Start with one idea.
Briefly introduce a concept such as building an argument, responding to an opponent, organizing a speech, or speaking confidently.
THE VOLUNTEER COACHING GUIDE
What coaching
looks like.
Use your debate and speaking experience to help middle schoolers get started. We provide the lessons, a school teacher or proctor helps supervise, and you have our support as you learn to coach.
Prepared curriculumTeacher or proctor presentNo previous teaching experience required
YOUR ROLE
Bring what you know.
Help someone grow.
You’ll help students practice debate, public speaking, building arguments, and critical thinking. Most programs run as after-school clubs. Some volunteers start with introductory workshops, while others join a club already underway.
A teacher or school proctor will be present to supervise students and handle classroom responsibilities. Depending on the school’s schedule, you may join after attendance and announcements.
You don’t need to design lessons from scratch. We provide curriculum, slides, drills, activities, and speaker notes. Before you begin, we’ll explain how your particular program works and walk you through the materials.
INSIDE A SESSION
A little explanation.
A lot of practice.
Sessions alternate between short explanations and interactive exercises. The exact activities depend on the lesson and your students.
Let students try it.
Guide partner arguments, short speeches, prompts, practice debates, or other speaking activities from the prepared lesson.
Help them keep going.
Offer patient feedback and encouragement. Give students space to experiment, make mistakes, and try expressing an idea again.
YOU HAVE SUPPORT
Your first classroom.
You’re not alone.
Previous teaching experience isn’t required. We’ll walk you through the program, the lessons, and what a typical session looks like before you start. You can reach out to us with questions along the way.
A teacher or proctor will be in the room, so you won’t have to handle classroom management alone. We’ll also provide guidance on organizing activities and keeping students engaged.
If teaching as a pair would help you feel more comfortable, ask us about volunteering alongside another student. We’ll discuss what’s possible for your program.
SUPPORTING STUDENTS
Make confidence
something to practice.
Some students will be shy, hesitant to participate, or uncomfortable speaking publicly. Patience and encouragement are central to the role. We want students to feel comfortable experimenting and making mistakes as they build confidence.
LEARNING FROM THE PROGRAM
Notice what helps.
Share what you learn.
We may ask you to help track participation, speaking confidence, student feedback, teacher observations, or progress with debate skills. We provide surveys or assessment materials and coordinate with the school.
These measures help us improve the program. They aren’t grades for individual volunteers. We also welcome suggestions for lessons and activities based on your experience in the classroom.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Let’s talk about
where you fit.
Tell us about your debate or speaking experience, where you’re based, and your availability. We’ll discuss the program and expectations directly with you.