Lesson Plan Template

Unit:____6__ Lesson Title: R.A.S.A. & LISTENING WITH EMPATHY & UNDERSTANDING Amount of time: _40 Minutes_

Materials - Notebooks
Needed - Pen/Pencil

STEP 1: Students will be able to explain the Habit of Mind “Listening with Empathy and
LT/Objective Understanding”, gain insights into how it is practiced, and reflect on how they can
strengthen the habit as they continue into the Socratic Seminar and beyond.

STEP 2​: Has a friend ever asked you a question then immediately looked at their phone? How did
Bell work/ this make you feel?
Focus
Describe a time in your life when you believe you did not do a great job listening to
someone (friends, teachers, family etc.). How could you have improved your listening
(10 Minutes) skills?

Teacher Student

-​ ​ Give instructions ·​ ​ Answer prompt in bellwork section of notebook

- Control Timer

CFU (Check for Understanding):

I will check journals after class to ensure ample amount of time for Socratic seminar preparation.

STEP 3: R.A.S.A. Introduction1 & What it Looks/Sounds Like to Listen

Instruction
“I do”
Teacher Student

● Listening with Understanding ● Listen Respectfully

(10 Minutes)
and Empathy means that you
honestly seek to hear someone’s ● Take notes in notebook when prompted.
answer to a question, try to relate
to their feelings, and attempt to
understand where they are
coming from. It also means not
being distracted by other things
while you listen to the person
who is sharing with you.

● Listening looks like turning your

phone on silent and putting it out

1
R.A.S.A. will be the constant visual aid throughout the process, posted on the front whiteboard when students need to be
reminded of how they can demonstrate respectful listening. For example, the “S” is Summarize, which many students may
forget, so the visual reminder will allow them to remember.
 of sight, making eye contact,
nodding in agreement, and
asking follow-up questions.

● Listening sound like silence with

the occasional agreement or
question.

CFU (Check for Understanding):

Ask students whole-class if I am demonstrating good listening skills while I give a

demonstration and visual example.

STEP 4​: Further demonstration of listening with roles of speaking switched to students throughout
Guided Practice the class.
“We do”

Teacher Student

(10 Minutes) ● Asking various students to ● Answering question posed by teacher or

answer fun questions about video follow-up question posed by peer.
games, friends, food, etc.
● Practicing the skill of listening with evidence of
● Modeling the Listening Habit of putting distractions away, posing follow-up
Mind questions, and being able to summarize what
their peers are speaking about.2

CFU (Check for Understanding):

Have students summarize what each student discussed in their responses.

STEP 5: Small group practice (3-4 students per group). Questions will be provided for groups to
Independent utilize during the discussions.
Practice
“You do”
(Enrich./Interv.) Teacher Student

● Asking questions during ● Answering questions as they are posed by

(10 Minutes)
discussion if need be. classmates.

● Answering questions to ● Practicing their listening skills using the

roadblocks as they arise R.A.S.A. acronym on the board as a
reinforcement reference.3

2
​Being able to summarize what their peers have been speaking about is vital, as it shows not only that the students are
listening, but also that they have retained the information divulged by the individual. This exemplifies respect and builds
trust among peers.
3
​Providing students with the R.A.S.A. reference on the front board is necessary to ensure quality listening skills. When
they are confused on how they should act, or if they should summarize or not, they will be able to find answers to these
questions via the acronym display.
 ● Circulating the room to provide
listening tips and redirection.

Closure/Exit As a class we will discuss how things went. I will display some trends I witnessed on the
Slip/ Class whiteboard (i.e. there was great use of summarizing answers! Or we need to work on
discussion removing all distractions when listening to others).

(10 Minutes)