[senco-forum] Developing listening skills in secondary pupils

Thanks Lindsay - that is the one - Fine Tuning.  I lend it to frustrated class teachers to settle their classes with before they go on to teach their lesson.  Quite a few teachers now complain that whole classes can't actually 'listen' any more and I agree about the tv as background, computer games etc. being the norm.   To listen effectively I guess you first have to sit still (or quietly - doodlers etc) and be receptive which is at least half the battle. Ally

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk on behalf of Allyson Bremner 
	Sent: Thu 17/08/2006 23:00 
	To: Olanys at aol.com; senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk 
	Cc: 
	Subject: RE: [senco-forum] Developing listening skills in secondary pupils

	But the point is LISTENING skills and dictation is just part of the training of the ear and brain to develop the art of listening accurately.  Pre-printed sheets are lovely to revise from but don't actually provide any development of the individual.  Ask any EFL teacher.  
	I have a book which I use for listening skills where the kids have to mark on a graph various points according to verbal instructions i.e fill in square 12 across and 6 down etc and it eventually makes a picture and they can tell if they have been listening if the picture looks correct.  I got it from Better Books but can't remember what it is called as I am at home and not in school mode yet!
	Ally

	        -----Original Message-----
	        From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk on behalf of Olanys at aol.com
	        Sent: Thu 17/08/2006 20:13
	        To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
	        Cc:
	        Subject: Re: [senco-forum] Developing listening skills in secondary pupils

	        When I worked with severely dyslexic children the dyslexic  resource base
	        teacher informed the staff that these children were not to  take down dictation
	        under any circumstances - it is a nightmare for them and a  futile exercise
	        when pre-printed information sheets can so easily be provided  with very little
	        extra effort by teachers.

	        Taking down dictation involves a myriad of skills and stages, many of  which
	        are extemely difficult for pupils with SpLD and for some impossible and  very
	        distressing...not to mention unnecessary. The same applies to the awful  time
	        consuming task of copying from textbooks in these days of scanners and
	        printers.

	        Training  children who struggle to do so is a cruel waste of time and effort
	        for all  involved. I also think exercises like this are an unnecessary waste
	        of time  after a long and arduous day trying to cope at school and endure
	        homework.

	        Best wishes,
	        Aly

	        Chair Auditory  Processing Disorder in the UK/APDUK
	        www.lacewingmultimedia.com/APD.htm
	        www.apduk.org

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