Several times during his keynote, Dr. Moore described his thinking about the importance of paying attention to children by really trying to understand what they are saying and thinking.  Children are "highly skilled at pulling together everything they know," but sometimes they don't know the right words to accurately express their observations. 

 

 Listening closely to children, with our full attention, helps us understand, affirm, and respect what they know and what they want to know.  I related his words to an experience I had many years ago when a young school-age child asked me about a bird she had seen.  It was "green with a red beak," and she wanted to know what kind of bird it was.  My first thought was that there is no bird in Central PA that matches that description, but she insisted that it was accurate.  So, I took the time to flip through my bird book and discovered that there is in fact, a very common bird that meets that description, even though I don't 'see' it that way.   Dr. Moore said, "I want the child to trust what he knows."  Had I not taken the time to understand her question, I would have told her that she was wrong, when she was in fact quite right.  Thoughtful attention and feedback from someone else about their ideas helps children refine their observations and knowledge.    

 

Children want to know that they are listened to well and that their ideas are interesting and important to their parents and teachers.  Dr. Moore said a good classroom is one where every child

--has a chance

--feels that this is his classroom

--feels that the teacher wants to know him or her. 

All of these goals can be met by the teacher taking time to listen carefully and respond respectfully to children's words.  And parents can provide the same respect for their children's thinking by practicing patient, attentive listening.