Speaking and Listening

Quality resources for teachers and pupils

We understand the importance of spoken language in a child's development and strive to provide the best resources to help progress their capabilities.

Supporting the National Curriculum for English

Our speaking and listening activities and resources are designed to meet the needs of the National Curriculum for English - ensuring that pupils have the necessary skills to develop strong reading and writing capabilities. With our resources, children will have access to the relevant strategies and a variety of oral language skills needed to grow vocabulary and grammar and build confidence with an increasing command of reading and written language.

A holistic approach to learning

At Prim-Ed Publishing, we understand that learning spoken language requires a holistic approach. Our resources are designed to help children develop understanding and speaking and listening skills in a fun and engaging way.

With our resources, teachers can help their pupils understand the importance of speaking and listening in the classroom, and how these skills can be applied outside of the school environment.

Speaking and listening skills

Speaking and listening are important skills for primary school children to learn. They help children understand how to use words and sentences, as well as listen carefully and communicate effectively.

With Prim-Ed Publishing's speaking and listening activities and resources, teachers can help their pupils become better at using words, understanding what they hear, making good choices about what they say and remembering information when needed.

Understanding listening vs hearing

An essential skill that we often take for granted, listening is a complex process that requires the active engagement of both the ears and the mind. In order to listen effectively, children need to develop listening skills in the classroom so they can understand spoken language better and respond appropriately in different contexts.

Examples of the different types of listening are:

• Understanding spoken instructions
• Following a story
• Paying attention to details
• Asking questions for clarification

Teaching listening skills helps children become more attentive, gain better insight into conversations, think before responding, and remember what was said accurately. Listening activities also encourage children to be more open-minded about other people’s perspectives as well as appreciate diverse cultures across the world.

With Prim-Ed Publishing's speaking and listening resources, teachers have access to quality materials that help pupils learn these valuable skills faster and easier than ever!

Listening skills

Speaking and listening skills are essential literacy skills that create the foundation for further learning. Speaking and listening skills involve behaviours and actions used to communicate effectively.

Children develop speaking and listening skills from birth and they are an important focus in primary education.

Examples of speaking and listening skills include:

• Looking at the speaker
• Making appropriate gestures, such as raising a hand before speaking to ask questions
• Using an inside voice when talking
• Maintaining attention in collaborative conversations
• Asking relevant questions
• Ability to articulate and justify answers
• Considering different viewpoints or opinions.

With Prim-Ed Publishing's speaking and listening resources, teachers have access to materials that help pupils learn these skills quickly and easily!

What is spoken language?

Oral or spoken language is an essential part of a primary school child's development. Not only does it help them to understand and communicate their ideas and emotions, but it also lays the foundation for further success in reading and written language. It allows children to develop a broader vocabulary, improved pronunciation, better listening comprehension skills, stronger memory recall and enhanced visual discrimination.

Spoken language skills

As children progress through primary school, it is important that they develop strong spoken language skills. These skills will not only aid in their communication and socialisation, but they will also provide a solid foundation for English reading and writing.

Spoken language skills that primary school children should learn:

• Phonemic awareness: This is the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words. It involves recognising rhyming words, blending sounds together to form a word and segmenting words into individual sounds. Developing phonemic awareness is crucial for learning to read and spell.
• Vocabulary development: Children should be exposed to a wide variety of words and be taught their meanings. This includes learning new words, understanding multiple meanings of words and using context clues to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words.
• Syntax: This is the set of rules for arranging words into sentences. Children should learn to use grammar correctly, including correct sentence structure, verb tenses and subject-verb agreement.
• Conventions of oral language: Children should be taught the rules of polite conversation, such as taking turns, listening attentively and asking questions. They should also learn oral language skills to convey their thoughts clearly and express themselves appropriately in different situations.
• Narrative skills: This involves being able to tell a story in a logical sequence, using proper grammar and descriptive language. Children should understand the elements of a story, such as setting, characters, plot and resolution.
• Listening comprehension: Being able to understand what is being said is just as important as being able to speak clearly. Children should be taught to listen actively, ask questions for clarification and summarise what they have heard.
• Evaluative skills: Children should learn to critically analyse and evaluate information presented to them. This includes understanding bias, identifying faulty reasoning and making evidence-based claims.

By nurturing these spoken language skills in primary school children, we are setting them up for success in all areas of their education. Strong spoken language skills will not only help them in their academic pursuits but will also serve them well as they navigate the complex world around them.

Prim-Ed Publishing’s speaking and listening resources

Prim-Ed Publishing’s teaching materials provide a supportive and engaging environment that encourages pupils to participate actively in their learning journey.

Features:

• Detailed teacher notes with clear objectives, activity summaries and additional/extension ideas.
• Challenging and sequential instructions to help pupils develop listening and memory skills.
• Photocopiable speaking and listening activities that increase in difficulty and are suitable for both class and small-group work.
• Record sheets allow teachers to track progress accurately, ensuring that pupils receive effective and tailored support.

Benefits:

• Enhanced teaching efficiency: With detailed teacher notes, educators can quickly plan and effectively execute their lessons, saving valuable preparation time.
• Improved learning outcomes: Pupils can develop their listening and memory skills while following challenging instructions, leading to increased retention of information and better academic performance.
• Versatile usage: The landing page's resources are adaptable for various class sizes, small groups, and levels, making it a useful tool for teachers in different contexts.

Furthermore, using these resources can help to improve pupils' confidence, communication skills, literacy and comprehension abilities, laying the groundwork for future academic and personal success.

Unleash your pupils’ potential with Prim-Ed’s quality resources!

With Prim-Ed Publishing's educational resources, you can be sure your English lessons are engaging and aligned with the National Curriculum. Come explore our selection of books, worksheets, games and activities – guaranteed to make learning enjoyable for the whole class!

Contact us today or check out our website now to start learning with Prim-Ed!

Frequently asked questions