Teach Primary - Essential School Resource 2024/25

ENG L I SH Priced at £75; find out more at collins.co.uk/DevelopBrilliantSpeaking R E V I E W Oracy skills need to be taught, just as we routinely teach the skills of literacy, mathematics, science and so on. It could even be argued that oracy is the beating heart of a school, being both a curricular and pedagogical concern that improves cognitive development and academic achievement. The issue, however, is that while many teachers possess knowledge of what oracy skills are, some will lack confidence in challenging and stretching pupils’ speaking and listening abilities. Teaching oracy well is something that can require considerable amounts of CPD. Enter Develop Brilliant Speaking – an exciting teacher pack developed by assistant headteacher Djamila Boothman, which focuses on teaching and improving speaking and listening skills in the classroom, alongside strategies for promoting and embedding oracy across the curriculum. Written by a leading secondary school teacher, the contents are packed with practical advice, guidance and tips for improving oracy at Y7. At its heart, this resource is all about empowerment via helping students to find their voices, and confidently articulate and air their thoughts and feelings. This they do through activities that variously touch on debating, interthinking, speech-writing, listening, responding and working collaboratively. Develop Brilliant Speaking contains 10 punchy lesson plans with accompanying PowerPoints – the latter of which include an introduction to oracy, as well as presentations on non-verbal aspects of oracy, working with others, active listening and ways of boosting confidence. The customisable lesson plans come complete with worksheets, homework activities, engaging tasks and even some thought-provoking videos, which, as you’d expect, present many prompts for class discussions. There are also additional notes to support oracy across the curriculum, along with guidance on how to continue developing these skills post-Y7. What’s interesting is how the pack doesn’t just focus on one category of oracy per se , but also encompasses physical, linguistic, cognitive and cultural, social and emotional oracy. There’s a clear recognition that oracy skills are perhaps best embedded across the teaching and learning of all subjects – thus making this resource a sound springboard for fostering a whole school approach to oracy, since it contains subject-specific suggestions for practice across the school. Oracy remains a hot topic. Research has shown that the most effective classroom talk occurs when teachers have a clear sense of how to provide supportive and productive contexts for said talk, where participation and productive dialogue is actively encouraged. This resource can serve as a transformative teacher training tool and professional development toolkit, in the service of helping students develop into more articulate and active citizens. We examine a resource that sets out to help children find their true voice and grow in confidence... A T A G L ANCE • A new customisable teacher resource for boosting KS3 oracy skills in English • Tried and tested lesson plans, PowerPoints, videos and worksheets • Challenges all learners with inspiring activities on relatable topics • Supports the transition from primary to secondary school • High-quality, evidence-informed oracy teaching REVI EW BY JOHN DABELL ...you are looking to unlock the power of effective communication, and help your Y7 students become more confident and articulate individuals. ...you want to ensure that student voice is an essential aspect of the secondary school experience. P I CK UP I F . . . Develop Brilliant Speaking Slots easily into any KS3 scheme of work Builds social skills and empathy, while facilitating meaningful interactions Supports efforts at improving social mobility and equity Prepares students for participation in the wider world Can improve academic outcome s V E RD I C T Essential School Resources 24-25 28 www.teachwire.net/secondary