Shutting down listening channel

I was surprised today that children refused to write down text as I dictated the text. They wanted me to write everything on the board which they were used to copying. Again it seems that they prefer visual channel rather than auditory channel.

Obviously some were finding it difficult to construct spellings from spoken words. I had to repeat parts of sentences three times, as many were unable to hold even short sentences in the short term memory and write.

It is as if - they know individual words but are failing to comprehend the integrated sentences, their meaning or sense.