Listening Project: New findings!

Our preliminary findings of survey data of over 200 7th-grade students across four schools in NYC indicated that students reported having greater interpersonal curiosity as well as a greater sense of common humanity after participating in the Listening Project. Students who reported greater curiosity also reported higher levels of empathy and better quality relationships with their peers and parents. Those who reported a greater sense of common humanity also demonstrated better listening skills, and reported higher levels of self-esteem, and better quality relationships with peers and parents. These findings underscore the intersections among curiosity, a sense of a common humanity, and psychological and social well-being. Teachers have also reported a positive impact on their classroom climate as well as their own teaching. A quote from one of our teachers:

“In general, it changed how I see the 7th grade mind. It really did. It helped me to see their process, their needs, their hesitations and worries and it helped me to understand rules/behaviors in our SOCIETY (such as not wanting to probe into sensitive topics, or come close when someone appears upset, or misunderstanding/reading emotions/tears as defense mechanisms) and it helped me see kids as maybe a product of our society. That’s kind of big picture stuff.”