December 2014 - Grade 1: Howard Wigglebottom Learns to Listen

Dear Families,

December is a month that can challenge every child’s ability to pay attention! As a mid-year reminder of what’s expected in a first grade classroom,  each class listened to the story Howard Wigglebottom Learns to Listen. School is a busy place, and every classroom has students with varying degrees of attentiveness. Children are natural learners. However, getting them to listen is not always an easy task.  Enhancing listening skills not only eases frustrations for teachers and parents, but improves a child's ability to learn, develop important social skills and helps them stay out of trouble. There are strategies parents and teachers can use to improve listening skills that are also entertaining for children. Making it fun for children increases chances of success because children are more likely to be active participants in the process.

• The most important rule for encouraging any appropriate behavior is providing positive reinforcement. For example, if a normally inattentive child listens and responds appropriately, praise him immediately. If your child seems challenged in this area, use a sticker chart each time a child listens appropriately. When appropriate behaviors are positively reinforced, they are more likely to be repeated.

• Children learn by example. When the adults around them model appropriate listening skills, children are more likely to use good listening skills themselves. When a child asks a question, look at them, give them your direct attention and give them a response. If it is not an appropriate time to respond, let the child know that his question is important and you will give a response at a more appropriate time. Make sure you do what you say and give the child your attention as soon as you reasonably can.
• Ask your child about our “School Listening Look”. Help them to remember that they need to show they are listening “With their eyes on the speaker, their bodies still and their voices off”.
• Listening skills can be enhanced by asking a child to repeat instructions or to summarize what they heard. Give praise for accuracy.

Let’s all practice being good listeners!

Sincerely,

Ms. Cahill