Unlocking speaking and listening skills is crucially important in the development of a child's literacy and communication abilities. Good communication improves performance, is more rewarding for the individual and builds self-esteem.Speaking and listening is now higher on the teaching agenda than ever before, but many teachers still find it a difficult subject to tackle. Many are not sure what's involved and how to teach it. As a result, its a topic that is all-too-often neglected.This book, the fourth in Ransom's practical series of handbooks for teachers brings focus and clarity to the subject. Mary Hoppeer provides structures that enable teachers to teach it effectively and she shows how improved speaking and listening can bring benefits in all subject areas. Put simply children who speak and listen well are better all-round learners.

Produced in the same highly practical way as other books in the Unlocking series, the book includes sections covering developing listening skills, speaking for a purpose, structuring group discussions, building self-esteem and social skills, word games, language play and assessing speaking and listening.Topics include:talking about talk: 'spoken texts', speaking for a range of practical purposeslearning to listen: listening, evaluating and respondingstructuring speaking and listening sessionstypes of talk: discussing and persuading; informing, explaining and instructing; and recounting, imagining and retellingmeeting individual needsusing speaking and listening to support reading and writingspeaking and listening through the curriculum.Unlocking Speaking and Listening in Every Child brings together the best of teacher's resources to help develop speaking and listening for children in a practical, interesting way. Written by expert Mary Hopper, this book is essential for teachers who want to develop their own understanding and abilities on this topic.