Topsy Page

The Transformative Power of Finding Your Voice – Neil Mercer's new book on Oracy - Topsy Page Recommended reading for teachers and everyone else too!

www.topsypage.com/blog/2025/7/...

For those of you who have not yet experienced the joy and wonder of Philosophy for Children:
I'm running a Level 1 training course in London on Tuesday 30th September & Wednesday 1st October for Thoughtful (SAPERE) - the P4C charity.
www.sapere.org.uk/our-courses/...
Course ID 8061
#P4C #oracy

Neil Mercer: 'Oracy is still not properly understood' The Cambridge academic talks about the 'conspiracy theory' of why, despite all the evidence, oracy is yet to be introduced into the curriculum, and whether the Labour government will make the change

Good TES interview with #oracy guru Prof Neil Mercer:
‘In 2023 Sir Keir Starmer pledged that the Labour Party would weave oracy through the curriculum. Yet when the interim report was published, oracy was not mentioned at all. So, is Labour really serious about change?’ www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Brilliant new book out by Neil Mercer.
#oracy

Talk prompts to help students explain and reason in Maths - Topsy Page Help students to use the language of Maths

www.topsypage.com/blog/2025/5/...
#oracy
#maths

Should we ask for volunteers during whole-class talk? - ORACY CAMBRIDGE by Topsy Page   Pupil voice about ‘participation systems’ for whole-class talk – how is it decided who speaks, and are the systems effective?  We know that one of the…

Should we ask for volunteers in whole-class talk? oracycambridge.org/should-we-as...
#oracy

11 year-old's response to my question: Does talking help with learning?
#oracy

Lovely to see children engaged in the daily thinking question written on the table as part of 'Chat & Play' - how all children start the day at this school.
#oracy
#P4C

Thinking time is a critical aspect of developing oracy. Love this part of a whole-school 'talk promise' at a school I recently visited.
#oracy
#thinkingtime

Love these collaborative talk prompts which I saw being used so effectively in a Y6 classroom last week.
#oracy

This is so great to hear!

YouTube video by SAPERE We are Thoughtful

The one, the only, Stephen Fry giving our friends at SAPERE a shout out: they are now called 'Thoughtful' & promote #philosophy in #schools & the community #P4C #philsky #academicsky #philosophymatters

youtu.be/ykpkQUpg4Ns

Calling all Early Years practitioners: our Extend P4C- Early Years module is available to book now! The session is online on Tuesday 10th June 16:00-17:30pm. Visit our website to book your place:

We are THOUGHTFUL - the charity for P4C (new name for SAPERE). 4 decades and still going strong #p4c #philosophymatters

A SecEd best practice guide to teaching oracy in schools - SecEd This free guide offers ideas, advice and case studies for teaching oracy skills in the secondary school classroom

This FREE guide to teaching oracy at secondary is excellent. A truly impressive range of researchers, leaders and practitioners with practical, evidence based ways forward. Will share widely! Thankyou SecEd www.sec-ed.co.uk/content/down...

Yes, very much hoping it hasn't been forgotten.

If you only read one @seced.bsky.social article this week: It has to be our free 21-page guide to #oracy #teaching with great contributions from @voice21oracy.bsky.social – Oracy Cambridge – @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social – @amygaunt.bsky.social – @mattbromley.bsky.social & many more buff.ly/DD8CL5j

We've spent the best part of a year exploring assessment in school. We've overhauled our reporting systems, built in moderation processes and undertaken peer observation cycles. The key finding in it all is that great formative assessment depends on good oracy.

Yes! This is fascinating, Debra. I'd love to hear more.

This sounds wonderful!

How can I get everyone to join in? Part 2 - Topsy Page My top three strategies to make sure every pupil speaks during whole-class learning

My latest blog about participation in classroom talk. I'm thinking a lot about this at the moment. www.topsypage.com/blog/2025/1/...

Delighted that the @oracycommission.bsky.social is now on BlueSky. Here’s their thread on the work of the Commision in 2024, and where #oracy education may go in 2025 …

For those interested in P4C, access Lipman's curriculum materials made freely available by the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children at Montclair State University here -
digitalcommons.montclair.edu/iapc_curricu...

Key Oracy Commission Podcasts A summary of podcasts by the Oracy Education Commission of particular interest to secondary English teachers

Dan Raphael compiled this list of key Oracy Commission podcasts for secondary English. Worth a read - and a listen! @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @robdrummond.bsky.social @snelljulia.bsky.social @barbarableiman.bsky.social @iancushing.bsky.social englishandmedia.co.uk/blog/key-ora...

Congratulations @pynchonic.bsky.social
You have won the free copy of my book Oracy: 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers. www.bloomsbury.com/uk/100-ideas... Message me your postal address please!

LAST CHANCE!
I'm doing a festive giveaway of my book! Oracy: 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers. Like, follow and retweet to enter. Winners will be selected at random on Friday 3rd January 8pm UK time. bit.ly/100IdeasOrac...
@edusky.bsky.social

Make oracy the fourth ‘R’ of education, theatre boss says Rufus Norris, the outgoing head of the National Theatre, wants children to learn oral language skills across the curriculum

As @nationaltheatre.org.uk’s Artistic Director Rufus Norris says: “#Oracy should be the fourth ‘R’”: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12...

Turn and Talk: A Pathway to Amplifying Student Voices and Engagement Turn & talk practices are for low-risk tries, allowing children to feel more comfortable, inviting the whole group to try, think, & engage.

Teacher Friends, if your classroom conversations and turn and talk opportunities have been falling a bit flat lately, check out my newest blog post on ways to liven up classroom talk.

www.drgravitygoldberg.com/single-post/...

Your point about changing partners is interesting - I agree that talk partner relationships can develop into very positive ones over time. And changing partners too frequently could prevent that from happening. But there are also many advantages to changing partners!

Yes, and when we move away from questions which have only one possible answer students start to think for themselves instead of guessing what's in the teacher's head.