How to Speak and Be Heard! A Kids' Toolkit for Oracy and Confident Speaking

When I saw the attractive cover for this accessible paperback it immediately took me back to my secondary school years where I was a member of the public speaking team. Whilst public speaking is only one part of the oracy training described here, I have learned over the years how much my early experience of speaking aloud has helped me throughout life. Oracy is now, more than ever, a valuable skill which helps young people in the social, academic and business world. So do not underestimate the true power of this book for 7-year-olds upwards! Oracy is about to take centre stage in the new curriculum.

This publication oozes excellence: it is written in collaboration with the English-Speaking Union by an award-winning author and a Blue Peter Book Award winning illustrator. The book focusses on the four important strands of oracy: Reasoning and evidence; Listening and response; Organisation and prioritisation; Expression and delivery. Colour coding throughout the paperback shows how each area of oracy is necessary. The contents page guides the reader through speaking and listening skills and ends with the useful spread on ‘Famous Speakers in History.’

Throughout the book advice and activities are well structured and laid out. I liked the way examples and tips are to be found on every page. There are some fabulous drawings of students, and some striking, brightly coloured spreads e.g. illustrating body language skills on pp.18-19. The section entitled, ‘Are you Joking?’ (pp.24-25) gives helpful hints as to how humour can work in your favour when speaking. As the final section makes clear, ‘We can all learn through talking’ (p.34) and the inclusion of examples of how to start your speech is very useful (pp.34-35).

I am sure many young people will be supported in their speaking and listening training by this valuable book. It is suitable for home and class learning, if only I had had such a book when I was preparing for my public speaking team appearance!