Focuses on the inter-relationship between reading, writing and speaking and listening. This work blends theory, research and practice to show how an integrated programme of work can be developed to ensure that literacy is taught in a vibrant and stimulating way. It also examines strategies for developing successful group work.

`This book is aimed at class teachers of Reception to Year 3 seeking ideas to develop their pupils′ speaking and listening skills. The author describes each activity in an easy-to-follow format with links to the relevant curriculum targets. The most valuable part of the book is the commentary from the author′s own teaching experience. This provides some useful insights, such as the fact that the flow of children′s ideas was improved while they had a discussion while engaged in drawing. The book is easy to read. It... provide[s] a practical guide to some tried and tested speaking and listening activities which may be useful for the beginning Foundation or Key Stage 1 teacher′ - Special! Do the children in your class need help with language and listening skills? Lots of ideas and suggestions for activities using and encouraging talk in the classroom make this book a lively, practical guide to encouraging young children to develop their verbal reasoning skills and to communicate more effectively. There is advice on how to tie in these activities with the various curriculum subjects and the following are covered: - setting up a talk corner - using story bags and story boxes - using Circle Time and playing games to encourage talk In each activity there are directions for helping children with Special Educational Needs, working with Teaching Assistants (TAs) and other adults in the classroom, planning and assessing work and finding suitable resources. A selection of photocopiable material is included and all the suggestions and ideas in the book have been tried and tested by the author in her own classroom. The focus of this book is on young children aged 5 to 8, but the activities can be adapted to suit those younger or older.

This book focuses on the inter-relationship between reading, writing and speaking and listening. Psychologists and educationalists, influenced by the work of Vygotsky, have emphasised the importance of social interaction in learning, and the National Writing, Oracy and LINC Projects highlighted the need for quality interactive pupil discourse and effective teacher-pupil interaction. However, although the DfEE claims that the successful teaching of literacy is characterised by good quality oral work, speaking and listening is not included in the National Literacy Strategy Framework and the Literacy Training Pack does not address the issue. Literacy and Learning through Talk blends theory, research and practice to show how an integrated programme of work can be developed to ensure that literacy is taught in a vibrant and stimulating way. Strategies for developing successful group work and whole class, interactive discourse are examined and effective teaching roles and questioning techniques are explored. Transcripts of group discussions and examples of children's work illustrate various points and work plans and practical classroom activities are described.

Deborah Brandt, a recipient of the Grawemeyer Award, is one of the most influential figures in literacy and education. Brandt has dedicated her career to the status of reading and writing in the United States. Her literacy research is renowned and widely studied. Literacy and Learning is an important collection of Brandt’s work that includes a combination of previously published essays, previously unpublished talks, and new work.

"Describing effective, creative strategies for talking with students in ways that enhance literacy learning, this book offers a window into the classrooms of four exemplary teachers. Principles of productive classroom discussions are illustrated with detailed case examples. The book shows how--and explains why--"real talk" can enhance student engagement, foster critical thinking, promote mastery of literacy concepts, and instill a lasting love of reading. It offers ideas for selecting children's literature and fitting a range of interactive literacy activities into the school day. The authors draw on current knowledge about the connections between oral language and literacy development across the elementary grades"-- Provided by publisher.

Raise Your Voices shows English language arts teachers how to prompt, sustain, connect, and assess classroom discussions, especially about issues that adolescents find consequential. The chapters explore the basics for facilitating discussion to support literacy learning and the principles for assessing the progress and effect of discussion.

This book examines the place of talk in learning and the role of such talk in literacy education. It builds on a strong tradition of research into the role of talk in constructing curriculum knowledge, the relationship between talking and thinking, and the significance of extended, in-depth dialogic interaction in classroom talk. However, it differs from tradition with its emphasis on the need to make the role of language in learning more visible and more explicit. This book places particular emphasis on the relationship between dialogic pedagogy and language-based approaches to learning. Contributions range from discussions on educational linguistics and dialogic pedagogy as complementary perspectives to needs of students for whom English is an additional language or dialect. This volume was originally published as a special issue of Research Papers in Education.