Outram School

ORAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMME

OVERVIEW
GENERAL

The Aim of the New Zealand Curriculum is for our children to grow to be successful
participants in the world. To be able to be this, they need to be effective oral
communicators who are able to think critically and in depth. (p18 NZC)

Listening is making meaning of ideas or information they receive

Speaking is creating meaning for themselves or others. (p18 NZC)

Listening and speaking are frequently presented in combination. Many oral language
programmes reflect thinking skill activities

OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMMES

• Phonics Training (www.phonicstraining.co.nz) phonological awareness

programme is run from Years 0-3. It is expected that all children will be at the
end of stage 7 at the end of Year 3. Phonics is taught 4 times a week for 15
minutes. Classes are streamed across buddy classes. All classroom teachers
at this level have the phonics training kit and card sets that are required to run
the programme.

• Joy Allcock’s Spelling Under Scrutiny programme is used as the basis for
programmes from Year 4 onwards

• There is a strong focus on Vision and Values and it is expected that all children
demonstrate high levels of personal courtesy, including showing manners to
peers, adults and community

WHAT THE ORAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMMES INVOLVE:

Classroom Programmes are delivered orally and is integrated across all curriculum
areas. Oral Language is not a specific instructional area yet is assessed. Examples
of programme ideas:
• Daily news
• Oral presentations of work
• Formal and informal discussions
• Speeches and debates
• Poetry recitals
• Critical Literacy questioning
• Recounting and Retelling
• Drama
• Assembly items
• Class Meetings
• Reading Aloud
 • Songs and Games
• Following instructions

• Oral Language Continuums in the Portfiles are updated twice a year – Term 2
and Term 4.

Junior School (Y1-3)

Programmes include:
• Phonological Awareness programme for 15mn daily (www……)
• News and sharing opportunities

Senior School (Y4-8)

Programmes include:
• News and sharing opportunities
• Debates and speeches
• Formal instruction and practice in roles

SENCO and SUPPORT

• Referrals can be made to the SENCO for assistance for those that are
considered at risk at any time
• An Alphabet group (phonological awareness/Talk to Learn group) is run for at
risk new Entrants and Year 1 students as identified by their teachers

ASSESSMENT AND DATA COLLECTION

Term 1
School wide data collection, collation and summative reporting for BoT of
Participation section of Exemplars

Level 1i Level 1ii Level 1iii Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

Contributes Volunteers Participates Participates Participates Initiates Initiates and
some some in a in a group in group discussion sustains
information information discussion discussion. discussions. with group
when on topics on topics Initiates Initiates confidence. discussions
prompted. within own within own and/or and/or Sustains with
experience. experience. maintains sustains and group confidence,
a develops the discussions. encouraging,
discussion, discussion, Respects responding
usually keeping to and to,
keeping to the topic. supports respecting,
the topic. Responds to the and
and respects contribution challenging
the of others. the
contributions contribution
of others. of other
members.

The Oral language data collection and whole school aggregation occurs once a year.
All teachers provide the relevant data at each level to then be collated by the Deputy
Principal.

Term 2
Exemplar continuum filled out for relevant focus areas for Portfiles

Term 3
Senior School Interchange programme with Taieri Schools (St Mary’s Mosgiel)
Odd year – Speeches (held at Outram School)
Even year – Debates (held at St Mary’s School)

Junior School during the Senior Interchange programme

Odd year – poetry recitals for entertainment purposes
Even year – no interchange poetry recital although this will occur in classroom
programmes.

Term 4
Exemplar continuum filled out for relevant focus areas for Portfiles

Support Material and Resources:

• Exemplars rubric which can be found in the teacher rubric assessment folder
• Phonological awareness programme (Phonics Training –
www.phonicstraining.co.nz). Each Junior Teacher holds a school copy of this.
• Spelling Under Scrutiny programme. Copies of the books and booklets can be
found in the main teacher resource room.