Engage Students to be a Rock "STAR" Student with Active Listening & Following Directions

Rock On! A Rock-N- Roll-Infused Lesson to Amp Up Engagement

Hey there! Getting students' attention these days can be quite a challenge, right? But here's a tip I've learned over the years: starting the year off with an Active Listening Lesson makes a world of difference, especially in the younger grades like Kindergarten and 1st grade. Trust me, if you do this, the students always remember, and it makes the rest of the year so much easier!

Crank Up the Volume: The Secret Phrase that Rocks "Body in Control"

Now, let me share an exciting idea I came up with to hook the children right from the start. I designed a Rock & Roll themed lesson using an interactive PowerPoint presentation. It's a blast! To grab their attention and get them ready to listen, I teach them a secret phrase. Are you ready? I say, "Rock-N-Roll." And when they hear it, the students respond with "Body in Control!" It's like a secret code that instantly refocuses their attention and primes them to actively participate in the lesson.

Interactive Power Chords: Riffing on Riddles for Active Listening

The slideshow has a captivating game where we solve riddles about different body parts and how they can help us listen better. The kids absolutely love it because they can interact with the slideshow to guess the correct answer! Together, we explore how each body part plays a role in effective listening and staying engaged in the classroom. 

For the finale, students get to complete an "a"maze"ing adventure! The students are tasked with finding their way out of a maze by identifying and the body parts associated with active body listening. It's hands-on and brings the concept of active listening to life in a tangible way.

Keep the Beat Alive: A Rockin' Mini-Poster for Year-Round Inspiration

I leave them with a mini-poster as a little keepsake. They can hang it up in their classroom to remember the lesson and the secret phrase throughout the year. The poster features vibrant images of rock and roll elements, reminding them of the excitement and energy they felt during the lesson. It serves as a visual reminder that keeps the rock and roll spirit alive, encouraging them to actively listen and engage in their learning journey.

So, let's embrace our inner rock stars and make active listening a fun and engaging experience. With this rock and roll-inspired approach, we can empower our students to listen attentively, participate wholeheartedly, and rock their way to success in the classroom. Let's turn up the volume on active listening together!

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Engage Children to Be Mon"STAR" Students with Active Listening & Following Directions

Monstrous Listening Skills Unleashed: Engaging Firsties in a Memorable Lesson

Last week, I had an absolute blast teaching my first graders about the incredible power of using their entire bodies to listen. With so many distractions in their lives, it's no easy feat for these little monsters to stay focused. We kicked off our lesson with a discussion on the telltale signs of active listening. "How can the speaker/teacher tell you are listening?", but it turned into a funny moment when one student thought I was referring to a microphone speaker instead of a speaker!

To hook the kids from the start, we watched a Sesame Street video called "The Biscotti Kid," featuring none other than the Cookie Monster. We giggled and learned as we explored how the Cookie Monster earned his prestigious cookie belt, which naturally led us to discuss each body part's role in helping us stay attentive. To make it even more memorable, I created a delightful monster-themed slideshow, complete with adorable illustrations.

    

A Howling Delight: The Kids' Love for Interactive Learning

As we discussed each body part, we reinforced our learning with engaging hand movements that added a touch of fun and helped cement the concepts in their minds. We had goggle eyes for keen observation, a finger in front of our mouths for quiet listening, hands cupping our open ears to enhance focus, hands calmly resting by our sides, bodies facing forward, feet firmly planted on the floor, a gentle pat on our brains to remind us to think, and finally, we even made a heart shape with our hands to symbolize empathy. We repeated our hand movements each time adding a different body part to our chant!

Building our Mon"star" Listener: Rhyming Riddles for Understanding

To assess their understanding, I posed a series of rhyming riddles that gradually revealed the components of our Mon"star" listener. Here are a few examples that had their imaginations running wild:

"I keep this part facing front, it's not time to do a stunt. Nor do I practice my karate, I stay calm with my ________."

Answer: BODY.

"I keep these on the person in sight, when listening, I know this is right. It shows that I am very wise to always listen with my ________."

Answer: EYES.

Unleashing Creativity: Drawing Your Own Mon"star" Student

To conclude our monstrous journey, I invited the students to unleash their creativity by drawing their very own Mon"star" student. This allowed them to showcase their understanding of active listening while tapping into their artistic talents!

By bringing together the magic of monsters and the power of active body engagement, we transformed the act of listening into an exciting and memorable experience. Stay tuned to discover more monstrously engaging adventures in our learning journey!

Ready to Use Resource:

Ready to unleash your students' monstrous listening skills? Shop here for this resource:

Looking for more Listening Skills Lessons? Check this one out: