GOZONE Debating would love to see all children learning to speak up and express their ideas.  If they can also learn to listen to others, we have the basis for creating a new way of negotiating rather than fighting to establish the kind of world we want.

Create more challenge

Debating does not have to be an elite sport, everyone can give it a try and improve their speaking ability.  Start young while its fun.

My experience has shown that nothing motivates children like a challenge and clear steps to reach success.  Are students being challenged enough?

Shame about uneven development

When your verbal ability and your ideas are developing faster than your writing, embarrassment can really undermine your progress.  Being a clown or causing a disruption is much safer than letting your peers see that your letters look like chicken scratch foraging free range above and below the lines!!

Our colleague in the UK, Gareth Malone detailed these and other  issues this year with his Extraordinary School for Boys series on the BBC.  Some boys begin withdrawing and giving up at school at this early stage.

Uneven development can discourage and make students feel stupid. Starting with a verbal challenge which focuses on ideas, bravado, imagination, and gift of the gab which most year 5 and 6’s possess in abundance- short circuits this awkward gap.

Action, teamwork, gift of the gab       What’s this now??

Once everyone starts brainstorming arguments with their team and jotting down key words- even pictures to help them remember their ideas, handwriting woes seem less important.  Its worth the risk to have the opportunity to speak out and be SEEN and HEARD!!

Try it out for yourself, just in a small way, with one topic…..

That Junior Masterchef is exploiting children

That the Olympics are a waste of money

That cats are the best pets…..

What is a controversy at your school?

You won’t believe how much more fun you have with your learning…How engaged everyone is……How amazed the parents are at what their children can do.

Debating….just give it a try.

There are Handbooks and a DVD to get you started under resources at your right.