Being understood is important to me and it is also important to the person I'm talking to. Recognizing this is the first step in being a better listener. Both people in a conversation have, at a minimum, one of the same goals- to be understood. Yet, both parties cannot reach this goal without give and take. Listening to understand, not just to wait for a turn to talk is needed in order to accomplish the goal of being understood. The second step is taking action through being a good listener. Most children I have had in my classes are used to just waiting for their turn to talk. Taking the time to practice being a good listener- not just being quiet, but actually listening- should be just as much a part of classroom instruction as learning to read and write. As I think of my professional verse personal life I feel that I am a good listener in most instances. I tend to ask for clarification and more details to help me understand the reasoning behind decisions or issues. One question that comes to mind though is, What do we do when the other person is not seeking first to understand? How can you effectively engage in a conversation with another who refuses to understand? This doesn't happen often, but I have seen children (and adults) engage in this situation, where one person is truly trying to understand, but the other is relentlessly avoiding it.
Commitment
I commit to seeking understanding when I meet with my colleagues. I will be sure to restate what I'm hearing and to ask for clarification. A good opportunity to do this will be when we discuss the designated supports that our students will need to use during the CAASPP (state testing).
Plan
This week my group will work with each other to practice their listening skills. First, we will role play a couple situations modeling good listening, listening while really just waiting for your turn to talk, and not listening at all. We will practice making our body language show that we are listening and review active listening skills.