Being a listening teacher: Movement and playfulness as a tool for teachers training

Listening is the in-depth observation of the children and the attempt to understand and approach the children’s perspective as far as possible in order to respond to their intellectual and social-emotional needs. Listening... [ view full abstract ]

Listening is the in-depth observation of the children and the attempt to understand and approach the children’s perspective as far as possible in order to respond to their intellectual and social-emotional needs. Listening takes place when the children are seen as human beings who have a voice worth listening to. In this manner, the teacher can get to know the children and adjust the educational setting and the curriculum to their needs. The option given to the children to learn and to express themselves through various languages that suit them is also part of how the teachers listen to the children. Moreover, since the teachers also take part in the learning process, they also listen to each other through the team reflection procedures. Thus, it is important that teachers training will model the educational process parallel to the processes the student teachers generate with the children in the kindergarten. This workshop will demonstrate how movement improvisation and playfulness are tools for understanding the essence of listening to others as part of the teacher training process.

Learning "through one's body" creates a non-verbal experience of presence in the 'here and now' and allows one to listen to themselves and to others on several physical and emotional levels. This non-verbal learning experience will expand the choices and actions of teachers in their work with children, while listening to the quality of communication and dialogue. Teachers will also acquire a simple tool, creating a space for monitoring the children from a different place, and listening to the quality of the movement. The verbal analysis of the experience will enable expansion of consciousness and assimilation of the learning tools of optimal listening and dialogue.