Engaging More Fully in Conversations with Others
The acquisition of listening skills is vital to a child’s development as a learner. Before students can add to what others say they need to listen. A child who listens hears and understands the speaker, whether it is a parent, teacher or classmate. Often children have difficulty listening; distractions can compete for their attention in the classroom. By teaching children to listen we can help them develop the self- control and focus they need to help process information. Fostering an atmosphere of respect facilitates the development of listening skills. This month’s blog shares the strategies for good listening at school, and gives suggestions as to how you can help your child work on good listening habits at home.
Gaining A Better Understanding of Orally Presented Material
Teachers often give homework assignments, test directions and mini-lessons verbally. When students are good listeners they can retain, understand and use more information. Listening comprehension skills such as paraphrasing and summarizing go hand in hand with academic work in reading, social studies and science.
Develop Strong Peer Relationships
When students listen effectively they build strong relationships with others that facilitate collaborative learning. In order to work well in collaborative learning situations students need to appreciate differing points of view to develop empathy for one another. Empathy begins with listening.
While starting a new year with new students, it can be easy to make the assumption that some students are born listeners but others are not. All students are capable of becoming better listeners. As with all learned behaviors, listening must be modeled and practiced. Teachers reinforce and model habits of good listening in the classroom. They strive to build an atmosphere of respect by guiding children in their acquisition of listening skills through modeling and reminding language. Teachers help children to:
After a class when, for example, students have made presentations in front of their peers, teachers will give feedback about the ways that students demonstrated whole body and mind listening.
HOME-SCHOOL CONNECTION
Tips for developing good listening habits at home:
The acquisition of listening skills is vital to a child’s development as a learner. Before students can add to what others say they need to listen. A child who listens hears and understands the speaker, whether it is a parent, teacher or classmate. Often children have difficulty listening; distractions can compete for their attention in the classroom. By teaching children to listen we can help them develop the self- control and focus they need to help process information. Fostering an atmosphere of respect facilitates the development of listening skills. This month’s blog shares the strategies for good listening at school, and gives suggestions as to how you can help your child work on good listening habits at home.
Gaining A Better Understanding of Orally Presented Material
Teachers often give homework assignments, test directions and mini-lessons verbally. When students are good listeners they can retain, understand and use more information. Listening comprehension skills such as paraphrasing and summarizing go hand in hand with academic work in reading, social studies and science.
Develop Strong Peer Relationships
When students listen effectively they build strong relationships with others that facilitate collaborative learning. In order to work well in collaborative learning situations students need to appreciate differing points of view to develop empathy for one another. Empathy begins with listening.
While starting a new year with new students, it can be easy to make the assumption that some students are born listeners but others are not. All students are capable of becoming better listeners. As with all learned behaviors, listening must be modeled and practiced. Teachers reinforce and model habits of good listening in the classroom. They strive to build an atmosphere of respect by guiding children in their acquisition of listening skills through modeling and reminding language. Teachers help children to:
- Focus their attention by responding to signals for quiet, with voices off, calm bodies, facing the speaker, showing eye contact, and waiting until the speaker is finished before asking questions or making comments.
- Show interest by leaning toward the speaker using supportive facial expressions.
- Sustain attention by thinking about what the speaker said, listening for important details, and refocusing if necessary.
- Demonstrate comprehension by paraphrasing, summarizing, and check with the speaker to see if the summary is correct.
After a class when, for example, students have made presentations in front of their peers, teachers will give feedback about the ways that students demonstrated whole body and mind listening.
HOME-SCHOOL CONNECTION
Tips for developing good listening habits at home:
- Remind your child that good a good listener makes eye contact with the speaker, keep bodies still while listening, and thinks about what the speaker said.
- Believe that your child can become a good listener.
- Model the behavior when your child converses with you, and give your child your full attention. Avoid interrupting, and remember details of conversations.
- Let your child know that you noticed that he or she listened with eyes, body and mind.