Hearing Something New

May 8, 2015
Issue #355

I have had the privilege of hearing Regie Routman, Richard Allington, Donald Graves, Michael Grinder, Margaret Mooney, and other esteemed colleagues speak numerous times. It isn’t unusual for Joan and me to get in line early, assuring a seat in conference sessions that are sure to fill, disappointing attendees who arrive too late. We love getting new nuggets of information that will boost our learning and move our practice forward.

Often, the information isn’t truly new; it’s just that my brain is able to make a lasting connection this time. Maybe it’s because, through professional reading or lessons taught, I’ve gained the necessary background knowledge. Or maybe it’s just that my mind is open and receptive enough to really hear.

At our recent conference in Illinois, a teacher came up to me and said she had been to two of our conferences and was excited about joining us for a third time. I asked her why she would come to hear us speak again and again, and she said jubilantly, “I hear something new each time!”

What if we taught our students to view each lesson through the lens of “What will I learn today that is brand new to me?”  For example, when reading a story aloud that some students may have already heard, have them set their purpose for listening: “Listen for something you may not have noticed the first time you read the book.” Listening with anticipation and purpose will increase understanding. 

Letting students in on this strategy will teach them the power of listening to the same thing more than once to deepen understanding or gain new knowledge. We can, based on our own experience, share the benefits to be gained by learning something new each time. 

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