Practicing Listening Skills

I have been intentional about helping students learn to listen by practicing their listening skills. The students get into groups with specific instructions that only one person is to talk at a time. In fact, to make this point, I hand each group a pencil that I refer to as the talking stick.  The students without the stick are to only listen, not react or respond until they get the "stick." The idea is not to critique or question, but to give people the sacred space and time for others to hear what they have to say. There is no time limit and it is not a race. People are instructed to take as much time as they need and to pause before they even start talking in order to organize their thoughts.

What I have realized is that this practice helps people to hear from their inner being. Through the calming influence, people can listen to their inner wisdom and find the answers from within themselves. This has become a powerful practice.  Feedback on this practice has been extremely positive.  They notice the difference in the culture of the class.  It sets an intentional tone of respect for whatever the person talking has to say.  Try it and let me know what you think.