Three ways to get them better at active listening

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Teachers often tell me that they want their students to get better at listening. Here are three things you can do which will really help:

1. Keywording

   From Roger Sutcliffe’s Thinking Moves A-Z, this is such a simple, effective strategy.

   As you listen, jot key words….

   H, tell us which words you’ve jotted.

   https://www.topsypage.com/blog/2026/1/9/keywording-helps-students-listen

2. Ask them to repeat

   K, please repeat what M said.

   or

   What did she say? (choral response)

3. Ask them what they think about what someone else just said

   What do you think about what Janie said?

See the Talk Science Inquiry Project library of resources to see some of these talk moves in action – https://inquiryproject.terc.edu/prof_dev/library.cfm.html