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Hable y Conecte

Shannon Lee

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Active Listening Foundations

Parents will learn and practice the core principles of active listening—paraphrasing, non-verbal cues, and empathy—in both English and Spanish to improve communication with their children.

Active listening builds trust and understanding, fostering deeper connections between parents and children. Bilingual practice ensures all families can apply these skills effectively.

Audience

Parents (English and Spanish speakers)

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive slides, role-plays, and a bilingual listening game.

Materials

Active Listening Slide Deck, Active Listening Handout – English, Active Listening Handout – Español, Listening Scenarios Game Cards, Reflection Worksheet, and Note-Taking Notebooks and Pens

Prep

Prepare Bilingual Materials

10 minutes

  • Print copies of Active Listening Handout – English and Active Listening Handout – Español.
  • Queue up Active Listening Slide Deck on the projector.
  • Shuffle Listening Scenarios Game Cards and arrange in small stacks.
  • Gather Note-Taking Notebooks and Pens for participants.
  • Review slide deck content, focusing on bilingual vocabulary sections (e.g., escucha activa, parafrasear).

Step 1

Welcome and Objectives

5 minutes

  • Greet participants in both English and Spanish: “Welcome/Bienvenidos.”
  • Display opening slide from Active Listening Slide Deck with session goals.
  • Invite a few parents to share why they want to strengthen listening with their children.

Step 2

Introduction to Active Listening

10 minutes

  • Present key principles using slides: paraphrasing, non-verbal cues, open questions, empathy.
  • Highlight bilingual terms on slides (e.g., escucha activa, contacto visual).
  • Pause after each concept for participants to repeat both the English and Spanish terms.

Step 3

Partner Practice – Bilingual Pairs

10 minutes

  • Pair an English-speaking parent with a Spanish-speaking parent.
  • Distribute Active Listening Handout – English and Active Listening Handout – Español.
  • Role-play a parent-child scenario: one reads the prompt in their strong language, and the other practices active listening responses in the other language.
  • Encourage use of both languages to reinforce vocabulary.

Step 4

Listening Scenarios Game

10 minutes

  • Form small groups (3–4).
  • Each group draws a scenario from Listening Scenarios Game Cards.
  • One parent reads the scenario; another practices listening, using paraphrasing and empathy.
  • Observers use the Reflection Worksheet to note effective strategies and areas to improve.

Step 5

Group Reflection and Feedback

10 minutes

  • Reconvene as a full group.
  • Invite each group to share one success and one challenge they observed.
  • Discuss tips for overcoming common listening barriers.
  • Assign the Reflection Worksheet as a take-home practice, encouraging use of both English and Spanish.
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Slide Deck

Active Listening / Escucha Activa

Connecting more deeply with your children through focused, caring listening.

Conectando más profundamente con tus hijos a través de una escucha atenta y empática.

Greet participants in English and Spanish: “Welcome/Bienvenidos.” Introduce yourself and the goal of today’s session: building deeper connections through active listening.

Objectives / Objetivos

  • Learn core active listening skills: paraphrasing, non-verbal cues, open questions, empathy.
  • Aprender y practicar escucha activa en inglés y español.
  • Improve communication and trust with your children / Mejorar la comunicación y la confianza con sus hijos.

Point out that we’ll learn four key skills in both languages to help improve communication and trust.

What Is Active Listening? / ¿Qué es la Escucha Activa?

• Active listening is fully focusing on the speaker, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully.

• La escucha activa es concentrarse completamente en el hablante, entender su mensaje y responder con atención.

Explain that active listening is more than just hearing words – it’s fully focusing, understanding, and responding with care.

Key Principles / Principios Clave

  • Paraphrasing / Parafrasear
  • Non-Verbal Cues / Señales No Verbales
  • Open Questions / Preguntas Abiertas
  • Empathy / Empatía

Introduce each principle briefly. We’ll dive deeper in the next slides.

Paraphrasing / Parafrasear

Definition: Restating what you heard in your own words.

Example / Ejemplo:
Child/Hijo: “I’m upset because my friend said no.”
Parent/Padre: “So you feel hurt because your amigo no quiso jugar contigo.”

Read the example aloud in both languages. Emphasize the difference between repeating and paraphrasing.

Non-Verbal Cues / Señales No Verbales

  • Maintain eye contact / Mantener contacto visual
  • Nod and face the speaker / Asentir y mirar al hablante
  • Use an open, relaxed posture / Usar una postura abierta y relajada

Use your body to show you’re listening. Demonstrate nodding and open posture.

Open Questions / Preguntas Abiertas

Encourage detailed responses:

Examples / Ejemplos:
• “How did that make you feel?” / “¿Cómo te hizo sentir eso?”
• “Can you tell me more about that?” / “¿Puedes contarme más sobre eso?”

Contrast open vs. closed questions. Encourage more sharing.

Empathy / Empatía

Express understanding and support:

• “It seems like you feel… / Parece que te sientes…”
• “I understand this is hard for you.” / “Entiendo que esto es difícil para ti.”

Highlight feeling words as you introduce empathy phrases.

Partner Practice / Práctica en Parejas

• Form English-Spanish pairs.
• One reads a prompt in their strong language; the other practices active listening in the other language.
• Use your [Active Listening Handouts] for guidance.
Time: 10 minutes / Tiempo: 10 minutos

Explain the partner pairing: one English speaker, one Spanish speaker. Distribute handouts and prompts.

Listening Scenarios Game / Juego de Escenarios de Escucha

• Small groups draw a scenario from [Listening Scenarios Game Cards].
• Role-play: one parent acts as the child, another practices listening.
• Observers note strategies on the [Reflection Worksheet].
Time: 10 minutes / Tiempo: 10 minutos

Describe the game rules and circulate to support groups.

Reflection & Take-Home / Reflexión y Tarea para Casa

• Complete the [Reflection Worksheet] in both English and Spanish.
• Practice active listening daily with your children.
• Be ready to share one success in Session 2.

Encourage participants to complete this worksheet at home and to practice daily.

Thank You / Gracias

Questions? / ¿Preguntas?

See you in Session 2 / Nos vemos en la Sesión 2

Thank the group for their participation. Remind them of the next session date/time.

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