Give Students a Voice!

Knowing how to effectively communicate is a 21st-century competency that everyone needs to have!

What a classroom looks like when students do not have a voice

                                

                    What a classroom looks like when students are encouraged to use their voice 

Oral Communication in the Ontario Curriculum 

Not only is effective communication a skill that everyone needs to survive in this day and age. It also is a strand called Oral Communication in the Ontario Language Arts curriculum. Expectations in the curriculum requirements that students will: 

OC1. listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes (p. 9). 

OC2. use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes (p. 9).

OC3. reflect on and identify their strengths as listeners and speakers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in oral communication situations (p. 10). 

Good educators don't just teach students how to speak but how to effectively communicate in today's day and age.

This video represents the importance of teaching effective communication skills and what happens when individuals do not have these skills. 

3 Ways To Teach Students about Effective Communication 

1. The Importance of Listening 

The first step to developing effective communication amongst your students is teaching them the most important skill; listening. We cannot have effective communication if we do not know how to listen to one another. In the TedTalk, Julian Treasure states in just 5 steps how to become better listeners. This resource is not only an effective tool to help your students, but also to develop better listening skills as an educator. It is important for educators to develop good listening skills so that they can understand the needs of the students in their class and how they can help them.

                                          

2. Talking Circles

Talking circles are a great way for students to learn how to communicate with other individuals and to demonstrate how to communicate effectively. Talking circles allow for diverse opinions on topics to be shared and for students to learn how to respectively respond back. 

3. Podcasts 

https://www.thepodcasthost.com/niche-case-study/podcasting-in-education/

This article describes the importance and benefits of incorporating podcasts into lessons. Students are more likely to be engaged in a podcast for a longer period of time compared to a video or listening to a person lecturing at the front of the class. 

In addition, Podcasts are also a great platform for students to demonstrate effective communication skills. Long gone are the days when students did formal public speeches for their culminating activity to demonstrate that they are meeting their oral communication expectations. Know there are other platforms like Podcasts that take away anxiety and nerves of presenting in front of large groups and provide a more creative way for students to demonstrate that they have met the oral communication expectations. The link listed provides sites where students and educators can create their own podcasts.  https://www.podcastinsights.com/best-podcast-hosting/

Now You and Your Students can become Effective Communicators!

 

References 

BCPSQC. (21 Nov 2014). How well does your team communicate? [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/gp9x3fvKjm4.

Cult of Pedagogy. (24 Oct 2013). Chat Stations for Class Discussion. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/eFUL4yP0vqo

Gray C., (24 Jan 2017). Podcasting in Education: What are the Benefits?.  Retrieved from 

https://www.thepodcasthost.com/niche-case-study/podcasting-in-education/

TED. (29 Jul 2011). 5 Ways to Listen Better: Julian Treasure. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/cSohjlYQI2A.

Winn r., (22 Nov 2019). 31 Best Podcast Hosting Sites in 2019. Retrieved from https://www.podcastinsights.com/best-podcast-hosting/

The Writing Process

       Writing is not an easy and linear process

Good writing develops from a messy, non-linear process!

You probably hear your students say...

Even though good writing is a messy process, it does not need to be frustrating, boring or hard!

In three steps learn to make writing more enjoyable and easier for students

1. Use Graphic Organizers

I find that graphic organizers are a great way to help students organize their points and thoughts during writing. Likewise, it helps students understand all the components apart of the process in writing without being overwhelmed.

Graphic Organizers Writing

I provide my students with graphic organizers as it is a UDL tool. It not only accommodates the student I have in the class that has an IEP with accommodation in writing but it is a useful tool for all the students.

2. Teach about Inner Dialogue during Writing

Students need to understand that good writers struggle during the writing process all the time. What makes a good writers' inner dialogue different from a not so good writer is having good positive reinforcing thinking. Allison Lienert a grade 4 teacher demonstrates to her students the positive thought process that they will develop during writing.

Positive thoughts are important to foster as an educator. Students need to change their mindset from I can't to I will! My mother who is not a teacher taught me the most important lesson. Whenever I told her that I could not understand my homework or learn a new concept. She would yell really loud over me " I think I can...I think I can... I think I can"! As annoying as those words sounded, it helped me to understand the importance of having a growth mindset to enjoy and be successful in learning. I now try to foster the same positive attitude to develop a growth mindset in my students.

 

3. Incorporate Writing Activites using Social Media

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-10-31-how-social-media-can-help-teach-good-writing   

Writing does not have to be boring! The Ontario curriculum states that students will W1. "generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience"(p. 12). With students have social media accounts, it is a great way for them to share their writing pieces with their peers and a targeted audience. An example of an activity using social media is getting students to use sites like Instagram or Twitter to voice their opinions on issues happening around the world. 

https://twitter.com/hashtag/payattentionGOliteracy?src=hashtag_click

NOW YOUR STUDENTS CAN BECOME EXPERT WRITERS!

References

Institute of Education Sciences. [2015 Jul 7].Using Graphic Organizers in Writing (Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grades: Newcomer Class).  (Video File). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/n88mM9_K6X8

NooNoo S. (2017). How Social Media Can Teach Good Writing. Retrieved from https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-10-31-how-social-media-can-help-teach-good-writing

thinkSRSD. [2017 Feb 8). SRSD Think Aloud Gr 4. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/aVCUJiw7Ml8.