The 4 Elements

Resources

The OLSEL resources are extensive and include ‘an OLSEL implementation guide’ for the 4 elements of Oral Language, a selection of work programmes and term planners (written by the OLSEL schools to help you with your own planning documentation), Powerpoint Presentations and the Parent Information Sessions.

The Four Elements - explained

The following 4 elements of oral language ability have been identified in the findings of the OLSEL research project as explaining the most variance in students’ early reading acquisition:

  1. Phonological and phonemic awareness;
  2. Understanding and using longer and more complex sentences;
  3. Awareness and application of the Story Grammar Sequence; and
  4. Vocabulary knowledge.
Implementation Guide - The 4 Elements
The 4 elements - Developmental Sequences
Developmental Sequences for the 4 elements

John Munro’s Developmental Sequences for:

  1. Vocabulary development (meanings)
  2. Phonemic & phonological development
  3. Grammatical and discourse development (longer & more complex sentences)
  4. Story Grammar – No developmental sequence available
Developmental Sequences
The 4 Elements - teaching strategies and programs

Having identified what aspects of oral language should be targeted to enhance early literacy acquisition, we need to understand HOW to teach each of these 4 elements:

  1. Phonological and phonemic awareness;
  2. Understanding and using longer and more complex sentences;
  3. Awareness and application of the Story Grammar Sequence; and
  4. Vocabulary knowledge.
How to Teach - Phonological Awareness and Phonics How to Teach - longer and more complex sentences How to Teach - Story Grammar How to Teach - Vocabulary Development
The 4 Elements - Assessing and Monitoring

  1. Phonological and phonemic awareness – SPAT (Sutherland Phonological Awareness Test (Neilson)
    * Administering the SPAT (which norms to use)
  2. Comprehension and use of longer and more complex sentences – Record of Oral Language (ROL)
  3. a. Awareness and application of the Story Grammar Sequence – Listening Comprehension Task (ERIK)
    c. Speech Pathology Screener Package (Contact CEM)
    d. Oral Retell (J. K. Munro)
  4. Vocabulary knowledge
    Synonyms Test  (J. K. Munro)
Sutherland Phonological Awareness Test (SPAT) - tp purchase Administering the SPAT (SPAT norms) Record of Oral Language - to purchase Assessing Story Grammar - Listening Comprehension Vocabulary - Synonyms Test