During a recent meeting with fellow educators, I was made aware of a practice called 'Whole Body Listening.' There was a book and accompaning poster that taught the merits of whole body listening and the using of one's:
- Brain: Thinking about what is being said
- Ears: Both ears ready to hear
- Eyes: Looking at the person talking
- Mouth: Quiet - no talking, humming or making sounds
- Body: Faces the speaker
- Feet: Quiet on the floor
- Hands: Quiet in lap, pockets or by side
- Hear: Caring about what the other person is saying
I was intrigued and became motivated to integrate this practice into the classroom. I found myself less pleased with the accompanying materials used to teach and reinforce this practice. As referred to in an earlier post, I set out to use Adobe Photoshop to create a classroom poster that supported the practice while still being interesting. I have found that students love having their interests acknowledged and validated through teacher understanding. The bond between shared likes is a strong one and can often help in establishing teacher-student relationships. I am personally fond of a popular cartoon show called Adventure Time. Its clever word play, mystical undertones, fantastic world building, and its emotional engagement resonate with children and adults alike.
If you would like a file of this poster just email me your request. I will send you a printable file that is split up so that you can print it on a standard color printer.
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