Review by: Oliver Schinkten  |  @schink10

Yes! Yes! Yes!  This book is desperately needed as a wake-up call and instructional resource for two of the most important skills our students need to prepare for their futures:  Listening & Speaking.  Approximately 75% of our communication time is spent either listening or speaking.  While reading and writing have been strongly emphasized, and rightfully so, these two skills were lost in the mix.  This is unacceptable!  I have experienced many situations like the ones described in the book in which teachers are asked how they teach "speaking" or "listening".  Often the teacher will reply that students present a power-point or give a presentation on content they learned.  Although these are examples of speaking and listening (usually painful ones), students are rarely taught how to speak effectively or how to listen effectively.  Why?  Considering the importance of these skills in our students' futures, I think it is time that these skills become a much higher priority.  In this book, Erik Palmer does a fabulous job explaining the importance of listening/speaking and then proceeds to break down these skills, giving strategies, resources, and assessment ideas for implementing this in your classroom.  I believe that this book will leave you paying more attention to teaching speaking and listening, and have you feeling confident n doing so.  I strongly suggest you buy this book.  Your students deserve it!