There are countless reasons why Chatta makes a significant impact as a whole class approach to teaching and learning.
First, visual cues act as prompting boards to help pupils sequence their thoughts and choose the words they want to use. This visual support enhances their ability to communicate effectively.
Second, Chatta helps teachers break content into manageable chunks, making it easier for students to digest and understand complex information.
But the biggest difference comes through the language used by the teacher. The phrasing and vocabulary teachers use as they model language and oral composition are tailored to suit any content, purpose, and audience. This practice significantly boosts students’ language skills.
Vocabulary is Key
- Initial Exposure: It often takes around 7 to 9 meaningful encounters with a new word for it to be remembered, understood and acquired for future use. This includes hearing, reading, speaking, and writing the word.
- Active Use: Actively using the word in context is crucial. This could mean creating sentences, engaging in conversations, explanations, descriptions, or telling stories that incorporate the new vocabulary.
In every Chatta activity, teachers plan to use key words and phrases in context, no more than 6 at a time. It could be everyday vocabulary such as varied nouns and adjectives, subject-specific/technical vocabulary, ambitious vocabulary, varied verbs or adverbs, or sentence starters such as fronted adverbials or conjunctions. Whatever the focus, it’s all in context, modelled fluently by the teacher in sentences they compose as the pupils watch and listen. Pupils then use this language as they compose their own sentences and sequences of sentences.
In a whole class Chatta activity all pupils will hear the planned words and phrases used by the teacher and other pupils at least 10 times and will use the language themselves at least 6 times, usually much more.
There is no limit to the range, breadth, and ambition of the language planned to be taught through Chatta. It sticks, far beyond the ideas of ‘word of the week’ or ‘word of the day’. Chatta activities are fast-paced, engaging, and always effective.
Vocabulary matters because it is the cornerstone of effective communication and comprehension. A rich vocabulary empowers pupils to express themselves clearly and creatively, enhancing their reading and listening skills. It supports critical thinking, enabling students to grasp new concepts and articulate their thoughts effectively. In education, vocabulary acquisition is key to academic success, providing the tools needed to access, process, and retain information across all subjects. Ultimately, a strong vocabulary unlocks the full potential of language and learning, making it a vital component of our teaching approach at Chatta.
Chatta also provides numerous other benefits, particularly in removing barriers to learning and promoting inclusive teaching. If your school’s focus is on developing pupils’ vocabulary use and oral composition, the power of Chatta can be phenomenal.
If your school is looking for a whole school structured plan to really take off with the use and profile of vocabulary we’ll be able to help.
Teaching with Chatta opens up a new level of possibilities and can be the simplest and most impactful step you’ll take as a teacher.
