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Alert Students with Key Words

Tags

All Ages Strategy

Skills

Auditory Processing Listening Comprehension Attention Verbal Memory Processing Speed

Alert Students with Key Words

If your student has weaker attention or listening skills and you want to ensure they don't miss key information

Teach It!

  1. Objective: Students will learn to listen for specific key words and visual cues to signal to them that important information is coming.
  2. Instruction and Practice: a) Teach Mindprint's list of key words so students know what words to listen for. b) Teach a visual signal for when a key piece of information is about to be delivered. (i.e. A tap on the student's desk or shoulder, or a whole class cue such as a hand high in the air.) c) Repeat the most important information throughout the lesson using the same key words.
  3. Considerations: For students with weaker auditory processing, it is helpful to say the information exactly the same way when you repeat it so they can effectively "fill in the gaps" of missed words, instead of having to process a new version of the same content.

*print* Student Guide: Listen For These Key Words

  1. "First," signals step-by-step instructions, or a sequence of main points, are coming up. Also listen for, "Second," "Third," etc.
  2. "In summary," is a clue that a wrap-up of the main points will follow.
  3. "Now," signals it is time to sit up and pay close attention to what is about to happen.
  4. A change in the teacher's tone, or a pause in his/her speaking. Often these changes signal that something important or different is happening.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Students with auditory processing and attention weaknesses often miss pieces of instructions or bits of information within a class lecture.

Giving students cues as to when the most important information is coming will help them maintain attention for the most important points. Hearing the same words spoken twice can effectively reinforce what they heard and enable them to more fully process rather than if they hear a different set of words with the same meaning.