The following action plan was developed to address these factors, and provide the necessary interventions to enhance listening skills and improve academic performance. Mayesky(1986) stated "Learning to listen is a prerequisite to listening to learn" (par. 6). A prerequisite to unit implementation was a preparatory lesson setting the stage for effective listening. Each member of the research team designed an anticipatory activity appropriate to the grade level classroom. The introductory lesson was sequentially presented and included the following