Friday

General Session 1

  • Opening Session: Vision, Purpose, Direction - Stoa Board

Description: Come and hear the vision and direction of the Stoa Board; where we have come from and where we would like to be in the years to come. You will also be given a chance to have some of your questions addressed during this first general session of the conference.

Workshop 1

  • Wild about Wildcards! - Craig Smith/Debbie Snyder

Description:
Cold Reading: How to choose equal pieces, how to cut those pieces, tips and tricks to competing in Cold Reading, and how to practice Cold Reading in club.
Demonstration Speaking:  What is the difference between a Demonstration presentation & an Expository presentation?  What are some ideas for Demonstration speeches? What are the rules and ballot criteria for Stoa Demonstration speeches?

  • Evidence Usage: Practice, Ethics & Hard Issues - Mike Winther

Description: The incorrect use of evidence is one of the biggest problem areas of our league. This session will equip coaches and parents to know proper evidence handling so that it can be passed on to students at the club level.

  • How to Start/Run A Club - MelRae Ambs/Patricia Shaw

Description: How do I start a club?  What exactly do I DO at a club meeting?  Are there any resources to help me get started?  How do I teach both beginning students and advanced students?  How do I keep my advanced students coming back for more?  How can I get other parents involved?  Are there any resources to make this job easier?  If you have ever wondered these questions, or if you have answers to these questions, THIS is the session for you!  Come visit with MelRae Ambs and Patricia Shaw about how to build a club.

Workshop 2

  • Teaching Apologetics - Robert Ambs

Description: An interactive workshop style class where we will talk about approaches to teaching apologetics in club and we will demonstrate specific classroom exercises that you can use in your club.  The exercises are designed to walk a student through the whole process of building a speech that will be biblical, well organized/clear and relevant.  We will also share best practices and ideas and resources that we have collectively found helpful.  Our desire is that you leave Academy with a coaching tool kit full of helpful ideas and resources that you could use in your club this fall.  

  • Coaching Parli Debate - Katie Herche

Description: Whether you are a new or seasoned parli coach, you will gain valuable tips, insights and ideas of how to be a better parli coach. This session will cover general parli coaching strategies as well as at tournament “prep time” coaching techniques. Also, these two seasoned parli coaches will take your questions to help you with specific concerns.

  • Extemporaneous Moments - Leslie Martin/Sue Danielson

Description: Taking a practical approach to coaching Extemporaneous Speaking, this course will target the myth of daunting and boring regurgitation of facts and citations to teaching the use of humor and color in a black and white world of newspapers with the end goal of developing a well-developed, well-read presenter.

Workshop 3

  • Cultural Connection: Mars Hill Class - Leslie Martin/Sue Danielson

Description: This class will focus on the purpose of Mars Hill as an important part of teaching real-world applied apologetics training. The desire is for the students (and parents) to have an empathy/understanding of some cultural topics that may/may not be different from their current sphere of exposure.  We will look at the various categories and practical ways to approach them as a competitor, including the speaker’s personal connection with the topic, to make the conversation active and meaningful.

  • Coaching Overlooked Skills - Maggie Carabelos/Mary Winther

Description: In our efforts to learn new and/or better things, parents and coaches often overlook the essential fundamentals. This session is not just for new coaches and parents. On the contrary, these overlooked fundamentals will benefit coaches and students at every level.

  • Articulate Technology - MelRae Ambs

Description: Would you like to use technology to make your club simpler and more well-known?  Attend this intro-to-technology session to learn about:
• Stoa USA website
• Finding/posting a tournament
• Stoa USA, Speechranks, Flowpad, Tournament Calendar – which one do I use when?
• Facebook, Yahoo Groups
• Dropbox, Google Drive

Workshop 4

  • Interpretations: Why (bother), Where (to find material), and How (to cut the selection) - Sue Danielson/Sandra Bateman

Description: This class will cover why interpretations are important to a well-rounded student in both speech and debate events. Practical tips will be shared for coaches on how to find quality material and an easy process for creating a cutting to interpret. The focus will be on creating a believable presentation that will win the heart of judges. We will share examples of how to prepare a speech for submission as well as other tips and resources that may be helpful.

  • Transportation Resolution Analysis - Mike Winther/Katie Herche

Description: Come ready to absorb both the big picture as well as the case specific areas of transportation policy. This session will give you the tools needed to teach this new resolution to your students.

General Session 2

  • Fun & Game Communication for Everyone- Leslie Martin/Speech Committee

Description: Communication is so much more than just talking. We will spotlight vocal technique and control, how to interact and relate to your audience, the ability to step outside of your box, physical control, but most importantly: the message itself.  Statistics tell us successful communicators are successful storytellers.  The audience may not remember your speech, but they will remember your story.  If successful in telling your story, you will be a successful communicator.

Workshop 5

  • Next Season's Changes and Q&A - Speech Committee

Description: Come join the Speech Committee to hear about next season's changes.  Feel share to share your ideas/suggestions on Speech Events.  

  • Rules, Norms, and Theory in Debate - Mike Winther

Description: Understanding the difference between Rules, Norms, and Theory can reduce confusion and conflict in debate. Coaches, judges, parents and students all need this understanding. Understanding these three components of the debate activity can solve many tournament “problems”.

  • Running a Tournament - Angela Childress

Description: Your club has decided that you are willing and committed to host your first tournament! So where do you start?? What planning will help set up your tournament to be a pleasant & joyful experience for students, parents, & community? Are there tips that help ensure the plan comes together?? Our goal for this workshop is to equip you with planning tools & strategies to increase your confidence in serving within leadership for a tournament. Whether you are the tournament director, the coordinator, in a lead position or just learning what your place of service should be, come learn more about what it takes to implement a Stoa tournament - and have fun in the process!

General Session 3

  • Training World Changers at the Local Level - Mike Winther

Description: As coaches, we spend time on “Speaking Boldly”. However, how do we coach the “Changing the World for Christ” part of the Stoa motto? In this session, Mike will equip coaches and parents by giving tools for advancing this goal at the club and home level.

Saturday

General Session 4

  • Questions & Answers - SBOD & Committees

Workshop 6

  • Club Issues: Dealing with Drama - Maggie Carabelos/Mary Winther

Description: This workshop covers both the areas of speech and debate. These coaches will have suggestions for dealing with specific problems such as partnerships, “drama” in the club, parental involvement, motivation, pride etc. We will take your questions regarding problems you may have.

  • Limited Prep Drills & Skills - Sandra Bateman/Debbie Snyder

Description: This is an interactive class to demonstrate tried and true games to teach your students to think on their feet. The activities promote imagination, fluency, articulation and persuasive rhetoric, to name just a few. Come let your imagination flow!

  • Overview of LD Resolution - Kirby Gowen

Description: This will introduce you to the new LD resolution. From the broad perspective of preemptive warfare to specific case ideas, this session will equip you to teach the new resolution to your LD students.

Workshop 7

  • How To Be a Better Judge - Katie Herche

Description: We all judge at tournaments. Whether you judge a lot or a little, every ballot you write is a valuable lesson for our students. In this session, you'll learn about how to be a more effective judge: from making your final decision, to leaving helpful feedback. We'll explore how to judge both speeches and debate, so you're ready for anything at the next tournament!

  • Teaching Apologetics - Robert Ambs

Description: An interactive workshop style class where we will talk about approaches to teaching apologetics in club and we will demonstrate specific classroom exercises that you can use in your club.  The exercises are designed to walk a student through the whole process of building a speech that will be biblical, well organized/clear and relevant.  We will also share best practices and ideas and resources that we have collectively found helpful.  Our desire is that you leave Academy with a coaching tool kit full of helpful ideas and resources that you could use in your club this fall.  

  • Tournament Conflicts Resolution - Mary Winther

Description: From the local small tournament to NITOC, conflicts arise. This session gives you the tools to know how to handle issues, both as parents/coaches as well as tournament leaders. Our focus is on “educating to avoid adjudicating”. Note: not required, but it is highly recommended that you attend the Rules/Norms/Theory session as well.

Workshop 8

  • Pleasing Platform Presentations - Sandra Bateman/Debbie Snyder

Description: Learn the amazing truth that "Content is King" in ALL speeches.  Discover where and how to find worthy material for platform speeches. Grasp the value of in-text citations and Work Cited pages, learning how to include them in speeches.  Listen to a short pep talk on why all tournaments should learn how to offer electronic script submission and easy ways to do it.

  • Coaching Advanced Debaters - Katie Herche

Description: Once you've successfully coached your students to a couple checkmarks, they'll want to know how to win out-rounds, and tournaments. In this session, you'll learn about a few strategies your students can use to improve their out-round performance, and some techniques you can use to successfully mentor your more advanced debaters.

General Session 5

  • Why We Do What We Do - Keeping the big picture our focus, Stoa Board

Description: Winning is exciting and fun, but participation in Stoa is so much more than aiming for green checkmarks. We need to constantly remind ourselves, and our clubs, why we compete in speech and debate. Let's focus on what matters most, and how that can help us train students to lose with grace, and encourage families who may be struggling.