Peter Hinckley

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Puppets in the Classroom

Using puppets to develop confidence in Primary literacy

The use of puppets in a literacy lesson can be extremely beneficial to children that may find new concepts challenging, especially children that initially lack confidence to 'have a go'. The use of a range of puppets in learning literacy can promote a positive and fun environment of 'taking chances' and help to foster that making mistakes is ok! Puppets can enable children to become more relaxed, and therefore at ease to learn. If an animal puppet can make mistakes and then learn through literacy from the children helping the puppet, the children gain confidence in learning and applying literacy skills in reading, writing and speaking and listening.

The use of a visual, kinaesthetic and animated learning resource (a puppet!) has huge benefits for focused attention. The children will emphasise with the puppet's learning as well as developing a comfortable 'learning partner'.

The aim of this workshop is to show that you don't need to be a master ventriloquist or entertainer to use puppets to promote literacy learning – all you need is a positive outlook on their use in the primary classroom.

Audience: Primary teachers and Teaching assistants

Workshop materials: Puppets.