What Does a Good Listener Look Like?

Did you know that hearing and listening are different things? Hearing happens all the time — your ears pick up sounds like birds chirping, cars honking, or music playing. You do not have to try to hear — it just happens!

Listening is different. Listening means you are CHOOSING to pay attention to a sound or a person. When your teacher talks, you hear the words, but you also need to LISTEN so you understand what they are saying. Listening takes your brain power!

Think of it this way: hearing is like a window that is always open. Sounds come in all the time. Listening is like turning your head to look out that window on purpose. You decide to focus on what is important.