Books to Help Children Develop Oral Language Skills: Whoever You Are by Mem Fox

The book ‘Whoever You Are’, Written by: Mem Fox, and Published by: Hachette Children’s Books Australia (1998), Sydney, N.S.W: uses simple everyday language to describe the immense similarities and differences shared between human beings. ‘Whoever You Are’ (Fox, 1998) is aimed at Kindergarten students aged five years and over. This book could be used by teachers to help develop children’s oral language skills in activities such as discussions prior to reading, about the ways in which children are alike and different and a lesson that requires students to listen to the book and answer open-ended questions prepared by the teacher. Literacy supports the acquisition of oral language skills by allowing students to practice, using their oral language known as phonology and their listening skills which requires awareness of phonemes through hearing literacy read aloud.

Literacy is universal; it arises from peoples need to communicate with one another (Cambourne, 1988). Literacy requires skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking as well as modern multi-literacies (Green, 2006) and semiotic signs and symbols to create meaning from and make meaning of the world. Literacy is influenced by people’s social, environmental and cultural backgrounds (Bull & Anstey, 2005). The concept of people communicating with one another comes from Cambourne’s (1988) explanation that people learn to talk because they are human, while Green (2006) outlines the importance of acquiring both basic and multi-literacies. Bull and Anstey, (2005) explain how peoples social, environmental and cultural backgrounds influence what and how they learn, one of which is oral language.

Oral language skills includes the knowledge that speech makes sound, known as phonology and incorporates intonation, timing, syllables and phonemes (Hill, 2006). The first activity aimed at developing oral language introduces the book ‘Whoever You Are’ (Fox, 1998) and focuses on the use of spoken language by

References: Barratt-Pugh, C. & Sinclair, A. Supporting Diversity Through Oral Language. In Allen, L. (1997) First Steps Oral Language Resource Book. Perth, W.A.: Education Dept of WA. Retrieved from http://edocs.library.curtin.edu.au/eres_display.cgi?url=dc60266513.pdf Brace, J., Brockhoff, V., Sparkes, N., Tuckey, J. (2006). First Steps: Speaking and Listening Resource Book. Melbourne, VIC.: Rigby. Bull, G. & Anstey, M. (2005). The Literacy landscape. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson. Cambourne, B. (1988). The whole story: natural learning and acquisition of literacy in the classroom. (Chapter 4.pdf), Auckland, NZ: Ashton Scholastic. Retrieved from https://lms.curtin.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-2531833-dt-content-rid-7816081_1/courses/311802-Vice-Chancello-659790703/311802-Vice-Chancello-659790703_ImportedContent_20130410114149/4.pdf Caruso, J. Aboriginal English is Bad standard Australian English – NOT! in ALEA (2007). The Best of Practically Primary. Norwood, South Australia: ALEA. Retrieved from http://edocs.library.curtin.edu.au/eres_display.cgi?url=dc60263311.pdf&copyright=1 Fox, M. (1998). Whoever You Are. Sydney, N.S.W.: Hachette Children’s Books Australia. Green, D. (2006). Understanding language and learning. In Campbell, R. & Green, D. (Eds.). Literacies and learners. (pp. 1-23). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson. Retrieved from https://lms.curtin.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-2531827-dt-content-rid-7816079_1/courses/311802-Vice-Chancello-659790703/311802-Vice-Chancello-659790703_ImportedContent_20130410114149/Green_2006.pdf Hill, S. (2006). Developing early literacy Assessment and teaching. Prahran, VIC: Eleanor Curtain