Listening and Speaking Skills: Following Directions and Sharing Ideas
Listening and Speaking Skills: Following Directions and Sharing Ideas Objective: By the end of this 45-minute lesson, the student will be able to listen attentively to a short story or instruction, ask questions to clarify understanding, and share their thoughts clearly in a complete sentence.
Learning Objectives
- The student will demonstrate active listening by responding to questions about the story or instructions.
- The student will practice asking simple questions to clarify information.
- The student will speak in full sentences to share their thoughts clearly.
Materials Needed
- A short age-appropriate story or poem (printed or digital)
- Paper and crayons or colored pencils
- A quiet space for discussion
Key Vocabulary
- Listen
- To pay attention carefully to sounds or words spoken by someone.
- Share
- To tell others your thoughts or ideas.
- Question
- A sentence you say when you want to know more or understand better.
Detailed Activities
Listening to a Story and Discussing
- Read a short story or poem aloud to the student in a quiet environment.
- Pause occasionally to ask simple questions about the story to check understanding (e.g., ‘What happened first?’, ‘Who was the main character?’).
- Encourage the student to ask any questions they have about the story.
- Invite the student to share their favorite part or what they think about the story using full sentences.
Following Directions and Drawing
- Give the student simple multi-step oral instructions to follow (e.g., ‘Draw a big circle, then color it red, and finally add two eyes inside it.’).
- Observe and provide gentle reminders to listen carefully as needed.
- After the drawing, ask the student to describe what they drew using complete sentences.
- Praise the student for listening carefully and speaking clearly.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Create a calm environment free of distractions to help your child focus while listening.
- Model asking questions yourself to encourage your child to do the same.
- Be patient and give your child time to think and respond in full sentences.
Assessment Questions
- Can you tell me what happened in the story I read?
- What is one question you have about the story or the instructions?
- Can you describe your drawing using a full sentence?
Extension Ideas
- Record the student telling a short story or explaining their drawing and play it back together to build confidence.
- Practice listening and speaking skills during daily routines, such as following directions for setting the table or describing a favorite toy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try breaking the activity into shorter segments with breaks in between. Use a quiet area and minimize distractions. Praise your child for any effort to listen.
Model full sentences when you speak. Gently prompt your child to expand their answers by asking ‘Can you tell me more?’ or ‘Why do you think that?’
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children may respond with one-word answers instead of full sentences.
- Students might find it challenging to ask questions naturally during conversations.
- Some children may appear distracted but are actually processing information.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use visual aids or gestures to support oral instructions.
- Allow extra response time and provide sentence starters (e.g., ‘I think…’, ‘My favorite part is…’).
- Keep activities short and gradually increase length as attention improves.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage your child to ask ‘why’ or ‘how’ questions about the story.
- Have your child retell the story in their own words or act it out.
- Introduce new vocabulary words from the story and practice using them in sentences.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 20 minutes on the listening and discussion activity, allowing time for questions and responses.
- Use the remaining 25 minutes for the following directions and drawing activity, including sharing and describing.
- Adjust timing based on your child’s engagement and attention span.
Standards
- 1.SL.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Printable Worksheet
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