Mrs. Snow's Gateway Stars

Oral Language: An All-Important Skill

When we think of oral language, communicating with other people usually comes to mind. Oral language development, however, goes much further to include improving a student's ability to talk or communicate more effectively. Speech is not simply basic communication- it involves thinking, knowledge, and skills. Practice and training are necessary.

Research has shown that oral language is an important link in the process of children's learning and thinking development. As a teacher, it is my responsibility to help students develop oral language competence. My role is not of authoritarian knowledge giver but as a friendly and interested facilitator of student learning. Students need to be given both opportunity and encouragement to explore their own thoughts and ideas and to speak while others listen.

To achieve this goal, I have implemented a program called Gateway's Gift of Gab. Beginning in September, second-grade students will be given a topic to think about and explore. A product chosen by the child about the topic will be created. Students will have several weeks to work on their projects at home and to practice an oral presentation. Projects will then be brought to school on the due date, and each child will spend a few minutes presenting/sharing his or her masterpiece.

For example, one month's topic may be Everyday Heroes. Students could make a picture collage of the types of people who are heroes in their city, write a poem or essay about what everyday heroes do, create a poster.........the list can go on and on!

Below is a list of products/projects that could be created, but students are encouraged to use their imagination! These are open-ended and allow for differentiation of content and process. Possibilities are endless.

poster chart collection photo collage

song/music puppet PowerPoint mural brochure

newspaper article advertisement map with legend

game report painting demonstration model

sculpture paper mache comic strip graph story

diorama video an interview with write up scrapbook

Important: The product and presentation (speech) should reflect that the student spent adequate time preparing both! Gift of Gab projects are always due the morning of the due date. Ten points per day will be deducted from the final grade for late projects.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!