Oracy continues to be a huge focus for The Cornerstone Academy. We have worked hard to embed opportunities for structured talk into every area of our curriculum as we are aware of how important it is that our students excel in communication to succeed in the greater world.
Oracy is not just about being able to talk, but also having the ability to listen, understand, empathise and responding in an appropriate manner. We introduce students to paired and group discussions as soon as they join us in year 7 and continue to nurture these skills throughout their time at the academy.
Examples of some strategies we use:
- Turn and Talk- Students are paired and spend short periods of time discussing or debating. During these sections of learning the class teacher will track the room and support students with all areas of the Oracy Framework (image below).
- Format Matters- Every classroom displays a clear poster reminding students of common sentence starters they can use in discussion. For example, ‘Following on from...’ or ‘To add to...’
- Right is Right- This is a strategy that ensures that students are giving the best possible answer, formatted in the best possible way, using the best possible words from their wide-ranging vocabulary.
‘’In school, oracy is a powerful tool for learning; by teaching students to become more effective speakers and listeners we empower them to better understand themselves, each other and the world around them. It is also a route to social mobility, empowering all students, not just some, to find their voice to succeed in school and life.’’ Voice 21