LISTENING WITH UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY
My students are ten and eleven year olds, and often need a refresher course in how to communicate with one another, especially by the middle of the year. They are at that point in their lives where they are finding themselves, and trying to understand who they are in the context of the whole society, which can be overwhelming and often leads to confusion as far as how to communicate effectively and with kindness and understanding of others. The urgency with which I plan for these lessons cannot be understated. This is due to the fact that I believe our society is lacking this specific mindset, one of kindness and caring for each other, and that by exposing my students to the definition and examples of this habit, I am facilitating growth not only in my students, but in our community and nation. Below is a lesson plan as well as evidence of explicit teaching for the habit of listening to others with understanding and empathy. See the highlighted section of the lesson plan for explicit examples.
** All images are available in the public domain.
In conclusion, by exposing students to my own actions that meet criteria of listening to others with understanding and empathy, as well as facilitating a variety of opportunities for student reinforcement and growth within this Habit of Mind, I am ensuring that my students develop into empathetic, actively listening individuals. In ensuring this progress through each cohort of children that spend 180 days of their lives in my classroom, I am making substantial progress in making our community a more empathetic and understanding one. In this ever changing, often hateful and angry world, that is a priceless feeling that will continue to fuel my desire for growth - both professionally and personally.