Hear, Speak, Learn: Building Oral Competence

A fascinating day with Jane van der Zeyden. Beginning the day with data related to how children's oral language develops and the massive difference oral language development makes. The links to children who start school behind in their oral language development and the way this follows them through life.

“What’s the most important thing parents can do to make their kids super learners? Talk to them. Language. Language is the key” 
Professor John Hattie

The oral language expectations on Pf 42 of Learning through talk were fascinating - a great place to look to identify next learning steps for students and to look for report comments. Some great discussion around recordings of students talking - the difference in prompts and the ways the interviews were conducted all having an impact.

Amplify don’t simplify

When we are trying to develop our student's language and vocabulary skills we need to introduce them to increased levels of language rather than simplified versions. We want to challenge them, to ensure they are learning new words.

Now what?

• Create vocab wall - students can add to this when reading and come across interesting words, topic words also can be added. Use word wheel (four words placed onto wheel, students in pairs create a sentence using the topic words.) as an oral language opportunity.