Speaking and Listening

The first thing that stood out to me and I agree with is that in the U.S. we discourage silence in conversation and prepare to respond rather than listen. As teachers, we must teach students how to listen, critically think, and respond respectfully. In the reading it suggests for teachers to encourage students to respond directly to what the last student said before they add their ideas or new comments in small or large group discussions. A teacher had not previously told or presented me with this communication skill. So many times, I catch myself interrupting others and it is such a bad habit I am trying to break. Most of the time it is because I have an idea in my head that I want to say before I forget it. But this is so rude of me because it is showing or making the listener feel that I do not care what they are saying. I do not want my students to have these same bad habits, so I would like to use some of the strategies that the book provides. I believe the book provides great strategies that educators can use to help students become effective participants in group discussions. It suggests starting with pair discussions to help those shy students who may not contribute to larger groups. As a teacher, I do not think I would have discussions graded because I do not want shy student’s grade to be impacted by it. As a teacher, the hardest suggestion it presents is being ok for wait time period for response from students. I think teaching the concept of silently thinking before responding is very important in any discussion a student may have outside or within a class. 

In evaluating the common core standards for speaking and listening, there are major differences of what is expected of students in different grade levels. As a teacher one cannot expect a fifth grader to go and research, evaluate, and find evidence in texts in preparation for a discussion the following day. By twelfth grade, students can research other texts that can support their claims, draw conclusions, and be able to create thoughtful ideas that stimulate further discussion. During discussion, the common core for speaking for a seventh grader is a lot different to a twelfth grader. The speaking common core for seventh graders still applies the concept of appropriate communication behavior like eye contact, using inside voices, and clear pronunciation. Whereas, for a twelfth grader speaking common core standards concentrates on conveying information with organization, style, and development that allows listeners to follow. As the school-years progress, each standard develops from the year before and the skills or application advances further.