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Thirty Kent Gardens Elementary School students are tackling the fear of public speaking before most of their classmates have even arrived for the day.
Several times a month, the fourth- through sixth-graders meet before school in McLean to develop original talks, rehearse their delivery and receive feedback from teachers and peers. On February 26, they will present to an audience of classmates, educators and family members.
Their subjects range from the health of Fairfax County’s Accotink Creek and repetitive sports injuries to mobile gaming and mental health. Teachers encourage students to move beyond generic reports and deliver personal messages rooted in their own experiences.
Sixth-grader Sophia first considered joining the program in fourth grade but was too frightened. She participated the following year because her friends did and returned as a sixth-grader after gaining confidence.
“I have trust in myself, I’m not awkward in front of a crowd, and if we get assigned a presentation at school, I have confidence in myself to be the presenter,” Sophia said.
Fourth-grade teacher Lisa Waters created the extracurricular program six years ago. At its first meeting, she recalled, every student said a parent had pushed them to participate. Now, children often join after hearing recommendations from friends or attending an evening presentation.
The program began with about 15 fifth- and sixth-graders. After Waters moved to fourth grade, she expanded eligibility to students in grades four through six. Growing interest led teacher Margaret Tuma to join as a coach and prompted the addition of fall and spring sessions.
After three years of working together, Waters and Tuma now limit each session to 30 participants.
Waters said the program also creates connections across grade levels, allowing younger students to learn from older ones. Presenters are asked to share a message or story that could not simply be found through an online search.
Some students choose deeply personal subjects. Sixth-grader Fleur is preparing a talk about anxiety and depression, drawing on ideas from her therapist and experiences affecting her and members of her family.
Her presentation includes a strategy for anxious moments: focusing on something calming that a person loves in the present, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
Fairfax County Public Schools has counselors, psychologists and social workers available in every school for students facing anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns. Immediate crisis support is also available by calling or texting 988 or contacting local emergency services.
Other talks take a lighter route. Fifth-grader Carter plans to explain how the mobile multiplayer game Clash Royale taught him to recover from setbacks.
Carter said he once cried after getting out while playing baseball. Because rounds in Clash Royale are brief and another opportunity comes quickly, he learned that a loss does not have to linger. He now applies that perspective to experiences such as recess football, where another chance to improve is often close behind.
The program’s influence can last well beyond elementary school. Cedric, now a senior at Chantilly High School, participated in the first Kent Gardens group after signing up because Waters was his homeroom teacher.
The experience marked his first remembered speech before an audience and gave him a major confidence boost as a shy student. It also sparked an interest in public speaking and debate that became a central part of his high school extracurricular life.
Cedric said the program taught him to research, construct an argument and speak before a crowd. Seeing friends take the same risk—and encouraging one another—made the experience less intimidating.