Let's Listen

Let's Listen.
Kathleen from Kidpeopleclassroom has a Teacher book talk on Tuesdays this summer.  Check it out!  
 http://www.kidpeopleclassroom.com/2017/08/giveaway-week-one.html
Besides the book talk, Kathleen has many great ideas to share.  
Thank you, Kathleen for this link.

So Let's Listen:

 One of my favorite stories to read at the beginning of the year is, The Listening Walk by Paul Showers.

This is a story about a girl who takes walks with her father without talking so she can listen to the sounds around her.  As they walk through the city to their park they hear various levels of sounds loud to soft.
After reading the story, it is a wonderful experience to just take a walk with your class.  If you can go outside, listen to the crickets, the jets overhead and car sounds.  If you need to stay inside then walk the halls, listen for the hum of the lights, the sounds of footsteps and doors opening and closing.  Sometimes I stop during our walk and put my hand to my ear so the kids could focus on a sound....'We do not talk.'
When returning to the class, make a chart of all the sounds.  Then as a writing opportunity, the students can write/draw "I heard..."
 
Our children (and us) are exposed to too much noise most days.  It takes concentration to filter out sounds.  Many times because of technology (phones, tvs and toys), they have already learned to 'tune-out' but what we want them to be able to do it to 'sort out' and pay attention--peripheral hearing. 
This also could help when identifying the loud and soft sounds to connect it to their voice levels.  
We practice making our voices louder and softer.  I use my hand to demonstrate a loud voice with my horizontal hand over the top of my head and gradually bring it down to below my chin.  As we make our voices loud (my hand high), I point out the strain in our throats.  As I bring my hand at my chin level, I point out how much calmer and easier it is to talk and hear.  I tell them that this level is an inside voice level.  
Sometimes when the noise level is getting too much in the classroom, I have the children FREEZE and we change our volume control.  Give your ears and throats a rest, I say.

For my personal reading recommendation, escape reading, Have you read any Jojo Moyes books?
Before school begins, this Thursday I am finishing The Horse Dancer.

I get started on an author and read all that my public library has.  Thank you to my mentor kindergarten teacher and friend, Shey Kravas for getting me started this summer on this author.  I have sat on my front porch and escaped......

So until next time..

Janet