Literacy Stations Oral Language

In our school this year we have decided to do Literacy Stations in every class once a week. In my room, we do 4 x 20 minute stations. One of the stations we do each week is Oral Language.  All teachers have found it hugely beneficial as some children feel more confident speaking out in a smaller group setting rather than the full class. I have also found that they are more engaged and willing to speak out and it gives me the opportunity to listen to them more than a whole class setting often allows.

Here are a few examples of the types of activities we do during Oral Language.

1. Conversation Cards

Sometimes we use these for the full station and other times we use them to start off the 20 minute lesson.  The school purchased these ones from www.clevermindtoys.ie. They really get the children thinking and also encourage them to wait their turn and listen to others!

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There are also lots available online that can be easily printed and laminated. Click on the images below to be redirected to the resources.

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2. Poetry            

I find this a really effective way to teach poetry as it can be difficult to always get around to it.  I usually pick a poem directly related to what theme I am teaching at the moment and recently we compared and contrasted two poems.      
Some activities we do include:

• our likes/dislikes about the poem
• the theme of the poem
• draw a picture to visual what the poem is about
• make connections to ourselves/other poems 
• identify rhyming patterns
• identify any alliteration, metaphors or similes

3. Discussion Questions

This is similar to the Conversation Cards except it is usually based on our theme or something topical. I usually assign a number to each child and we roll a dice. Whoever's number comes up picks a discussion card and we have a chat together about the issue. Over the past few months we used discussion cards to explore:

• Internet safety
• Friendship Week
• Christmas Traditions around the World
• Racism/discrimination  

Again, the ideas and thoughts that the children come up with as part of a small group never fail to surprise me!

4. Listening & Instructions Activities

I tried this out a few weeks ago as some children still find it difficult to listen to a simple set of instructions. 

First of all, I called out a set of instructions for the children to listen to and draw what they heard. I made it more challenging by not allowing them to ask any questions and I only said each instruction once.

Afterwards, we discussed the challenges including listening carefully and how some instructions were more vague than others.

Then it was the children's turn to pair up. One child had to describe a picture to while the other drew what they interpreted. 

I teach 4th and 5th and they found the exercise really interesting. Now I just have to transfer that to everyday teaching!!

Here are some types of images I used:

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5. Board Games

Not only does it encourage Oral Language skills, it also helps children to pay attention, wait their turn and work co-operatively together.  Our school invested in these board games but we also use the ones from our toy shelf.

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Anyone have any other ideas they find useful or engaging for the children? Feel free to comment below.

Find more resources pinned on my Pinterest for Oral Language here.

Download free station teaching labels by clicking on the following image: