Oracy in the Winthrop Classroom
Working alongside Formative Assessment
Spoken language enables us to do much more than share information - it enables us to think together. But as teachers, do we always use it to best advantage? And do we give enough attention to enabling children to use language as a tool for learning and problem-solving?
What is teaching ORACY all about?
Oracy is a dialogue-based approach to the development of children's thinking and learning.
Teaching oracy means putting more intention behind how you guide and organize your students' talk. When they gather for group work or discussions, give them talking guidelines, roles, and tools. For example, sentence stems are starting phrases that help them complete their thinking in a full sentence and add intention to how they form their thoughts and communicate their learning.
What is teaching ORACY all about?
Oracy is a dialogue-based approach to the development of children's thinking and learning.
Teaching oracy means putting more intention behind how you guide and organize your students' talk. When they gather for group work or discussions, give them talking guidelines, roles, and tools. For example, sentence stems are starting phrases that help them complete their thinking in a full sentence and add intention to how they form their thoughts and communicate their learning.
What does the above table and skills mean???
Take a look at the below glossary to further your understanding!
oracy_glossary_of_skills.pdf | |
File Size: | 379 kb |
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What Oracy Looks Like in Schools (see below video)
Three Kinds of Talk
There are three kinds of 'talk' which can be found in the classroom. More often than not, we find that group work in our classrooms can trend towards 'Disputational Talk' or 'Cumulative Talk' if students' are not given guidelines for ground rules or there are time constraints.
The aim of this project is for students to cooperate and communicate effectively within 'Exploratory Talk' in a group setting to develop creative and critical thinking skills.
The aim of this project is for students to cooperate and communicate effectively within 'Exploratory Talk' in a group setting to develop creative and critical thinking skills.
Teaching Resources
Groupings
When planning for group discussion in all subjects, it is important to consider how many students will work together (pairs, trios or larger) and why.
Below are a few groupings to consider for use in your classroom lessons.
Below are a few groupings to consider for use in your classroom lessons.
Traverse
Pupils stand in two parallel lines opposite a speaking partner. This encourages pupils to consider their body language and eye contact as they are speaking.
Onion
In this formation, there is an inner and outer circle. Up to six pupils stand back-to-back forming an inner circle facing a partner on the outer circle. This is a useful tool for switching discussion partners as pupils on the inner circle can rotate to face someone new.
Circle
The strong circle, or circle of trust, brings a group of pupils together face-to-face. Pupils are encouraged to step inside the circle and speak, considering their audience, maintaining good eye contact and using appropriate body language.
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oracy_question_stems.pdf | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
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oracy_communication_cards.pdf | |
File Size: | 4948 kb |
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oracy_task_cards.pdf | |
File Size: | 25 kb |
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Lower Primary
Middle-Upper Primary
Middle-Upper Primary
Thinking Together: Talk Tally
This a simple observation sheet which a child can use to record the kind of talk they observe when a group of other children are working together.
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Ground Rules: Traffic Lights
This worksheet can be used as the initial basis for an activity in which younger children (6-8) consider together how to make their talk in groups most effective.
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Talking Points about Group Talk
This worksheet can be used as the initial basis for an activity in which children (8-12) consider together how to make their talk in groups most effective.
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Are these USEFUL rules for discussion?
This is a two-part worksheet which can be used as the basis for an activity in which children (10-14) consider together how to make their talk in groups most effective.
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