Listening and Communication

Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process. For teachers, listening is key to all effective communication. Without the ability to listen effectively, messages are easily misunderstood and there is a breakdown in communication (Clayton, 2017). This understandably causes children and young people frustration. In order to succeed, children need to learn and understand basic communication skills. Research shows that children who learn to listen, speak and write earlier may have more success at understanding what is expected of them. Being ahead also helps children to express themselves in healthy, productive ways. Good communication is absolutely vital in teaching; listening, talking, reading and writing. Teachers who have good communication skills are excellent ambassadors to instruct, advise and encourage the children to learn and develop their education well (Scholastic, 2019).

If there is one communication skill you should aim to excel at, then listening is the one!

Why is listening so important?

·      To specifically focus on the messages being communicated, avoiding distractions and preconceptions.

·      To gain a full and accurate understanding into the child or young person’s point of view and ideas.

·      To assess what is being said.

·      To observe the non-verbal signals accompanying what is being said to enhance understanding.

·      To show interest

·      To show concern

·      To encourage the child or young person to communicate openly and honestly.

·      To develop a selflessness approach, putting the child or young person at the centre.

How good listening skills can improve relationships between teachers and children

When teachers show they are listening, it is rewarding for the children that are talking as it makes them feel valued and important. This is called active listening, and it can help avoid misunderstanding and reduce the potential for conflict. Teachers with good listening skills make the best teachers and this allows them to: 

• Better understand children
• Build rapport with children as they like to feel they are understood
• Encourage children to show support for others
• Work better in a team of teaching staff
• Answer questions in the best way
• Uncover the true meaning of what children are saying

There is a huge percentage of people that are not born with good listening skills and it has been reported that even teachers who are known and recognised to have good listening skills can at times behave in ways that may show them not be fully engaged and paying attention.

What helps teachers be an active listener?

• Maintain Eye Contact: When teachers look at children in the eye, it encourages children to focus and pay attention.
• Don't interrupt the children: It is important for teachers to save their comments until the child finishes talking as they can then fully take in what is being said.
• Sit Still: It is important to have good posture and to keep still

• Be Attentive to Non-Verbal Cues: Paying attention to the children and be mindful of non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and posture to see what the children are reacting to and if they are enjoying.

 

Having a good relationship with parents and carers is essential when you are a teacher as having good relations benefits the school, the teacher and most importantly the child and the family (Teach Hub, 2019). When school have good and positive interactions with families it has a huge impact on the amount they involve themselves with their child’s learning. There has been research into the relationship that schools have with parents and families and when schools are consistently contacting parents about negative behaviour and not recognising good behaviours; it creates negativity and a reluctance with parents to contact schools.

 When parents and schools have a good relationship, they get actively in the school life, with homework, fundraising and publicly support them which is essential in all schools. They are more likely to get involved in PTA’s and join the governors. Teacher Times state that it is widely recognised that the more involved parents are in their child’s education, the better the pupil performs at school (2019).  They state that the government initiated a strategy for securing parental engagement in a White Paper that was published in 1997, entitled ‘Excellence in Schools’. The Paper suggested that there were three key points to improving the school-home partnership: providing parents with information; giving parents a voice; and encouraging parental partnerships with schools (Teacher Times, 2019). In the society we live in today, following these guidelines can help make everyone’s life a bit easier.

Clayton, K (2017) Why is Effective Communication in Schools Important? https://parentapps.co.uk/effective-communication-schools-important/

Halloran, J (2019) Effective Parent Teacher Communication Tips   https://www.teachhub.com/parent-teacher-communication-tips

Scholastic (2018) Five Keys to Successful Parent-Teacher Communication https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/five-keys-successful-parent-teacher-communication/

Teacher Times (2019) Bridging the gap between parents, pupils and schools https://www.teachingtimes.com/articles/bridging-the-gap-communication-parents-pupils-schools.htm.