We’re often told that using our voice is one of our
most powerful qualities. We are taught to be careful with our words, to problem
solve with our words, and to even express our emotions with our words so, needless to say, learning to speak clearly and with intention is an important
educational focus. Oral communication skills are an essential aspect of any
student’s education because of how our words shape our identity and influence how
others perceive us.
The
Kids Should See This
As teachers, we’re always looking for video content to
show our students that is both engaging and reflects the curriculum, which is
why I want to introduce you to a fantastic resource called The Kids Should See This. Founder and editor Rion Nakaya, describes the site
as a library of videos not made for kids,
but perfect for them. Teachers will appreciate how organized, accessible,
and just plain interesting these videos are.
Learning
to Listen
Incorporating videos into your classroom
is a great way to inform students on a number of topics in a way they prefer or
enjoy most. Asking students to listen to videos is an
excellent opportunity for them to practice their active listening skills. The
Ontario curriculum expects students to be able to “listen
in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for
a variety of purposes” (119). There are many opportunities for students to
practice their active listening skills throughout the day, incorporating video
content is just another option for teachers.
Before introducing video content it’s
important for teachers to understand how to introduce media in a way that engages
students, not distracts. Below are suggestions to keep in mind so students can
effectively practice their active listening skills:
Tips to encourage active listening:
·
Have a list of questions for students to
answer while/after watching the video (provide and review questions beforehand)
·
Stop, pause, and rewind the video at
important points to remind students to listen
·
Accessible - provide the link for students
who wish to rewatch at home or on their own device
·
Videos should be short and interactive if
possible
Learning
to Speak
Active listening skills are just one
half of a student’s oral communication skills. Teachers are also expected to
foster effective verbal communication skills in their students. Videos and
podcasts are perfect opportunities for teachers to expose their students to powerful
and engaging speakers and presenters. Under the oral communication strand, the Ontario
curriculum expects that students will be able to “use speaking skills and
strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety
of purposes” (119). TedTalks is another excellent video resource for teacher to
use as well. These videos are both informative but also great ways to model
presentation and speaking skills.
Tips to help improve speaking skills*:
·
Choose videos that could be
the foundation of a debate topic
·
For videos without dialogue
have students write a script and record their voices
·
Show videos of effective and
ineffective speakers, have students discuss what makes an effective, engaging
speaker
*As always, these lists are in no way comprehensive. I
invite you to carry on the conversation in the comments section to share your
own tips and tricks.
References:
Ministry
of Education. The Ontario Curriculum
Grades 1-8: Language. Ontario: Queen’s Printer, 2005. Web.
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