Speaking Listening And Understanding

"This book results from many years of experience in a 'self-administered' Waldorf school. During those years, I watched the decision-making process unfold through innumerable conversations and committee meetings. It is my hope that this short text can serve as an aid for those seeking to increase their conversational ability. Only such increased competence will enable us to raise the human interaction taking place in any conversation to a higher level." -- Heinz Zimmermann All human activity, whatever the size of the community --whether in business, the family, schools, or politics --is group activity. Such group activity depends upon the ability of human beings to work together consciously in language. Speaking, Listening, Understanding is a book about group conversations, especially those intended to arrive at decisions and/or insights. Various types of conversations are described. In the process, we learn how individual participants, context, and mood can affect the overall process, Exercises, both group and individual, are provided for different kinds of conversations. Rather than the dynamics of group psychology, however, the author starts from the artistic aspects of conversation: namely, language and consciousness. Using examples and anecdotes drawn from many years of work with groups, Zimmermann shows in a straightforward way what can go wrong and why. Then, through a step-by-step articulation of the processes involved in conversation --speaking, listening, and understanding --he shows what kinds of awareness and practices can strengthen the group processes that facilitate creative conversation. This is a valuable resource for any group or community, and it is directed especially toward Waldorf school communities.

Written by two experienced speech language therapists, who have worked extensively alongside mainstream teachers, this book provides activities that are both teacher and child friendly. It contains a collection of graded games and activities designed to foster the speaking, listening and understanding skills of children aged from 5 to 7. The activities are divided into two main areas: Understanding Spoken Language: Following Instructions; Getting the Main Idea; Thinking Skills; Developing Vocabulary; Understanding Inference. Using Spoken Language: Narrating; Describing; Explaining; Predicting; Playing with Words. Each activity has a clear aim, simple instructions, and requires minimal equipment. Activities may be carried out by teachers, classroom assistants or volunteers. Incorporates user-friendly opportunities for assessment, target setting and evaluation. Includes photocopiable material to support the activities. "Many of the activities can be used by speech language therapists, and the book can be used as an effective part of a speech and language programme. Promotes the skills outlined in Speaking and Listening in the English National Curriculum Key Stage One.

The first text designed specifically to introduce debate to new English language speakers. Written in clear, easily accessible prose, it presents the basics of debate while avoiding the complexity and excessive cultural references that make standard texts difficult for this audience to use. Each chapter includes a list of the important concepts and key vocabulary terms as well as exercises that will help students master the skill discussed. All definitions are listed in a glossary.

Speaking, Listening and Understanding is a practical resource packed full of games to improve young children’s communication skills. The second edition of this bestselling resource contains a programme of games and activities to foster the speaking, listening and understanding skills of children aged from 5 to 7 years. The book seeks to address language and communication difficulties for primary-aged children by providing a range of fun and engaging activities. Suitable for whole classes or small groups of children, the activities focus on both understanding and using language in areas such as following instructions, thinking skills, inference, describing, narrating and playing with words. Features include:  160 games and activities which are differentiated by stages and levels of ability;  A clear aim, equipment list and instructions for each activity;  Photocopiable templates for ease of use;  Supplementary resource sheets including pictures and scripts to use with the activities. Now fully revised and updated in line with current policy and legislation, this book is suitable for young children in any school setting. It also includes material that may be used as an effective part of a speech and language therapy programme in consultation with a therapist. This is a unique manual that will be an essential addition to the materials used by professionals working with young children.

Communication between parents and children, men and women, ethnic groups, nations, consumers advertisers, and television and viewers.

Speaking and listening are key elements of the primary English National Curriculum; they are also fundamental to children's language development and learning. The need for teachers to develop children's talk in its own right and also to use talk as a means of learning is central to effective primary practice, yet it is an area in which teachers often have little confidence. The contributors offer creative and practical advice on teaching speaking and listening from the early years through Key Stages 1 and 2, underpinned by theory into the approach. --from publisher description.

Winner of the Primary Books category at the 2004 Education Resources Awards and Highly Commended in the Books for Learning Teaching category of the 2004 TES/NASEN Special Needs Book Awards. Written by two experienced speech language therapists, who have worked extensively alongside mainstream teachers, this book provides activities that are both teacher and child friendly. It contains a collection of graded games and activities designed to foster the speaking, listening and understanding skills of children aged from 5 to 7. The activities are divided into two main areas: Understanding Spoken Language: Following Instructions; Getting the Main Idea; Thinking Skills; Developing Vocabulary; Understanding Inference. Using Spoken Language: Narrating; Describing; Explaining; Predicting; Playing with Words. "Each activity has a clear aim, simple instructions, and requires minimal equipment. "Activities may be carried out by teachers, classroom assistants or volunteers. "Incorporates user-friendly opportunities for assessment, target setting and evaluation. "Includes photocopiable material to support the activities. "Many of the activities can be used by speech language therapists, and the book can be used as an effective part of a speech and language programme. "Promotes the skills outlined in Speaking and Listening in the English National Curriculum Key Stage One. Catherine Delamain has forty-seven years' experience of working with young children. Her last post before retiring was team leader for education in a large speech and language therapy service. She is currently collaborating in the delivery of a rolling programme of training for first and primary school teachers, designed to help them meet the needs of children with speech and language difficulties in mainstream schools. Jill Spring is a speech & language therapist specialising in speech and language disorder in children, and the impact of these difficulties on their learning. She qualified in 1972 and has worked in paediatric settings including community clinics, assessment centres, opportunity playgroups and mainstream schools. She is currently senior clinician in a speech and language unit, and is actively involved in providing training for teachers and learning support assistants, health visitors and those involved in nursery education.

Talk is the medium through which children learn; and yet children may not realise why their contributions to classroom talk are so important. This book provides teachers with resources for developing children's understanding of speaking and listening, and their skills in using talk for learning. The Essential Speaking and Listening will: help children to become more aware of how talk is valuable for learning raise their awareness of how and why to listen attentively and to speak with confidence encourage dialogue and promote effective group discussion integrate speaking and listening into all curriculum areas help every child make the most of learning opportunities in whole class and group work contexts The inclusive and accessible activities are designed to increase children's engagement and motivation and help raise their achievement. Children will be guided to make the links between speaking, listening, thinking and learning and through the activities they will also be learning important skills for future life. Teachers, education students and teacher educators will find a tried-and-tested approach that makes a difference to children's understanding of talk and how to use it to learn.