TeachersFirst Collection: Listening with Understanding and Empathy (Habit of the Mind) Resources
Discover our collection of resources on the Habit of Mind of Listening with Understanding and Empathy—the practice of devoting genuine mental energy to another person's thoughts and ideas while making a sincere effort to perceive their point of view and emotions. This vital habit helps students move beyond simply hearing words to truly understanding others by asking clarifying questions, considering perspectives different from their own, and giving their full attention during conversations. In a world of constant communication, we've gathered a variety of tools to help you teach students to listen beyond the words and to seek to understand others' perspectives.
This collection includes:
- Role-playing activities and conversation scenarios that ask students to practice perspective-taking directly, helping them experience firsthand what it feels like to consider a viewpoint other than their own.
- Printable question stems and sentence starters to guide students toward meaningful dialogue, giving them concrete language for asking clarifying questions rather than jumping straight to a response.
- Video examples that demonstrate active listening skills and empathetic responses, modeling exactly what attentive, empathetic listening looks and sounds like, making an abstract skill easy to recognize and imitate.
- Reflection journals, where students can explore different viewpoints, build the habit of pausing to genuinely consider someone else's perspective rather than simply waiting for their turn to speak.
- Lesson plans featuring partner interviews and collaborative discussion protocols to give students structured, repeated practice giving another person their full attention and responding to what was actually said.
- Digital platforms for structured discussions and collaborative storytelling that create space for students to build on one another's ideas, reinforcing that genuine listening is what makes shared understanding possible.
As you weave these resources into your daily routines, you'll create a classroom where students practice understanding one another, fostering a culture of respect and genuine connection.
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Active Listening: The Art of Empathetic Conversation - PositivePsychology
Grades
4 to 12
tag(s): classroom management (150), conflict resolution (10), empathy (72), listening (118), problem solving (287), professional development (304)
In the Classroom
Before a class discussion, review active listening expectations. Assign students specific listening roles, such as summarizer or question-asker, to reinforce engagement and accountability. Use short social scenarios or conflict situations and have students role-play both ineffective and effective listening. Discuss how active listening changed the outcome and how it applies to real classroom interactions. Pair students and give one student a short prompt to discuss while the other practices active listening. The listener must paraphrase what was shared and reflect a feeling before switching roles.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Learn Something Series: Empathy, Listening, & Vulnerability - Princeton University
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): empathy (72), listening (118), professional development (304)
In the Classroom
In pairs, have one student share a short personal story or opinion while the other practices active listening by maintaining eye contact, paraphrasing, and asking a clarifying question. Switch roles and debrief on which listening behaviors helped the speaker feel heard. Present short, age-appropriate scenarios involving misunderstandings or conflict. Have students discuss how each person might feel and what an empathetic response would sound like. Have students write or draw about a time when asking for help or sharing feelings made a situation better. Volunteers may share if comfortable, reinforcing that vulnerability can build trust.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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3 Ways to Promote Empathy in the Classroom - Edutopia
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): empathy (72), listening (118), problem solving (287), social and emotional learning (208)
In the Classroom
Students can create a podcast sharing stories about themselves using Adobe Podcast, reviewed here. Students can brainstorm problems in their classroom, school, and community and figure out how they can help solve them. Students can share ways to showcase empathy using Stickies.io, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Respect - Kindness in the Classroom
Grades
6 to 8tag(s): critical thinking (193), empathy (72), listening (118), social and emotional learning (208), thinking skills (137)
In the Classroom
Students can engage with the lesson featured on the site. Students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to post their scale level for their active listening. Students can create a timeline using Turbo Timeline Generator, reviewed here to show how technology has allowed us to become better listeners.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Listening and empathy - British Council
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (193), diversity (58), empathy (72), listening (118), social and emotional learning (208), thinking skills (137)
In the Classroom
Students can engage with the lessons featured on the site. Students can share ways on Stormboard, reviewed here as to how they manage stress. Students can create a visual using Timeline Infographic Templates by Canva, reviewed here to show the steps that they take to manage emotions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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8 Listening Activities to Get Students Attentive & Ready to Learn - Proud to be Primary
Grades
K to 2This site includes advertising.
tag(s): empathy (72), listening (118), preK (336), social and emotional learning (208)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google Slides, reviewed here to create their own 20 Question Listening Game. Students can create their own direct drawings by recording themselves using Seesaw, reviewed here. Finally, students can create a comic modeling Whole Body Listening using Cartoon Comic Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Empathy - Character Counts!
Grades
K to 12tag(s): empathy (72), listening (118), social and emotional learning (208), thinking skills (137)
In the Classroom
Students can use Aha Slides, reviewed here to create a word cloud with words they associate with empathy. Students can create comics illustrating empathy with Witty Comics, reviewed here. Students can create a podcast using Podbean, reviewed here to share ways that showcase empathy.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Active Listening - Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): empathy (72), listening (118), social and emotional learning (208)
In the Classroom
Students can create the Active Listening checklist with visuals by using Canva for Education, reviewed here. Students can record themselves showing active listening by using ScreenPal, reviewed here. Students can create a digital escape activity using Save the Planet Breakout, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Power of Active Listening - StoryCorps
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Students can create using ScreenPal, reviewed here a short video of examples to show active listening. Students can create a comic using Comic Strip Templates by Canva, reviewed here about active listening. Students can create an image with words to showcase active listening using Magazine Cover Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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7 Engaging Listening Activities for Small Groups - eSpark
Grades
K to 5tag(s): blogs (82), game based learning (329), listening (118)
In the Classroom
Have students take turns adding one sentence at a time to create a shared story. Each student must listen closely to maintain the plot and characters. Add a challenge by having them incorporate a vocabulary word or literary device. Play Simon Says with added complexity, such as multi-step directions or academic vocabulary. Have students practice following sequential instructions and staying focused under pressure. After listening to a short passage or poem, students can take turns retelling only what they remember. Each partner adds new details until the whole idea is restored.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Effective Listening Builds Empathy - TED Conferences
Grades
5 to 12In the Classroom
Students can create an infographic using Infographics Presentation Templates, reviewed here to represent her definition of "ear." Students can compare and contrast using the 2 and 3 Circle Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here active and passive listening. Students can create short videos showing active and passive listening by using Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What is Empathy? - Sesame Workshop
Grades
K to 2This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Students can share ways to show empathy. Students can use Book Creator, reviewed here to record themselves sharing how they are empathy. Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here to create an emotions journal.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Brene Brown on Empathy - The RSA
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Students can compare and contrast empathy and sympathy using 2 and 3 Circle Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here. Students can share one way they show empathy using Stickies.io, reviewed here. Students can create short skits showing others being empathetic using ScreenPal, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Five Levels of Listening (Steven Covey) - The Right Questions
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Students can compare and contrast each of the levels of listening using the Interactive 2 Circle Venn Diagram by Read Write Think, reviewed here. Students can use Padlet reviewed here to share one way that they show empathic listening. Students can create comics using ToonyTool, reviewed here explaining the different types of listening.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Habits of Minds Kids - Habits of Minds Kids
Grades
4 to 6tag(s): empathy (72), senses (23), thinking routines (62), thinking skills (137)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the lessons from the website. Students can create a comic showing responsibility, understanding, or empathy using Free Comic Strip Maker by Adobe, reviewed here. Students can use ScreenPal, reviewed here to create short videos modeling the different Habits of Mind.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Empathy - ClassDojo
Grades
K to 4tag(s): empathy (72), listening (118), social and emotional learning (208)
In the Classroom
Students can watch the videos and participate in the discussion guide questions. Students can create a podcast interviewing people who show empathy using Adobe Podcast, reviewed here. Students can create a book cover using Book Cover Creator reviewed here featuring character traits of empathy.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Habits of Mind Explorer - Habits of Mind Insitute
Grades
K to 12tag(s): critical thinking (193), preK (336), problem solving (287), social and emotional learning (208), thinking routines (62), thinking skills (137)
In the Classroom
Include this resource as part of a project-based learning unit by having students choose one habit to focus on as they work through a complex challenge. For a social studies project exploring historical figures, students can analyze which habits, like Taking Responsible Risks or Striving for Accuracy, were most critical to their subject's success. After conducting research, students can organize their insights and provide examples of these habits in action by creating a collaborative digital board with Lino, reviewed here. To take the reflection deeper, ask students to map out their own growth in that specific habit by creating a visual journey or mind map using MindMup, reviewed here shifting focus from just learning facts to understanding the mental behaviors that drive achievement, helping students become more self-aware and intentional learners.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching With Habits of the Mind - The Institute for the Arts Integration and STEAM
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): professional development (304), social and emotional learning (208), teaching strategies (86), thinking skills (137)
In the Classroom
Have students create a habit of mind character sketch with Google Drawings, reviewed here. They can choose a character from a book and identify which habits the character uses or lacks. They can write a short explanation and illustrate the character demonstrating the habit in a key scene. Assign students to design a toolkit for a habit of mind. In small groups using Canva for Education, reviewed here, they create posters, bookmark reminders, or short scripts for morning announcements that teach their classmates how to use a specific habit. These tools are shared with the grade level or displayed in the classroom as ongoing reminders. Choose one habit of mind, such as persisting, and give students a quick challenge, such as building a tower from index cards and tape. Pause halfway through and ask students to reflect on how they are using the habit in real time, this helps them experience the habit through action.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Habits of Mind - Arthur L. Costa and Bena Kallick
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (193), problem solving (287), thinking routines (62), thinking skills (137)
In the Classroom
Introduce one habit, such as Thinking Flexibly, and give students a quick scenario in which they choose among different ways to solve a problem. Have them vote and explain their choices. Give students cards with prompts like "A time I persisted today..." or "A moment I listened with understanding..." to build awareness of habits in real time. Set up stations tied to different habits, such as puzzles for persisting partner tasks for listening with understanding or creative challenges for thinking flexibly. Have students rotate and practice each habit as part of your ongoing classroom routines.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OK2Ask: Digital Storytelling 101: Crafting Compelling Stories from Concept to Storyboard - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Unleash the power of digital storytelling in your classroom! In this hands-on workshop, you'll discover how this powerful instructional strategy amplifies student voice, deepens learning, and develops essential digital literacy skills. We'll focus on the crucial first stages of the storytelling process: ideation, research, scripting, and storyboarding. Through practical demonstrations of cutting-edge tools and collaborative activities, you'll gain the confidence to implement digital storytelling strategies that engage diverse learners, meet curriculum standards, and foster authentic learning experiences. Whether you teach science, language arts, social studies, or another subject, you'll leave with actionable strategies to help your students become masterful digital storytellers. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Design engaging digital storytelling projects that align with curriculum goals and support diverse learners. 2. Apply effective strategies for guiding students through ideation, research, scripting, and storyboarding. 3. Evaluate and select appropriate digital tools for the early phases of the storytelling process. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.
tag(s): digital storytelling (181), OK2Askarchive (51), professional development (304), stories and storytelling (82)
In the Classroom
The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Once registered, find additional reference materials, tutorials, and how-to information to help you review or extend your knowledge from the session in the handout posted on the session landing page. Resources may include additional ideas and examples on integrating the tools and strategies shared in classroom instruction. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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