Listening is an important skill that everyone needs. But what are some listening skills examples so everyone knows what good and poor skills look like? Let’s dive into that, but first, answer the question of if it is really important or not.
Is Listening a Skill That is Important for Kids?
Short answer: Yes!
Receiving what others around you are saying is an important skill.
When thinking what is the purpose of listening skills, true listening is not only hearing what others around you are saying but also one’s ability to respond to what is being heard. That second part is important because it makes the person hearing also take action. Giving a response, doing something, or giving further thought to what was being said all could be this action. Regardless, it is taking in the information and then doing something with it.
Many people call this active listening. Being an active listener is an important life social skill that is needed.
Good Listening Skills Examples
So if you are wondering what are some examples of active listening, check out these examples.
Example 1: Alex was facing the speaker who was telling the class about zoo animals by having his body turned in the same direction as them.
Example 2: Aja was thinking about the steps the teacher was telling the students so she could do things in the correct order.
Example 3: Rachel stopped what she was doing and had quiet hands and feet when the teacher called for everyone’s attention. She then looked at her teacher making eye contact.
These active listing skills examples show how different parts of the body are used. In the first example it shows the direction the whole body should be. While in the second it demonstrated thinking about what the speaker is saying and what the listener needs to do next. The last example has to do with quiet body and eye contact while listening.
Important note: things like still hands/feet or eye contact can be tricky. It is important for the teacher to know what each student is capable of doing and how they learn best. Some students need to be moving their hands to help them listen. Additionally, some students may find eye contact to be very difficult or go against their culture. It is important for the adults working with the child to know that child and deem what is appropriate as forcing things can cause emotional harm to the student.
Poor Listening Skills Examples
So what are examples of listening skills that aren’t so great? Here are a few to give you a better picture.
Example 1: Finn was at his desk looking at a book while his teacher was at the carpet across the room giving directions.
Example 2: Selina had her back turned to her group.
Example 3: Bailey was thinking about what he was going to eat for a snack while his friend was telling him about his weekend.
Example 4: Kit isn’t interested in what Jon was saying so she began tuning him out.
As you can see, these poor listening skills examples didn’t help the people involved to communicate better.
The first 2 examples focus on how the physical body looks. While the last example has more of a focus of where the brain is at while someone is talking. This example, as well as example 4, show not listening with your heart (at least that is what I refer to it as). When listening, we should be considerate of those talking and these examples for listening skills don’t show that. All of these listening skills examples are ones that would lead to poor communication.
Listening Skills Exercises for Kids
As a special education teacher, I often have others ask me “can listening be taught?”
With some direct instruction and practice, this important skill is one that students are able to learn.
Start with some direct instruction on listening. Tell students what listening is. Next, talk about the different parts of the body that help us be active listeners. This includes our ears to hear sounds. Thinking of it with our brain. Keeping going through the different parts of our bodies that can help us be good listeners.
Then give them some listening skills scenarios. It works really well to give scenarios that relate to their everyday lives. Why are listening skills important explain with examples instead of just telling them the terms. This way they can form a connection with the topic. Plus they have background information to support their learning. Giving effective listening skills examples helps students see what listening is and is not.
After that, have them practice. You can do this with fun games like ‘Simon Says’ or ‘Freeze Dance.’ Another fun way is to have them play a game or do an activity and be listening for a keyword or direction from the teacher indicating to stop and do something else.
Lacking Time to Plan for Teaching Listening Skills?
Are you looking for a done-for-your resource to teach listening?
Then this lesson plan on listening is for you!
Included is a one page lesson plan with teacher materials plus a whole page of extension activities. This will help to extend the learning of this important social/emotional skill.
There are also different versions of student worksheets and a listening skills flip book for students to create. Use the 14 different task cards to present scenarios. Have students identify when whole body listening is happening.
For the classroom space, use the included visual posters and the multiple different individual visual reminder cards for students who need additional prompting after the lesson is taught. Tape visuals to spaces around the room (such as desk or work stations). Or put them together on a key ring to carry around and flash to a student to give them a nudge when great listening skills aren’t taking place.
Click here for all the details on this all-inclusive teaching listening skills lesson plan and activities so your students can have excellent listening skills.
More Examples of Listening Skills
If you are looking for more on how to teach listening skills, check out this blog post.
Or if you are working on teaching conversation skills to students with severe disabilities, check out these great ideas by Rakovic’s Speech and Language Chat.
Be sure to check out this amazing post regarding social skills on how to communicate with those that can’t hear by ASL Teaching Resources.
Hopefully, you have a better understanding of listening skills including what it means, some listening skills examples (both good and poor), and some ways to help teach it to students who are struggling with this important skill.
Happy Teaching!
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