Writing Classes in Reston, VA

Duration: 5 Weeks | 1 Hour 15 Minutes Per Class Get ready for a high-energy, fun-packed experience where your tween/teen will discover the power of persuasion in the most exciting way! Persuasive speaking is a life-changing skill that helps kids express their ideas with confidence, influence others, and make their voices heard. Through lively games, engaging lessons, and creative challenges, your child will master the art of persuasion while having an absolute blast! LEARN • Explore the elements of persuasive speech and writing through interactive lessons and fun, real-world class discussions. • Be introduced to simple debate techniques in a playful and approachable way that boosts confidence. • Learn how to quickly structure both impromptu and prepared persuasive speeches in dynamic, fast-paced activities. • Discover techniques to captivate an audience with humor, creativity, and confidence. • Learn how to persuade different audiences with the right content while keeping things fun and engaging. • Learn how to better manage public speaking anxiety and nervousness, building confidence to speak up and present with ease. • Build a solid understanding of structure, tone, and delivery for persuasive presentations in a lively, supportive environment. DO • Work on both impromptu and prepared pitches, presentations, and speeches with high-energy practice activities. • Create imaginative and hilarious pitches with teammates for collaborative, laughter-filled challenges. • Participate in energetic demonstrations, role-playing, and interactive games that make learning unforgettable. • Receive individualized feedback, regardless of your child’s starting skill level, to ensure they improve in every session. IMPROVE • Sharpen public speaking and persuasion skills through instant feedback and hands-on practice. • Use the feedback instantly to ensure that the student captures it and applies it right away. • Benefit from personalized coaching that challenges and supports every student from their baseline. • Develop confidence, creativity, and clarity in expressing ideas, whether at school or in everyday life. Also, for classes with more than 10 students, two enthusiastic instructors will lead the sessions to guarantee every child gets the attention and feedback they deserve. Oh, and did we mention? Our instructors are professional educators AND performers who bring tons of energy and humor to every class. Your child will laugh, learn, and leave feeling excited for the next session! Please note: Occasional assignments will be given to maximize the class benefits.

** For Rising Grades 5-8 ONLY! “Terrific Ted Talkers!”- Intro to TedX Talks! Has your child ever dreamt of performing on a Ted Talks stage? Do they have ideas they TRULY believe in and would love to voice? Do you just want to improve their overall speech confidence while they learn how to structure and present a speech? Well, this is THEIR moment! In this awesome 1/2 Day Camp, we will: - Review the fundamentals of effective speech PERFORMANCE; - Have discussions about various TEDx Talks topics or current events; - Analyze various TED Talks; - Play multiple public speaking games and work on public speaking quick speech assignments during the class; - Learn how to STRUCTURE a TEDX Speech; - Receive instructor feedback and/or peer feedback; and - Writing and present a final TEDx Talk chosen by the student! Terrific Ted Talkers SHOWCASE! We will invite key community members for a final Speech Showcase on our last day of class! We will also provide videos of the students’ speeches for parents! In both classes every day, the students will have multiple opportunities to practice what WE preach and receive feedback! Our 3-Hour day is broken into: Part I (1-1.5 hours) - Ice Breaker Activity - Lesson for the day - Practice through Game or Structured Assignment in Breakout Sessions! BREAK (15 minutes: Please bring a drink and snack.) Part II: Group Discussion of Previous Exercise/Lessons Lesson Cont. Practice through Games or Structured Assignment in Breakout Sessions! Wrap-Up Give your child the GIFT of more CONFIDENT public speaking this Summer, while they have a blast!

High School Big Idea Lab Create and Deliver a TED-Style Talk! Rising Grades 9–12 | 1:30–4:30 PM Reston, VA – Highest Speak Center If your high schooler likes sleeping in during the summer, this afternoon camp is perfect! Great communicators don’t just speak well — they share ideas that inspire people to think, act, and lead. In this exciting High School Big Idea Lab, students will develop and deliver their own TED-style talk while learning the key elements that make persuasive and motivational speeches powerful and memorable. High school is when communication skills truly start to matter. Students are expected to present projects, participate in discussions, interview for leadership roles, and soon apply for college and internships. Yet most students are rarely taught how to develop a strong idea and present it in a compelling way. That’s exactly what this program focuses on. Throughout this high-energy 5-day program (3 hours per day) students will brainstorm ideas, write short speeches, and learn how to present them in a clear, engaging, and confident way. Students will learn how to: • Develop a powerful idea worth sharing • Organize and write a talk with clear structure • Use storytelling, persuasion, and motivational speaking techniques • Incorporate elements used in successful persuasive and inspirational speeches • Speak with confidence and presence • Manage nervousness while presenting • Deliver a talk that feels natural, thoughtful, and impactful Students will practice multiple speaking rounds throughout the week, receiving individualized feedback and coaching from instructors. Expect creative brainstorming activities, speaking games, collaborative exercises, and presentation challenges that make learning both fun and energizing. By the end of the week, students will deliver their own TED-style presentation and experience what it feels like to confidently share an idea with others. Presentation recordings will be provided for parents and students. Daily Structure Part I • High-energy icebreaker activities • Brainstorming and idea development • Speech writing and structure • Practice through games or breakout exercises Break (15 minutes) Please bring a snack and drink. Part II • Speaking practice rounds • Storytelling and delivery coaching • Presentation challenges • Individualized feedback • Wrap-up We always have at least two instructors to ensure students receive personalized attention and plenty of opportunities to practice speaking. For this program, Highest Speak founder Sumedha Bahri — Patent Attorney, Adjunct Professor, Federal Orals Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Stand-Up Comic — will be teaching alongside one or more of Highest Speak’s engaging instructors. This program is fun, fast-paced, and confidence-building, and students leave with communication skills that will help them in school, leadership roles, interviews, and future careers. ** NO prerequisites needed. Spots are limited and camps typically sell out. Reserve your spot today!

**MUST be in RISING Grades 2-4…NO Exceptions! Northern VA/DMV Area! We are back for the ULTIMATE IN-PERSON Summer Programs for your kids in our Reston Center! Public speaking skills are absolutely ESSENTIAL to academia, future career success, and to simply making friends! Effective and engaging storytelling and writing are key skills, not only for language arts, but to better engage with people, think creatively, persuade, and enhance ANYTHING we say! (It's also SUPER fun!) Welcome to Week 2: “Sensational Storytellers! -Fundamentals of Storytelling!" In this fully interactive class, we will have a ton of fun learning the elements of effective storytelling, playing hilarious storytelling games, and practicing multiple storytelling assignments! In this 5 day, 3-hours per day program, we will cover: - How to best PERFORM any kind of story! - How to conquer any level of NERVOUSNESS and become a more CONFIDENT storyteller! - The ELEMENTS of stories! - How to STRUCTURE and WRITE a story! - Different TYPES of stories from fiction, fantasy, stories about ourselves, motivational stories, and even news stories! - How to USE storytelling to enhance anything you do! Every day, the students will have multiple opportunities to practice what WE preach and receive feedback! Our 3-Hour day is broken into: Part I (1-1.5 hours) - Ice Breaker Activity - Lesson for the day - Practice through Game or Structured Assignment in Breakout Sessions! BREAK (15 minutes: Please bring a drink and snack.) Part II: Group Discussion of Previous Exercise/Lessons Lesson Cont. Practice through Games or Structured Assignment in Breakout Sessions! Wrap-Up We ALWAYS have two or more instructors to ensure EVERY student gets plenty of individual attention and truly improves their speaking skills! All of our instructors are teachers/public speaking professionals and are ALSO stand-up comics/performers, so your child is bound to have a great time! This limited sized class WILL sell out FAST! Reserve your spot TODAY! This is the greatest skill you can give your kids, while they have an absolute blast! ***NO class prerequisites necessary! Basic grade level reading skills ARE needed. Previous and New Students will ALL benefit from this program!

Northern VA / DMV Area! We are back with the Ultimate IN-PERSON Communication Intensive for High School Students at our awesome Highest Speak Center in Reston, VA! Camp runs from 1:30–4:30 PM — perfect for high schoolers who like sleeping in during the summer! High school is when communication skills truly start to matter. Students are expected to participate in class discussions, present projects, interview for internships and leadership roles, collaborate in groups, and soon interview for college and jobs. Yet most students are rarely taught how to organize their ideas clearly, write strong arguments, and present them confidently! That’s exactly what this program focuses on. In this high-energy, 5-day program (3 hours per day) students will build powerful communication skills while having a TON of fun through engaging speaking challenges, interactive activities, and real-world scenarios. Students will practice both writing and presenting, learning how to develop ideas quickly and communicate them clearly in front of others. Throughout the week, students will learn how to: • Organize their ideas quickly and clearly • Write and structure short speeches effectively • Present their ideas with confidence and clarity • Think on their feet during impromptu speaking • Manage nervousness when speaking in front of others • Respond thoughtfully to unexpected questions • Develop stronger social communication skills and presence Students will practice both prepared speaking and impromptu speaking, which are critical skills for high school success. This IS the time to help your teen be their MOST confident self! Prepared speaking helps students learn how to develop and structure strong ideas, while impromptu speaking teaches them how to respond confidently when put on the spot — a skill that becomes essential in class discussions, interviews, leadership roles, and real-world situations. Students will work on: • Short written speeches and presentations • Impromptu speaking prompts and challenges • Persuasive speaking • Storytelling and engaging delivery • Debate-style thinking and structured responses Most importantly, students practice constantly. Every day includes multiple speaking opportunities and personalized feedback so students can quickly improve. And most importantly — this program is a BLAST. Expect high-energy speaking games, creative prompts, fun challenges, and lots of laughter along the way. Our 3-Hour Day Part I (1–1.5 hours) • High-energy Icebreaker Activity • Communication Lesson of the Day • Writing or Speech Development Exercise • Practice through Games or Structured Assignments in Breakout Sessions BREAK (15 minutes — please bring a snack and drink) Part II • Group Discussion and Feedback • Lesson Continuation • Impromptu Speaking Challenges and Practice Rounds • Individualized Feedback and Coaching • Wrap-Up We ALWAYS have at least two instructors to ensure students receive personalized attention and plenty of opportunities to speak. For this program, Highest Speak’s founder herself, Sumedha Bahri — Patent Attorney, Adjunct Professor, Federal Orals Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Stand-Up Comic — will be instructing alongside one or more of Highest Speak’s engaging and energetic instructors. This WILL sell out FAST! Reserve your spot TODAY! Strong communication skills can shape college opportunities, leadership roles, internships, and future careers. The earlier students learn how to write clearly, think quickly, and speak with confidence, the more advantage they gain. At Highest Speak, students build these skills while having an absolute blast. NO prerequisites necessary! Both new and returning students will benefit, as our exercises evolve each year to provide new challenges and growth.

🎤 Persuasive Speaking: Level 2 Duration: 5 Weeks | 1 Hour Per Class Prerequisite: Students must have taken the 2024–2025 Persuasive Speaking class OR be recommended by a Highest Speak instructor. For eligibility questions, please email info@highestspeak.com . Get ready for a high-energy, challenge-packed series designed to take persuasive speaking skills to the next level! Level 2 dives deeper into structure, reasoning, clarity, and performance. Students will work with longer 1–3 minute speeches, more complex prompts, and higher-level persuasive strategies—all while keeping the fun, creativity, and excitement that Highest Speak is known for. This course is perfect for students ready for more challenge, more depth, and more speaking time. ⭐ LEARN • Dive deeper into the elements of powerful persuasive speaking, with more advanced frameworks and techniques. • Strengthen simple debate and reasoning skills in a fun, age-appropriate way. • Learn how to quickly and clearly structure longer 1–3 minute persuasive speeches, both prepared and impromptu. • Explore how to hook an audience with stronger openings, examples, humor, and emotional appeal. • Understand how to tailor persuasion to different audiences with the right tone, structure, and approach. • Practice strategies to manage nerves and speak with calm, confident energy—even under time pressure. • Build a more advanced understanding of organization, tone, evidence, and delivery in a supportive, encouraging environment. ⭐ DO • Create both impromptu and prepared 1–3 minute persuasive speeches using Level 2 prompts and frameworks. • Work on high-energy challenges, persuasive “pitches,” and creative team activities. • Participate in dynamic role-plays, demonstrations, mini debates, and interactive games that make learning unforgettable. • Receive targeted, individualized feedback designed to stretch each student from their current level and help them grow every session. ⭐ IMPROVE • Strengthen persuasive structure, clarity, confidence, and delivery through instant application and practice. • Learn to take feedback and implement it immediately in the next speaking round. • Benefit from personalized coaching that challenges advanced students and supports those still growing. • Build confidence, creativity, organization, and expressive skills—at school, socially, and in everyday communication. ⭐ INSTRUCTOR EXPERIENCE For classes with more than 10 students, two expert, high-energy instructors will lead the sessions to ensure every child receives ample individualized feedback and speaking time. Our instructors are professional educators and performers who bring energy, humor, and warmth to every class. Students leave each session laughing, learning, and excited for the next challenge. Please note: Occasional at-home assignments may be given to maximize progress and reinforce new skills.

🟣 Week 2: Sensational Storytellers! Fundamentals of Storytelling & Creative Expression 📅 July 13–17, 2026 **Must be RISING GRADES 2-4! NO Exceptions! Are your kids creative and LOVE making up stories? Do you just want to encourage their creativity, their voices, AND their writing skills? This creativity-filled week helps students turn imagination into confident performance while learning how storytelling strengthens all types of communication! Students will learn how to: - Perform stories with confidence, expression, and clarity - Become more confident storytellers, even if they feel shy - Understand the core elements of great storytelling - Structure and write engaging stories - Explore different story types, including fiction, fantasy, personal stories, and motivational stories - Use storytelling to enhance public speaking, presentations, and everyday communication - Students practice daily and grow more expressive and confident with every performance. 🧠 Daily Camp Structure (3 Hours) Part I (1–1.5 hours): Icebreaker activity Lesson of the day Practice through games or structured speaking assignments (small groups) Break (20 minutes) Please bring a snack and drink. Students remain indoors and use our break room or watch an age appropriate show/video/movie. Part II: Group discussion and reflection Continued lesson Additional practice through games or structured assignments Wrap-up and celebration of progress 🎁 Why Parents Love Ultimate Speak! - Tons of speaking practice — not just lectures - Supportive, encouraging coaching - ONLY Professional Coaches and 2-4 coaches per class (max class 24 students) - Confidence that carries into school and life - Kids leave proud, energized, and excited to speak on a DAILY basis! ✨ Give your child the gift of confident communication this summer — while they have a blast! ** Camps are for beginners as well as our experienced students. We work from each student’s baseline to ensure value!

🔵 Week 3: Communicate & Collaborate Capstone Team Communication • Collaboration • Presentation 📅 August 10–14, 2026 ** MUST be Rising Grades 5-8 to Participate! NO exceptions! Our Final Camp Week focuses on communication and collaboration as part of a team or partnership ! These are key elements of FCPS’s and LCPS’s Portrait of a Graduate! Students work daily in rotating teams on creative speaking challenges using multiple public speaking formats, including: Persuasive speaking & pitching Storytelling Informative speaking Students learn how to: Collaborate effectively so every student contributes Develop and enhance social skills Communicate with new peers and find common ground Lead, listen, and build on others’ ideas Master team presentation dynamics, including smooth transitions and unified delivery 🎉 End-of-Week Team Showcase Teams present a final collaborative presentation! 🎥 Parents receive a video of their child’s final team presentation. 🎯 Why Parents Choose This Bundle Daily speaking practice …no sitting on the sidelines! Combines writing, impromptu speaking, and teamwork! Builds confidence for middle school presentations and group projects Explicit focus on communication, collaboration, and leadership ONLY taught by Professionals! Aligned with FCPS Portrait of a Graduate skills! Professional showcases + take-home performance video! ✨ A powerful summer experience that builds skills students will use all year and MUCH beyond!

🎤 Persuasive Speaking: Level 1 Duration: 5 Weeks | 1 Hour Per Class Get ready for a high-energy, fun-packed experience where your child will discover the power of persuasion in the most exciting way! Persuasive speaking is a life-changing skill that helps kids express their ideas with confidence, influence others, and make their voices heard. Through lively games, engaging lessons, and creative challenges, students learn how to persuade clearly and confidently—while having an absolute blast! ⭐ LEARN • Explore the elements of persuasive speech and writing through interactive lessons and real-world, kid-friendly class discussions. • Be introduced to simple debate techniques in a playful, low-pressure way that builds confidence. • Learn how to quickly structure both impromptu and prepared persuasive speeches using fun, fast-paced activities. • Discover how to captivate an audience with humor, creativity, and confident delivery. • Understand how to persuade different audiences using the right content and tone. • Learn strategies to manage public speaking anxiety and speak up with ease. • Build a strong foundation in structure, tone, and delivery—within a lively, supportive environment. ⭐ DO • Practice both impromptu and prepared pitches, presentations, and persuasive speeches in high-energy speaking rounds. • Create imaginative, funny, and creative pitches with teammates during collaborative challenges. • Participate in demonstrations, role-playing, and interactive games that make learning unforgettable. • Receive individualized, supportive feedback to help every child grow—no matter their starting point. ⭐ IMPROVE • Strengthen public speaking and persuasion skills through instant feedback and hands-on practice. • Apply feedback immediately during the same session to reinforce learning and growth. • Benefit from personalized coaching that meets each student exactly where they are. • Build confidence, creativity, clarity, and expressive skills that carry over into school and everyday life. ⭐ INSTRUCTOR EXPERIENCE For classes with more than 10 students, two enthusiastic instructors lead the sessions to ensure every child gets the attention and feedback they deserve. Our instructors are professional educators and performers who bring tons of energy, humor, and warmth to every class. Students leave each session laughing, learning, and eagerly looking forward to the next one! Please note: Occasional at-home assignments may be given to maximize the class benefits.

For classes with more than 10 students, two expert, high-energy instructors lead the session to ensure every student receives ample one-on-one feedback and speaking time. Our instructors are professional educators and performers who bring energy, humor, and warmth to every class. Students leave each session laughing, learning, and excited for the next challenge. Please note: Occasional at-home assignments may be given to reinforce skills and maximize progress.

Duration: 5 Weeks | 1 Hour Per Class Get ready for a high-energy, fun-packed experience where your child will discover the power of persuasion in the most exciting way! Persuasive speaking is a life-changing skill that helps kids express their ideas with confidence, influence others, and make their voices heard. Through lively games, engaging lessons, and creative challenges, your child will master the art of persuasion while having an absolute blast! LEARN • Explore the elements of persuasive speech and writing through interactive lessons and fun, real-world class discussions. • Be introduced to simple debate techniques in a playful and approachable way that boosts confidence. • Learn how to quickly structure both impromptu and prepared persuasive speeches in dynamic, fast-paced activities. • Discover techniques to captivate an audience with humor, creativity, and confidence. • Learn how to persuade different audiences with the right content while keeping things fun and engaging. • Learn how to better manage public speaking anxiety and nervousness, building confidence to speak up and present with ease. • Build a solid understanding of structure, tone, and delivery for persuasive presentations in a lively, supportive environment. DO • Work on both impromptu and prepared pitches, presentations, and speeches with high-energy practice activities. • Create imaginative and hilarious pitches with teammates for collaborative, laughter-filled challenges. • Participate in energetic demonstrations, role-playing, and interactive games that make learning unforgettable. • Receive individualized feedback, regardless of your child’s starting skill level, to ensure they improve in every session. IMPROVE • Sharpen public speaking and persuasion skills through instant feedback and hands-on practice. • Use the feedback instantly to ensure that the student captures it and applies it right away. • Benefit from personalized coaching that challenges and supports every student from their baseline. • Develop confidence, creativity, and clarity in expressing ideas, whether at school or in everyday life. Also, for classes with more than 10 students, two enthusiastic instructors will lead the sessions to guarantee every child gets the attention and feedback they deserve. Oh, and did we mention? Our instructors are professional educators AND performers who bring tons of energy and humor to every class. Your child will laugh, learn, and leave feeling excited for the next session! Please note: Occasional assignments will be given to maximize the class benefits.