This month we learn about Skills for Learning

Starting with our Listening Rules:

• Eyes watching. Point to the corner of your eye.

• Ears listening. Cup your ear with your hand.

• Voice quiet. Put your finger to your lips.

• Body still. Hug your torso with both arms.

Show student(s) the images below and say the listening rules while doing the action. Here are a few fun ways to review.

Now I will say a rule. Then you show me the action that goes with the rule. Go through each rule and have students model the action.

Now I’ll just do the actions, and you say the words for each rule. For example, if I do this (put your finger to the corner of your eye), you say, “Eyes watching.” Go through each action and have students say the rule.

Repeat faster, in a different order, or in a whisper.

Focusing Attention

This lesson teaches a concrete metaphor for focusing attention: the “attent-o-scope.” Students cup each eye with a hand to form binoculars that prevent them from using their peripheral vision and help them focus on one object. Students first form their attent-o-scopes and focus their eyes on an object, then put their hands down but maintain their focus and avoid looking at other things.

Lead student throught this activity:

Make your attent-o-scope again, and focus it on the clock (or another object in the room). Now put it down, but pretend your attent-o-scope is still there. Repeat this process with a few other things in the room. Pretending you have an attent-o-scope helps you really focus and shut out things that could distract you.

You switch your pretend attent-o-scope on with your words. When you say to yourself, “Focus attention,” or “Look carefully,” or “Listen,” you are switching on your attent-oscope. To help yourself learn, you have to switch on your attent-o-scope and focus your attention.