Listening and hearing are two different things. Hearing is involuntary and listening is voluntary. The student “hears” the birds, rain, teachers talking or the tone of their instrument. However, they can choose to “listen” to those sounds through focused attention on the sonic details. Focused hearing is listening. Remind your students to not just hear, but also… listen!
Brian Bankston
Gadsden Middle School
Gadsden, Alabama