Literacy is at the heart of history. The historically literate student can argue. Historical speaking and writing is about presenting an evidence-based argument, even when producing a narrative. At the Historical Association, we recognise the important role that literacy and oracy play and we have developed a number of resources and initiatives over the years aimed at supporting the development of historical literacy and oracy. Here’s a reminder of some great selected resources to support you in your curriculum planning. The selection includes articles, guides, webinars and resources across reading, writing and oracy.

Literacy and Oracy in History – this landing page takes you to a range of excellent articles and resources with possible discussion questions selected by our secondary committee.  

Promoting self-efficacy through combined literacy and oracy projects – In this recent article, Jonty Haywood shows how his pupils have used literacy and oracy to create and take ownership of their own history outcomes.

Recorded webinar: History teachers as teachers of reading – In this excellent webinar, Rachel Lewin helps to unpack the importance of history teachers also being teachers of reading and demonstrates practical steps to develop confident readers in the history classroom.

Move Me On: trainee has found little scope to develop students’ oracy 

Giving students proper recognition for historical oracy – This recent Move Me On article focuses on how a mentor might respond to a trainee or ECT who is finding little scope to incorporate students’ oracy into history lessons.

Recorded webinar: What does great oracy look like in history? – In this recorded webinar, Toby Dove unpacks what great subject specific oracy can look like in history.

Dialogue, engagement and generative interaction in the history classroom – In this 2022 article, Michael Bird explore the power of dialogue in the history classroom.

[You may also be interested to check out our our new oracy guide! This guide has been put together by our secondary committee to support teachers wishing to develop oracy in their history curriculum.]

All of our competitions for secondary students are aimed at supporting the development of either their literacy or oracy skills along with their historical knowledge and research. Why not think about weaving preparation for the Great Debate or Write Your Own Historical Fiction Competition into your plans?