Middle School Speech & Debate: Wrapping Up the Year and Looking Ahead to Fall

As summer approaches, middle school speech and debate programs across the country are closing the chapter on another exciting year of student growth, performance, and skill-building. Whether your students competed for the first time or for the 100th time, they gained confidence in public speaking, storytelling, or argumentation, this is a perfect time to celebrate accomplishments and start planning for a successful start next fall. 

The end of a school year is the perfect time to Celebrate Student Growth. Encourage students and coaches to reflect on their progress this year. Did students step out of their comfort zones? Try a new event? Make a new friend or find their voice? Taking a moment to recognize these milestones helps build a foundation of pride and confidence that fuels future success. 

Summer Resources to Stay Engaged: To keep skills sharp and confidence high, consider sharing these summer engagement ideas with your students: 

1. Speech Camp: Consider having a summer camp for speech and debate students. This will keep them connected to the program and students as well as honing their skills. Don’t forget to connect your rising students from elementary schools in your district. 
   
   

2. Practice prompts: Provide weekly speech or debate prompts for students to practice at home or with peers. 
   
   

3. Read widely: Encourage students to explore different genres of literature, current events, or opinion columns to expand their knowledge base and critical thinking. Consider starting a reading list for your speech and debate team.  
   
   

4. Watch & learn: Share videos of great speeches, performances, or debates to inspire and model strong delivery techniques.Invite community leaders, high school students and college students for Q & A at a summer workshop.  
   
   

5. Offer a Summer Starter Pack: Send home a speech and debate summer kit with fun challenges, practice sheets and tips. There are a number of resources that can be a fit for middle school speech and debate on the NFHS website: https://nfhs.org/activities/speech-debate-theatre
   
   

6. Welcome Party: Consider working with your high school speech and debate coach to host a summer picnic or movie night.Use this time to build excitement for the fall and welcome incoming students and their parents. Think about utilizing the high school team to help coach your new middle school students.  
   
   

Getting ready for the fall season begins now! Summer is a great time for new or returning coaches to explore professional development opportunities, review event rules, or connect with state organizations.  Speech and debate build life skills that benefit every student—confidence, empathy, and leadership that will extend far beyond the classroom.    

Share Your Success Stories: If your school had a great season, let us know! We’d love to highlight middle school speech and debate programs across the country who are making a difference for students. Email us at jcochran@nfhs.org.  

Let’s use the summer to recharge, reflect, and reimagine what’s possible for our student performers and thinkers. The 2025-26 season is just around the corner—and it starts with how we prepare today.