The research team created a direct instruction model for purposeful listening supported by proven listening comprehension strategies such as HASTE (hear, attend, search for meaning, take beyond, emote/react) (Lundsteen, 1979); ELVES (excite, listen, visualize, extend, savor)(Levesque, 1989); and SLA (Structured Listening Activity) (Swafford & Pau los, 1993). These strategies are comprised of the following skills: activating and building background knowledge, setting purpose for listening, encouraging predictions, guided reading, and summarizing. Effective listening skills instruction was integrated into the content areas of science and social studies. Activities focused on the development of thinking skills: knowledge, comprehension, analysis, application, synthesis, and evaluation.