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Maintain Eye Contact with the Speaker

Tags

ELA: ^Other ^21st Century Skills All Ages Strategy

Skills

Auditory Processing Listening Comprehension Organization Attention Verbal Memory

Maintain Eye Contact with the Speaker

If your student struggles to pay attention in class, particularly if they have weaker processing, attention or ASD

How To Apply It!

  1. Always face students who have auditory or attention challenges when speaking to them, especially if there are other children around or if there is additional background noise. Facing students will enable them to use visual cues to aid in their understanding. In addition, adults have a better sense if the student fully heard and understood what was said and can repeat if necessary.
  2. Have the student sit closer to the front of the room where it is easier to make eye contact.
  3. Remind students of the importance of body position and eye contact. It will help them focus on the speaker.
  4. If a child is reluctant to establish eye contact, suggest that the child look at the speaker's forehead, right between the eyebrows. It can work just as well, but feels less intense and more comfortable for some children.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Maintaining good eye contact helps the student maintain focus on the speaker and provides the opportunity to pick up visual cues that could otherwise be missed, such as changes in facial expressions, sagging shoulders or waving hands.