Stirling literacy project: Talking and Listening

Project objectives

This project was undertaken by three primary schools in Stirling Council for Learning and Teaching Scotland with the main objectives of:

developing skills in talking and listening in group situations
building confidence in order for the children to contribute successfully
enhancing questioning techniques for both the children and the teacher
creating a talking and listening programme for colleagues that includes activities and assessment resources.

An image of a group of children sitting on the floor

Key findings

Pupils approached talking and listening time with a more positive attitude, particularly in smaller group discussions, where all the children had a better opportunity to contribute.
The pupils were motivated and confident as they were acquainted with the routine and subject of the discussions in advance.
Individuals’ comments became more relevant to the discussion.
Certain children were able to listen more attentively for longer periods of time.
Quieter children were able to contribute on a more regular basis once a familiarity within their group was established.
Children developed the practice of substantiating their opinion with reasons.

An image of children sitting round a table

Future developments

A project overview will be delivered to the teaching staff in each school and will be implemented in the School Improvement Plan. This will include sharing classroom experiences and resources in school and with the hope to extend the project across the region.

We aim to include a weekly listening and talking activity from the outset of the new session to develop pupils’ and our own skills. This can take place in a variety of contexts with cross-curricular links.

The next steps for pupils include:

Benefit from advanced knowledge of topic.
Gestures must be upheld to ensure flow in the discussion.
Skills are cross curricular and have to be reinforced in all tasks which involve listening and talking for information with a meaningful outcome.
It’s important to give the children a tangible means of recognising the progress they are making.

The next steps for teachers include:

A process for baseline and continual assessment to be in place at initial set up.
Video evidence more beneficial in small group discussion.
All resources collated during project to be made available to all staff.

Contact details

Alex Black
blackale@stirling.gov.uk

Available support files

The following PowerPoint presentation provides an overview of the Talking and Listening literacy project:

PowerPoint file: Talking and Listening in groups