Public Speaking Program
At Derby Academy, we believe that confident public speakers have the power to change minds and hearts.
Our public speaking program is not reserved for the auditorium; it is an essential, skill-based curriculum infused across every division from Pre-K through Grade 8. We teach our students to be effective communicators by focusing on the fundamentals: eye contact, pace, intonation, and authentic connection with an audience.
Public speaking is integrated early and often, ensuring that repetition builds confidence for even our youngest learners.
Lower School | Pre-K to Grade 4
Students engage in foundational public speaking moments that turn research into performance. Examples include the Grade 2 Family Museum and the Grade 3 Living History Museum, where students deliver prepared statements and confidently answer audience questions about their research. They also gain stage experience through productions and speaking roles at Lower School Community Meetings, Celebrations of Learning, and on occasion, all school events.
Middle School | Grades 5 to 8
Students in Grades 5-7 begin to hone specific delivery and presentation skills in the classroom. In Grade 6 and 7 History, "learn and teach" presentations happen frequently throughout the year, allowing repetition to solidify their confidence in sharing knowledge. A variety of on-stage opportunities include Poetry in the Pavilion in Grade 5, our musical theater productions in Grades 6-8, morning meeting presentations, Student Council speeches, and much more. Public speaking culminates in Grade 8 with the highly-anticipated capstone speeches.
Public Speaking in Action
Community & Morning Meetings
Throughout the week, students meet as a division to discuss curriculum, school events, or meaningful topics and conversations. Twice a week, students and faculty in Grades 5-8 gather in Larson Hall to start their day together at Morning Meeting. Announcements are paired with musical performances, special presentations, and guest speakers as students directly address their teachers and peers. Our Lower School meets weekly for their own Community Meeting. Two of our fourth graders are chosen each week to lead the meeting, which typically includes performances, celebrations of learning, and opportunities for all students to take the stage in front of their peers and teachers.
Performance
Through our musical productions, students discover hidden talents, express their creativity, and hone their public speaking skills on stage. Derby students learn how to present their original ideas, working through their sometimes hesitant first steps to gain confidence and self-mastery in front of audiences. Our younger students in Pre-K to Grade 5 are introduced to public speaking and performing through memorizing dialogue, music, and movement on the Larson Hall Stage. With past performances that include The Rainbow Fish, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and The Gingerbread Man, students develop their confidence and learn to express their ideas with conviction.