Since the start of the school year students in primary in Years 3 to 6 at Braidwood Central School have been busy writing speeches as their major speaking and listening assessment task. Last Thursday evening twenty-two of the most enthusiastic and able children performed their speeches at the school’s annual ‘Speak Out’ evening. An audience of parents, grand-parents, friends and teachers gathered to hear how all the research, engaged critical thinking and hard work has come together. It has been particularly impressive how many of the students have rewritten their speeches, working through a number of drafts seeking to improve both their content and persuasive expression.