Being a Good Listner

Being a Good Listener

“Listening behaviors are influenced by culture, family style, and learning style. The school listening look refers to expectations for listening at school. Every child, every teacher, and every speaker deserves the school listening look.”

Pamela Seigle, Executive Director: Social Competency Program

Purpose

• To understand the traits of a good listener
• To learn and practice the school listening look

Introducing Being a Good Listener with Students

• It is important to practice, model and reinforce the school listening look on a regular basis.
• Students brainstorm what a person looks like when she/he is listening.
• Students brainstorm what a person sounds like when she/he is listening.
• Ask a student to describe what it felt like when someone didn’t listen to them.
• Structure a role play for good listening.
• Share the “School Listening Look” poster (sample available in the dropbox).
• Summarize and practice these listening strategies.

Parent Communication

• Open parent communication is a vital component of a successful social skills curriculum. Ideas for communication include:
• Having students share what they have learned about this topic with a parent
• Addressing this topic in your weekly newsletter home
• Sending home a letter to parents addressing the topic in your classroom. An example letter is available in the Social Skills Dropbox.

From the Classroom…K-2

• Have students draw their own picture of a good listener and list words that describe a good listen. (sample Good Listener sheet available in the dropbox)
• Child can dictate his/her description of a good listener as the teacher writes.

From the Classroom…3-5

• Point out that good listening is a complex behavior and means more than just being quiet and waiting for the other person to finish talking. A good listener often comments or asks questions that show interest, concern or understanding of what the other person has said. Sometimes this is called feedback.

Literature Connection

• K-2: Listen Buddy, by Helen Lester
• 3-5: Emily, by Michael Bedard