event for the entire two-week period. If you have questions about the right program for your child, please contact us at staff@ispeechanddebate.com.
From Our Curriculum Director
"ISD recognizes that debate at any age has a positive impact on the development of critical thinking skills, however how you approach a middle school student is different than a high school student. Our program for middle school mirrors the content for high school, but the approach and the pace is geared to the middle school mindset."
Typical Daily Schedule for the Middle School Residential Program
8:00 - 8:45am |
Breakfast |
8:45 - 9:00am |
Opening Meeting |
9:15 - 10:15am |
Lecture on the Topic of the Day |
10:30am - 12:00pm |
Lab/Practicum/Hands-On-Experience/One-on-One Work |
12:00 - 1:00pm |
Lunch (provided)/Break |
1:00 - 2:00pm |
Lab on Public Speaking |
2:15 - 3:15pm |
Research/One-On-One Work |
3:30 - 4:50pm |
Collaborative Work |
5:00 - 6:15pm |
Dinner |
6:30 - 8:00pm |
Activities/Logic Games designed to reinforce the lessons of the day |
8:00 - 10:00pm |
Recreational time |
10:00pm |
Beginning of quiet hours |