MS.39 Good Listening Habits
This LifeKnowledge middle school lesson (MS.39, “Good Listening Habits”) teaches students the non-verbal habits of effective listening using the “SOFTEN” model (Smile, Open Posture, Focus, Tilt Forward, Eye Contact, Nod) and introduces paraphrasing as a way to improve listening skills. Through a leadership-trait ranking activity, students practice active listening and paraphrasing with a partner and are assessed with a short quiz.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- List six non-verbal habits of a good listener.
- Define and discuss paraphrasing as a method of improving listening skills.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 50 minutes.
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
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- Overhead projector
- Transparency markers
- Writing surface
- MS.39.AS.A—one per student
- MS.39.AS.B—one per student
- MS.39.AS.C—one per student
- MS.39.TM.A
- MS.39.TM.B
- MS.39.Assess—one per student
- 5 sheets of 8.5- × 11-inch construction paper boldly numbered 1 through 5 respectively
- Unit
- Stage Two of Development—WE
- Problem Area
- How Do I Initiate Relationships with Others.
- Precepts
- A5: Communicate effectively with others.
- Key Terms
- Paraphrasing
- Resources
- Building Leaders for Life, National Association of Secondary School Principals, 1992.
Downloads & Links
Lesson plan
Presentation
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- NL-ENG.K12.12Applying Language Skills — Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes.