We were commissioned to write our first book following an overwhelming response by teachers to an article in the Times Educational Supplement outlining the success of our work in schools to improve children’s listening. Now in its third edition
Teaching Children to Listen outlines a whole-school approach to improving listening skills. It explains why listening skills are important and how to overcome barriers to achieving them, before pinpointing the behaviours that children need to learn in order to be a good listener. The book includes: The Listening Skills Rating Scale – a quick, photocopiable assessment to rate children on each of the four rules of good listening and downloadable resources to deliver effective activities to teach good listening; 40 activities to teach each rule of good listening and motivate children to carry them out. Each activity sets out what equipment you need, tips for facilitating and ideas for differentiation. Perfect for children aged 3-11, all the games and ideas have been tried-and-tested, and have proved successful with children with a range of abilities, including those with special needs. Our book also includes chapters on adapting the classroom environment and how to talk in order to improve children’s listening.
Teaching Children to Listen outlines a whole-school approach to improving listening skills. It explains why listening skills are important and how to overcome barriers to achieving them, before pinpointing the behaviours that children need to learn in order to be a good listener. The book includes: The Listening Skills Rating Scale – a quick, photocopiable assessment to rate children on each of the four rules of good listening and downloadable resources to deliver effective activities to teach good listening; 40 activities to teach each rule of good listening and motivate children to carry them out. Each activity sets out what equipment you need, tips for facilitating and ideas for differentiation. Perfect for children aged 3-11, all the games and ideas have been tried-and-tested, and have proved successful with children with a range of abilities, including those with special needs. Our book also includes chapters on adapting the classroom environment and how to talk in order to improve children’s listening.

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Our second book ‘Teaching Children to Listen in the Early Years‘ was published in April 2019. Teaching Children to Listen in the Early Years contains a wealth of interventions to teach young children the rules of good listening and why they are important. It is perfect for Early Years practitioners and settings where poor listening is an increasing barrier to teaching and growing numbers of children find it a challenge to stay focused on a task and follow even simple instructions, especially as technology proliferates. This affects young children’s learning in all curriculum areas and their resultant distractible behaviour can make it more difficult for the rest of the class to pay attention. The resource offers clear ideas for differentiation along with ideas to help children apply their improved skills, whilst supporting target setting and evaluation of progress. It also makes suggestions for adapting the Early Years learning environment to maximise listening and considers how listening can be encouraged by analysing language and expression when addressing children in the classroom. This practical guide not only contains photocopiable resources, a full-colour plate section, assessments and teaching suggestions with clear and digestible explanations from professionals who work directly with children on a daily basis, but it also pinpoints the behaviours that children need to learn in order to become good listeners. Teaching Children to Listen in the Early Years is an invaluable resource perfect for Early Years practitioners and settings.
