Drumcondra Oral Language Indicators

DRUMCONDRA ORAL LANGUAGE INDICATORS

OBJECTIVES & CHECKLISTS

Drumcondra Oral Language Indicators – Junior Infants

The child is able to:

Express simple personal needs
Follow simple instructions and directions
Communicate with peers during seatwork
Recite some rhymes, poems and songs from memory
Listen attentively to stories and poems read aloud by the teacher
Speak audibly, clearly and with confidence on most occasions
Identify repetition and rhyme in stories and poems
Demonstrate understanding of stories, songs and rhymes through mime and role-play
Show an interest in the meanings of new words in stories and poems by asking questions
Construct an imaginative story based on a sequence of pictures

Junior Infants
Name:
The child is able to: / Date
Express simple personal needs
Follow simple instructions and directions
Communicate with peers during seatwork
Recite some rhymes, poems and songs from memory
Listen attentively to stories and poems read aloud by the teacher
Speak audibly, clearly and with confidence on most occasions
Identify repetition and rhyme in stories and poems
Demonstrate understanding of stories, songs and rhymes through mime and role-play
Show an interest in the meanings of new words in stories and poems by asking questions

Drumcondra Oral Language Indicators – Senior Infants

The child is able to:

Recite a range of rhymes, poems and songs from memory, with some attention to tone of voice and actions
Speak audible and pronounce familiar words clearly and confidently on most occasions
Retell stories heard in class, recalling main characters and events in appropriate sequence
Follow instructions, direction or explanations that include two or three elements
Listen attentively and expresses personal reactions to stories, poems and rhymes read aloud by the teacher
Initiate and sustain a conversation on a familiar topic with the teacher or with other pupils, demonstrating understanding of class rules for turn taking
Demonstrate understanding of characters and events in stories and poems through mime and role-play, sometimes extending storylines
Discuss the meanings of new words in stories, poems and songs, paying some attention to context clues
Plan, predict and order future activities and events with reference to own experiences
Identify problems in stories and in other texts, and propose possible solutions

Senior Infants
Name
The child is able to: / Date
Recite a range of rhymes, poems and songs from memory, with some attention to tone of voice and actions
Speak audible and pronounce familiar words clearly and confidently on most occasions
Retell stories heard in class, recalling main characters and events in appropriate sequence
Follow instructions, direction or explanations that include two or three elements
Listen attentively and expresses personal reactions to stories, poems and rhymes read aloud by the teacher
Initiate and sustain a conversation on a familiar topic with the teacher or with other pupils, demonstrating understanding of class rules for turn taking
Demonstrate understanding of characters and events in stories and poems through mime and role-play, sometimes extending storylines
Discuss the meanings of new words in stories, poems and songs, paying some attention to context clues
Plan, predict and order future activities and events with reference to own experiences
Identify problems in stories and in other texts, and propose possible solutions

Drumcondra Oral Language Indicators – First Class

The child is able to:

Retell a story heard in class, attending to the main events and preserving their sequence
Explain familiar procedures, or give instructions to peers, showing awareness of the steps involved
Listen attentively to group and class discussions, contributing at appropriate times
Describe an experience, event or situation to the class with confidence, focusing on the topic and including key information
Express the emotions and reactions of characters in stories and poems through mime and role-play
Suggest alternative words to describe objects, experiences or events
Identify problems in stories and in other texts, and justifies possible solutions
Identify a speaker’s topic and initiates questions seeking explanations or more information, while demonstrating awareness of class rules on turn-taking
Use some complex sentences which include phrases and clauses to describe events, experiences and objects

First Class
Name
The child is able to: / Date
Retell a story heard in class, attending to the main events and preserving their sequence
Explain familiar procedures, or give instructions to peers, showing awareness of the steps involved
Listen attentively to group and class discussions, contributing at appropriate times
Describe an experience, event or situation to the class with confidence, focusing on the topic and including key information
Express the emotions and reactions of characters in stories and poems through mime and role-play
Suggest alternative words to describe objects, experiences or events
Identify problems in stories and in other texts, and justifies possible solutions
Identify a speaker’s topic and initiates questions seeking explanations or more information, while demonstrating awareness of class rules on turn-taking
Use some complex sentences which include phrases and clauses to describe events, experiences and objects

Drumcondra Oral Language Indicators – Second Class

The child is able to:

Recite a repertoire of favourite poems and rhymes from memory, giving attention to phrasing and expression
Give a short description or report of an event, attending to key information and relevant details
Identify a speaker’s topic, and initiates questions seeking explanations or more information
In talk, interpret the themes and major ideas in stories and informational texts, drawing on personal knowledge and experiences
Interpret and express the feelings and reactions of characters in stories and informational texts, drawing on personal knowledge and experiences
Identify similarities across stories in terms of setting, characters, problems presented, attempts to solve problems, and resolutions
As a member of a group, initiate and sustain a conversation on a specific topic with confidence, recognising the needs of listeners
Suggest alternative words and phrases to describe objects, experiences or events
Attempt to persuade others to a point of view or action, presenting a few reasons

Second Class
Name
The child is able to: / Date
Recite a repertoire of favourite poems and rhymes from memory, giving attention to phrasing and expression
Give a short description or report of an event, attending to key information and relevant details
Identify a speaker’s topic, and initiates questions seeking explanations or more information
In talk, interpret the themes and major ideas in stories and informational texts, drawing on personal knowledge and experiences
Interpret and express the feelings and reactions of characters in stories and informational texts, drawing on personal knowledge and experiences
Identify similarities across stories in terms of setting, characters, problems presented, attempts to solve problems, and resolutions
As a member of a group, initiate and sustain a conversation on a specific topic with confidence, recognising the needs of listeners
Suggest alternative words and phrases to describe objects, experiences or events
Attempt to persuade others to a point of view or action, presenting a few reasons

Drumcondra Profile Indicators – Third Class

The child is able to:

Listen to longer stories and predicts future events and likely outcomes
Talk clearly, audibly and with confidence to different audiences in the school environment (individuals, groups, own class)
Conduct a short interview with another pupil or adult to obtain information about a topic
Listen to stories and poems and identifies and comments on humour
Listen to and summarises short stories or informational texts by recalling several important points
Deliver a prepared report to the class on a project topic, using appropriate vocabulary and giving relevant information
Persuade or argue a point of view in real or imaginary situations
Support a personal view of a poem with reference to content, format and language

Third Class
Name
The child is able to: / Date

Listen to longer stories and predicts future events and likely outcomes

Talk clearly, audibly and with confidence to different audiences in the school environment (individuals, groups, own class)

Conduct a short interview with another pupil or adult to obtain information about a topic

Listen to stories and poems and identifies and comments on humour

Listen to and summarises short stories or informational texts by recalling several important points

Deliver a prepared report to the class on a project topic, using appropriate vocabulary and giving relevant information

Persuade or argue a point of view in real or imaginary situations

Support a personal view of a poem with reference to content, format and language

Drumcondra Profile Indicators – Fourth Class

The child is able to:

Participate in class discussions by sharing relevant background (prior) knowledge about a topic
Identify and comment on humour in stories and poems read aloud by other pupils or by the teacher
Present a point of view to the class, offering some reasons or arguments
Predict and justify future events and likely outcomes at appropriate points in book-length stories read aloud by the teacher
Prepare for and conduct an interview with another pupil or adult to obtain information about a topic
Talk clearly and audibly to different audiences (e.g., group, own class, other class), varying pace of delivery as appropriate
Deliver a prepared report to the class on a project topic, using appropriate vocabulary and giving relevant, organised information
Listen to and compare two poems on the same theme or by the same author, and support a personal interpretation

Fourth Class
Name
The child is able to: / Date

Participate in class discussions by sharing relevant background (prior) knowledge about a topic

Identify and comment on humour in stories and poems read aloud by other pupils or by the teacher

Present a point of view to the class, offering some reasons or arguments

Predict and justify future events and likely outcomes at appropriate points in book-length stories read aloud by the teacher

Prepare for and conduct an interview with another pupil or adult to obtain information about a topic

Talk clearly and audibly to different audiences (e.g., group, own class, other class), varying pace of delivery as appropriate

Deliver a prepared report to the class on a project topic, using appropriate vocabulary and giving relevant, organised information

Listen to and compare two poems on the same theme or by the same author, and support a personal interpretation

Drumcondra Oral Language Indicators – Fifth Class

The child is able to:

Identify the main idea in a short, spoken report, and summarise it for others
Identify and understand the functions of nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs
Present an organised, interesting report to the class about a project topic, using illustrations as appropriate
Identify a range of non-verbal cues in photographs and on television/dvd and comment on their purposes and appropriateness
Tell stories confidently, using techniques that make them interesting
Identify and comment on some elements of specific stories that make them interesting or effective
Present constructive counter-arguments on a given theme to refute arguments presented by others, while demonstrating tolerance towards their views
Contrast a personal interpretation of a story or poem with another’s interpretation, evaluating the validity of both
Recognise and discuss the effectiveness of similes, metaphors and idioms in stories and poems read aloud by the teacher

Fifth Class
Name
The child is able to: / Date
Identify the main idea in a short, spoken report, and summarise it for others
Identify and understand the functions of nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs
Present an organised, interesting report to the class about a project topic, using illustrations as appropriate
Identify a range of non-verbal cues in photographs and on television/dvd and comment on their purposes and appropriateness
Tell stories confidently, using techniques that make them interesting
Identify and comment on some elements of specific stories that make them interesting or effective
Present constructive counter-arguments on a given theme to refute arguments presented by others, while demonstrating tolerance towards their views
Contrast a personal interpretation of a story or poem with another’s interpretation, evaluating the validity of both
Recognise and discuss the effectiveness of similes, metaphors and idioms in stories and poems read aloud by the teacher

Drumcondra Oral Language Indicators – Sixth Class

The child is able to:

Identify the main idea and supporting details in a short, spoken report, and summarise it for others
Present an organised, interesting report to the class about a topic, using gestures and illustrations as appropriate
Tell stories with a keen awareness of plot and character, using techniques that make them interesting
Identify elements of persuasion and appeal in radio and television advertisements, commenting on their purpose and impact
Listen and respond constructively to alternative ideas or viewpoints, and express ideas and opinions without dominating a discussion
Select two or more poems related to a theme or topic, and justify selection, referring to content, language and rhyme
Evaluate own knowledge about a topic or process, stating what is known and identifying aspects that are not known
Identify criteria for evaluating spoken texts (e.g., prepared speech, argument, report) and use these to evaluate own contributions and those of others
Recognise and comment on the effects on language of local idiom, accent and dialect in different formal and informal situations

Sixth Class
Name
The child is able to:
Identify the main idea and supporting details in a short, spoken report, and summarise it for others
Present an organised, interesting report to the class about a topic, using gestures and illustrations as appropriate
Tell stories with a keen awareness of plot and character, using techniques that make them interesting
Identify elements of persuasion and appeal in radio and television advertisements, commenting on their purpose and impact
Listen and respond constructively to alternative ideas or viewpoints, and express ideas and opinions without dominating a discussion
Select two or more poems related to a theme or topic, and justify selection, referring to content, language and rhyme
Evaluate own knowledge about a topic or process, stating what is known and identifying aspects that are not known
Identify criteria for evaluating spoken texts (e.g., prepared speech, argument, report) and use these to evaluate own contributions and those of others
Recognise and comment on the effects on language of local idiom, accent and dialect in different formal and informal situations