Why we are cancelling good listener posters in 2022

If you search on Google for good listeners posters, you’ll be inundated by premade posters.

The posters might say things like:

• Ears listening

• Eyes looking at the person speaking

• Your hands are folded in your lap

• Your legs are crossed

• Empty hands

• Hands still

• No moving

• Ask and answer questions to show you have been listening.

• Lips closed.

• Feet are still.

Go on why not SPRINKLE A HINT OF COMPLIANCE IN THERE TOO? Grab me a bucket. This makes me feel sick, anxious and angry.

SCRAP IT ALL – If you are reading this post and thinking, no children need this I don’t agree. Okay, read the following scenario and tell me if you have ever done any of the following.

Been driving and had a conversation with someone in the passenger seat?

- Were your eyes looking at the person speaking? I really hope not.

- Were your hands folded in your lap? I really also hope not.

- Feet were your still? Take it you weren’t going anywhere?

Did you still manage to pay attention to the road and have a conversation? I thought so. Now I am not saying that some students don’t need some guidance – I am not expecting teachers to teach with a classroom of 30 children walking around, all talking. I’m not, I promise.

What I am asking is that you respect that we all learn/function differently. Students with ADHD often need to move to regulate their bodies; it doesn’t mean they aren’t listening. Students with sensory needs might need to fiddle with something to focus. Students with selective mutism might not want to ask/answer a question verbally. Students with Dyslexia might have needed some extra processing time.

Some students with ASD might not like using eye contact. They are still listening, it can be very uncomfortable when you force eye contact and end up dysregulating the student, which just enforces the opposite of what good listening posters are trying to achieve.

These accommodations can provide a level playing field for students in achieving their academic potential.

#goodlistening #abelist #asd #asc #aac #speech #speechandlanguage #speechtherapy #speechandlanguagetherapy #adhd #adhdawareness #asdawareness #dyslexia #dyslexiaawareness #selectivemutism #developmentaldisabilities #teachersofinstagram #teachingearlyyears #eyfs #dld