How
to Bring Listening Circles to Your Class
By
Shane Safir – November 26, 2014
If
I were a K-3 teacher, I would definitely follow these strategies to bring
listening circles to my class because students need to feel comfortable in
their classroom. Since students are in
class the majority of the day, they should feel like family and have fun
together while learning.
According
to Safir, a listening educator sets the tone by creating a talking piece for
the students such as something with meaning.
Examples of a talking piece could be a picture, a stuffed animal, a
shell or something very meaningful for a student.
After
setting the tone, the educator plan the prompts with something silly and
inviting to get the students started.
These discussions should have questions that matched educator’s lesson
goals and assessments. Setting the tone allows the students to learn about each
other and have fun doing so. Students
can express how they are feeling, explore values and storytelling.
To
mirror and affirm, the educator can have students praise themselves for being
good listeners. Educators are then able
to get a better insight into all students and mostly those who seem to
struggle.
These
are unique strategies to use with all students even the adult learners that I
work with. Sometimes, I tell a few jokes about things that have happened to me
and the class laughs for a few seconds. Sometimes,
the students add in on some of their mishaps and we laugh again. Now, we are
all ready to begin math and have fun doing so.
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