This fully updated third edition of Unlocking Speaking and Listening tackles key issues surrounding spoken language with rigour, depth and a strong focus on research, providing education professionals with clear, practical strategies for engaging in purposeful talk, while also celebrating children's understanding and love of the spoken word.

Speaking and listening are key elements of the primary English National Curriculum; they are also fundamental to children's language development and learning. The need for teachers to develop children's talk in its own right and also to use talk as a means of learning is central to effective primary practice, yet it is an area in which teachers often have little confidence. The contributors offer creative and practical advice on teaching speaking and listening from the early years through Key Stages 1 and 2, underpinned by theory into the approach. --from publisher description.

Written by expert contributors from Brunel University, this vital resource offers practical advice on teaching speaking and listening creatively from the Foundation Stage through Key Stages One and Two.

Unlocking speaking and listening skills is crucially important in the development of a child's literacy and communication abilities. Good communication improves performance, is more rewarding for the individual and builds self-esteem. This book, the latest addition to the sucessful ' Unlocking ... ' series, includes sections covering developing listening skills, speaking for a purpose, structuring group discussions, building self-esteem and social skills, word games, language play and assessing speaking and listening.The ' Unlocking ... ' series is published by Ransom Publishing, a specialist in books for reluctant and struggling readers.

An edited collection describing key issues in supporting literacy development, this book helps to 'unlock' the mysteries behind helping children learn to read, write, speak and listen. It explores ways to help children develop their skills in literacy, thinking and learning, and shows how literacy teaching can be used creatively and imaginatively with children of all ages and abilities. The new edition of this well-known text: reflects the importance of creativity and the new Primary Strategy offers approaches to teaching literacy that accord with and beyond the literacy hour includes coverage of the Foundation Stage curriculum in every chapter covers the inclusion agenda and supporting EAL pupils highlights the importance of popular culture and visual literacy in children's lives. Interweaving pedagogy with theory and practical suggestions, this book is firmly based in classroom and academic research to support both trainee and practising teacher in the realities of teaching and learning in literacy.

This indispensable resource, for teachers of pupils aged 7-13 years, consists of a series of graduated lesson plans aimed at improving children’s speaking and listening skills, their self-confidence and their motivation to learn, ultimately leading to better school performance. The scheme was developed and tested in schools during a four year period with over three thousand children and their teachers, and focuses on class and group activities that are enjoyable as well as instructive. All pupils are able to participate regardless of background, academic standing or facility in English, and the skills acquired are central to the National Curriculum for England and Wales Key Stages 2 and 3. Each lesson worksheet includes learning objectives, guidance on preparation and organisation, an activity guide, and follow-up suggestions, all presented in a clear and simple manner to lead the teacher step by step through the session. The materials are grouped into four levels of difficulty which combine to build a powerful range of abilities associated with persuasive and presentational speech, dialogue and debate, as well as developing the children’s command, use, and articulation of English. Each level consists of twelve starter lessons suitable for class-based group work, with sections preparing pupils for a variety of class competitions including public speaking, poetry reading and debating. The activities link naturally with other areas of the curriculum, and topics already being studied can easily be incorporated. In a parallel controlled research project highly significant gains in a nationally standardised test of non-verbal reasoning were made over a seven month period by children who followed the activities for one lesson a week compared to those who did not. These were well in excess of what would be expected for their increased age. Particularly high gains were made by children of lesser ability and those for whom English was an additional language. The improvements recorded were later confirmed by the schools’ own National Curriculum assessments of progress against targets, where on average the project children exceeded substantially the end of year forecasts made by their teachers.