Speech & Debate Substitute Teacher Guide
Practical classroom strategies, lesson plan tips, and emergency lesson ideas for substitute teaching speech & debate.
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Strategies
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Lesson Tips
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Emergency Ideas
Substitute Teaching Speech & Debate
Substitute teaching speech & debate can feel intimidating, especially if it's not your area of expertise. The good news is that most speech & debate classes will have lesson plans left by the regular teacher, and your primary job is to facilitate — not to be the expert. Here's how to succeed.
Key Classroom Strategies
Create a supportive atmosphere where students feel safe speaking in front of others
Use structured formats (timed speeches, turn-taking) to keep practice productive
Give specific, constructive feedback on delivery (eye contact, volume, pacing) rather than just content
Model good speaking by projecting your voice and making eye contact as you teach
Allow students to practice with a partner before presenting to the whole class
Lesson Plan Tips
Check if students are preparing for an upcoming tournament or speech assignment
If presentations are scheduled, follow the order the teacher set and use any provided rubrics
Time speeches and enforce time limits to keep the class on schedule
Have audience members take notes or fill out peer feedback forms during speeches
If no performances are planned, use the period for research and preparation time
Common Challenges
Students with severe public speaking anxiety who may shut down or refuse to participate
Debates becoming personal or heated rather than staying focused on the topic
Not knowing tournament formats or speech categories the class is practicing
Managing a classroom where half the students are presenting and half are supposed to be attentively listening
Emergency Lesson Ideas for Speech & Debate
No lesson plan? No problem. Keep these ideas in your substitute teacher toolkit:
Impromptu speaking: students draw a random topic and speak for one minute with 30 seconds of prep
Mini-debate: assign a fun topic (best pizza topping, best season) and run a structured 3-on-3 debate
TED Talk analysis: watch a short talk and have students identify techniques the speaker uses
Persuasive pitch challenge: students have two minutes to convince the class to try something new
Storytelling circle: each student tells a two-minute story on a shared theme (most embarrassing moment, best day ever)
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
Become a Better Speech & Debate Sub
Our training courses cover classroom strategies for all subjects, including speech & debate.