Oracy
What is Oracy?
Oracy is the capacity to use speech to express your thoughts and communicate with others.
It is important because it helps children:
- Share their ideas and feelings confidently.
- Listen carefully and respond thoughtfully.
- Develop thinking and understanding.
- Work well with others.
- Support reading and writing skills.
- Prepare for life beyond school.
Oracy at Bowker Vale
Our aim is to enrich pupil’s speaking and listening experiences and be able to give them the tools and skills they ned to be confident, effective speakers who can make a positive difference in the world.
We use the Voice 21 Oracy Framework to explicitly teach how to talk, listen and think through discussion.
In order to become effective communicators, it is important that children acquire the skills laid out in each of the four strands. Therefore, we have developed our own Oracy Curriculum which ensures a progression in skills as children move through school.
Ways that you could develop oracy at home.
- Talk about your day. Make time to chat and try asking questions like what was the best part of your day.
- Family mealtime conversations. Use dinner time as discussion time.
- Storytelling together. Storytelling helps children organise their thoughts and use new vocabulary.
- Play 'Would you rather?' Fun questions encourage reasoning and explanation.
- Debate friendly topics. Older children enjoy sharing their opinions.
- Role Play. Pretend situations help children practise real-life communication.
