Attention & listening – Schools
Attention and listening skills are the basis of all language development and learning. A student must be able to listen and attend to what is happening around him/her in order to understand it, despite varying levels of distraction.
Good attention is the ability to focus on something specific for a certain length of time. As children progress through education, it becomes increasingly important for them to focus their own attention for sustained periods of time.
Strategies
- Make sure you look at the child you are speaking to.
- Ensure you have the child’s attention before giving an instruction e.g. say the child’s name first and wait for him/her to look or touch the table in front of the child; clap your hands to gain attention before speaking
- Minimise distracting background noise both inside and outside the classroom.
- Minimise visual distractions, especially behind the teacher.
- Try to keep children’s desks free of clutter
NB. Without the ability to hear, a student will not be able to develop listening skills. If there are any concerns regarding a student’s hearing, you should discuss this with their parents first.
Age 3 - 4
Attention and Listening
- Needs to give full attention (both looking and listening) to directions in order to be able to follow them.
- Needs to stop what s/he is doing to be able to listen.
Reception
Attention and Listening
- Can start to focus attention without stopping what they are doing first.
- Can give full attention (both listening and looking) for short periods.
- May still get distracted whilst listening by other things going on around them (e.g. someone walking into the room).
Year 1 - 2
Attention and Listening
- Focuses his/her own attention on a chosen activity for longer periods of time without being reminded (around 10-15 minutes).
- Can listen to information whilst carrying out another simple activity.
- Focuses his/her attention sufficiently to follow verbal classroom instructions.
- Can listen to a short story or conversation and answer simple questions.
Year 3 - 4
Attention and Listening
- Focuses his/her own attention on a chosen activity for over 15 minutes without being reminded by an adult.
- Can listen to information whilst carrying out another simple activity.
- Can listen to a short story or conversation and answer simple questions.
Year 5 - 6
Attention and Listening
- Focuses his/her own attention on one activity for longer periods of time without being reminded by an adult.
- Can listen to information whilst carrying out another simple activity.
- Can listen to a short story or conversation and answer simple questions.
Year 7 - 9
Attention and Listening
- Focuses his/her own attention on one activity without support to remain focused.
- Focuses his/her attention in the classroom, screening out some background noise.
- Can follow a conversation and follow who’s talking in a group.
- Can follow a conversation or lesson without asking for frequent repetitions.
Year 10+
Attention and Listening
- Focuses his/her own attention on one activity without support to remain focused.
- Can focus his/her attention in the classroom, screening out some background noise.
- Can follow a conversation and follow who’s talking in a group.
- Can follow a conversation or lesson without asking for frequent repetitions.
