oral language TEKS talk image

Knowledge and Skills Statement

Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: listening, speaking, discussion, and thinking -- oral language. The student develops oral language through listening, speaking, and discussion.

Task each student with listening to another student provide oral instructions that include a series of action steps. After hearing the instructions, students should follow the instructions and then give the instructions to someone else.

Notes:

  • A teacher may wish to use a rubric to help assess students for desired behaviors.
  • A timer can be used to allow students sufficient time for oral instructions to be shared.
  • Select a topic that includes a series of related action steps such as a sharpening a pencil or directions for how to perform a particular task.

Ensure that students understand sequential transition words such as first, next, then, before, and after.
 

Further Explanation 

For this assessment, students are required to follow oral instructions, repeat the instructions, process what they are being asked to do, and act according to the provided directives. They must be able to remember the related sequences involved in completing the task and give clear and detailed oral instructions that help others complete the intended task. Students should understand that communicating oral instructions is an important part of working effectively with others. If students do not follow the instructions correctly, determine whether they did not understand the instructions or whether they were not provided with clear instructions.

To follow instructions, students must listen attentively, process what they are being asked to do, and act according to the provided directives. Students should also be able to repeat the instructions to demonstrate understanding of what the task requires. Communicating clear, detailed oral instructions is an important part of working effectively with others to complete structured tasks.
Instructions that involve a series of related sequences of action require students to understand that a larger task can be completed by breaking the task into smaller parts and putting those parts in an order based on how the actions relate to each other. For example, classroom fire drills involve steps that must be taught and practiced in a particular order to ensure safety during an emergency. Students will often review these steps with a teacher, practice the steps as a class, and be asked to monitor and direct peers who are not following the established procedure.