In grades K-3, students can learn to:
- maintain eye contact.
- wait rather than interrupt.
- give their own opinions in a group.
- listen while others share ideas or opinions.
- express their own views and thoughts (using the "I" voice).
- describe problems or give information without using put-downs or blame.
- say something affirming about the ideas or solutions of others.
- accept more than one possible solution to a problem.
- choose the most "workable" solution to the problem and then stick to it.
As you work with young students to build these skills, observe them individually and make note of how, and how often, each student enters into discussion or asks questions. It is common for younger children to react rather than question. Monitor politeness and respect. Help students to build questioning skills and model questioning in advance of critiques or opinions, so they begin to build the practice of learning for understanding before passing judgment.
In grades 4-6, students can learn to:
- use active listening to paraphrase and recall the ideas of other students.
- explore different points of view.
- listen and respond to others with empathy.
- develop more than one solution to a problem.
- anticipate different outcomes of proposed solutions.
- evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of solutions and give logical reasons.
- agree to consequences and abide by them.
Part of using active listening is helping students to maintain attention levels. Work with them to identify the main ideas being discussed to help engage them in the topic and evaluate what is being said. In these grades, students should be able to move from listening for understanding, to analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. You can begin to use paraphrasing to help students test their understanding of what has been said, and how it fits with preexisting knowledge.
These skills are modeled, monitored, and reviewed by you and can be practiced through role-play activities with the students. Students reflect on their performance in these areas after group work. Checklists or record sheets may be given to students for self-reporting and later reflection.
Click on the resource link to download and print copies of the How Our Group Did Today worksheet. You can use this worksheet with students to record and reflect on how they performed.