Listening, speaking, and choosing a partner

We have been practicing three things:

1. How to share information
2. How to be a good listener
3. How to choose a partner

What better way than to do them all together! 

Here is how we choose a partner:
First we choose a partner by making eye contact with someone we think would be a good person to work with or someone we don't know very well.
Second we stand up and put our hands together. 
Next we ask, "Will you be my partner?".  The only answer is, "Yes",  even if it's not someone we like.
Finally we sit EEKK style (elbow to elbow, knee to knee) to show teacher we are ready.

We have been using question cards to share information.  The first person gets to talk for 30 seconds with no interruptions.  If they run out of things to say the second person waits to give them think time without saying a word.  It's a hard skill to work on.  Then the second person shares the information they just learned with the group.  Then we do it again with the second person.

Listening is hard.  Listening and not interrupting is even harder!  We are working hard on this skill, and becoming but better active listeners and thoughtful speakers.  It's really fun!