I think it is a stroke of genius that Amy used the term “listening activity”. So many of us get all weird in presenting to our students our expectations with CI – simply because we expect pushback bc it’s new – and then they pick up on our nervousness.
Amy and I had this interchange:
Amy:
It really does feel “magical.” I’ve been calling the OWIs “Listening Activities,” and whenever I say we’re going to do another listening activity, they say, “Oh, you mean the tiger thing? The whale thing? the omelette thing?” haha.
Me:
This term “listening activity” diffuses the whole CI freak out thing. It really takes away the drama! How simple.
Amy:
Yes, I like “listening activity” because it puts the emphasis on precisely what I want from them during the activity :).
(I started it off by walking them through the interpersonal rubric and explaining the cues I look for regarding active listening, and they get excited because they feel like they’re getting “free” points, just for paying attention ).