Effective Listening and Speaking Skills
Effective Listening and Speaking Skills Objective: Students will practice following agreed-upon rules for discussions and demonstrate attentive listening and clear speaking skills by participating in a guided group conversation.
Learning Objectives
- Understand and follow basic rules for group discussions, such as taking turns and listening to others.
- Practice speaking clearly and staying on topic during conversations.
- Demonstrate attentive listening by summarizing what others say.
Materials Needed
- Short story or passage suitable for 7-year-olds
- Paper and pencil for each student
- Timer or clock
- Visual aids showing discussion rules (e.g., listening ears, raising hand to speak)
Key Vocabulary
- Discussion
- A conversation where people share ideas and listen to each other.
- Listening
- Paying close attention to what someone is saying.
- Speaking
- Using your voice to share your thoughts or ideas.
Detailed Activities
Introduction to Discussion Rules
- Explain to the student that discussions are conversations where everyone takes turns speaking and listens carefully.
- Show visual aids illustrating rules like raising your hand to speak and looking at the person talking.
- Read the rules aloud together and ask the student to repeat them.
Guided Group Discussion Practice
- Read a short story or passage aloud to the student.
- Ask the student to share their thoughts about the story, reminding them to raise their hand before speaking.
- Respond to the student’s comments by summarizing what they said and encourage the student to listen carefully when you reply.
- Take turns speaking and listening, practicing the discussion rules.
Listening and Speaking Reflection
- After the discussion, ask the student to explain one thing they learned from listening.
- Encourage the student to talk about how following the rules helped the conversation.
- Praise the student for their effort in listening and speaking clearly.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson focuses on building foundational communication skills through simple, structured conversations.
- Encourage your child to practice these skills during daily interactions with family members.
- Be patient and gently remind your child about the discussion rules during the activities.
Assessment Questions
- Can you name one rule we followed during our discussion?
- What did you learn by listening to what I said?
- How did you let me know you wanted to speak?
Extension Ideas
- Create a family discussion time where everyone practices taking turns speaking and listening.
- Use role-play games to practice asking and answering questions politely.
- Record your child telling a story and listen together to discuss how clearly they spoke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gently remind them about the rule and use visual cues like a ‘speaking stick’ that is passed around to indicate whose turn it is.
Model attentive listening yourself by making eye contact, nodding, and summarizing what your child says.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children may think speaking loudly means they are being heard; remind them to speak clearly and patiently.
- Some may interrupt because they are excited; reinforce the importance of waiting their turn.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use shorter discussion segments and frequent breaks.
- Provide more visual cues and prompts during conversations.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage them to ask follow-up questions during discussions.
- Introduce more complex topics or stories for discussion.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend 10 minutes introducing and practicing discussion rules.
- Use 25 minutes for guided discussion with the story.
- Reserve 10 minutes for reflection and assessment questions.
Standards
- 7.SL.1a — Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).
Printable Worksheet
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