Oral Communication

THINK LITERACY: Cross-Curricular Approaches, Grades 7-12
Oral Communication
Revise
O
Introduction to Oral Communication
Pair Work:
Think/Pair/Share
Take Five
Timed Retell
Small-group Discussions:
Group Roles
Place Mat
Determining Key Ideas
Jigsaw
Discussion Web
Whole-class Discussions:
Discussion Etiquette
Four Corners
Triangle Debate
Presentations:
Presentation Modelling
Posters for Instruction: Oral Communication
Listen and Speak
Present
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THINK LITERACY: Cross-Curricular Approaches, Grades 7-12 O
Introduction to Oral Communication
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Oral skills – both speaking and listening – are at the very foundation of literacy. Classroom talk helps
students to learn, to reflect on what they are learning, and to communicate their knowledge and
understanding. The strategies in this section provide simple but powerful tools for improving
communication in every classroom and all subject areas. Whatever you teach, these tools can help you
to obtain more precise information about what your students know and can do. This, in turn, can help
you to provide better feedback and guidance. Students need authentic opportunities to learn how to
listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations – in pairs, and in small and large groups.
Students are sometimes assigned an oral activity (e.g., working in small groups) without a clear
understanding of what is expected and how to be most effective. By taking the time to teach specific
oral strategies in the context of your subject area, you will boost your students’ confidence and
performance.
Struggling students need:
• encouragement and explicit instruction to build their strengths and address their needs.
• a safe and encouraging environment to practise oral skills, if English is not their first language.
• extra practice, a peer to work with, and support from the teacher before presenting.
• well-chosen partners or team members who... [continues]

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