FAQ - Practices

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When will practices be held?

-Practices will be held every Thursday after school.  They begin at 3:05 and generally run for an hour.  There are times we will stay later in order to allow any student who wants to read their piece a chance to read.  Students can also seek out Mr. or Mrs. Raitano during the week as well for additional help or to read their pieces.

What do I do at practice?

-At the beginning of the year, you will use practice to search for a piece, write an introduction, type it up, and share it with Mr. and Mrs. Raitano. Once this is complete, you will be expected to practice your piece MULTIPLE times during each practice.  Reading your piece once and leaving does NOT count as practice.

So I read my piece a bunch at practice.  Can I leave?

-You are a part of a team.  While at practice, you should help your teammates with their pieces. This means listening to them read, timing them, and offering feedback. We can only be successful if we all play a part in each other's preparation.  

Do I really need to come to every single practice?

-Short answer... Yes.  However, we know that there are times where something important comes up and you may be unavailable to attend or stay.  This is certainly understandable, but please remember that Forensics is a commitment.  It is a commitment to a program and to your fellow teammates.  Tournament participation is largely based on practice attendance and preparedness.  If you are not showing up at practice, then there is no way for us to know if you are ready and have been practicing your piece. 

Will I read my piece to you every practice?

-Not necessarily.  Due to the amount of students on the team, it will be next to impossible for me to listen to everyone's piece EVERY practice.  Even if you do not read to me, you will read to your teammates or high school volunteers that come to help.  Many students will stop after school another day if they did not get to present to me during our Thursday practice.  Again, this is why it is so important for you to attend each practice.  This way, you are available to listen to some of your teammates who are not able to present to me.

Should I practice my piece at home too?

-YES!  The more you practice, the better you become.  I know that reading the same piece over and over might seem repetitive, but the more you read the same piece, the better you get to know it.  You should practice as much as you can.  Practice on Thursdays, come read to me on Tuesday, and most importantly, read at home every day!  Read, read, and read some more!