[senco-forum] Listening poster

Hello all
  When I use my 'High Quality Listening Audience' rules with my classes, I am talking to them about three observable behaviours they need to do to be able to TRY TO listen.  I am well aware that that is not what listening is.
  What I am trying to do is to begin to address any difficulties in understanding by giving them postive things to do which I can observe and praise.  They know what to do and so can actually pay attention to what I am saying.  They can even begin to process what I am saying because they are not distracted by something else.  
  Our rules (because we agree them) are: 'Be quiet' and 'Look in the right place' and 'Sit still'.  It seems to me that this gives them the chance to learn to listen.  These children who find learning difficult find visual and auditory distractions so they don't have to risk failure.  
  If a child still can't follow what I say then I will do something about it.  In my experience, those of us who create an atmosphere where pupils know how to behave so they can learn, have classes where children succeed in spite of any difficulties they might have.
  Amanda
  Secondary SENCO
  Cornwall

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall