Introduction

In our everyday lives, we often encounter situations where we may know more about a subject or a game than others. While it’s natural to want to correct others who may not know as much or who play differently, constantly correcting people can lead to feelings of frustration or upset. As educators, it’s crucial to teach our students the importance of thinking about how and when to correct others, especially in a fun situation like a game. This blog post will focus on incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning to help educators teach their special education students how to correct others in a gentle way and choose the right moments for doing so.

No-Prep Activity: Role-Playing Game Corrections

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Simply divide your students into small groups of 3-4 and have them role-play a game scenario where one student knows more about the game than the others. The student with more knowledge should practice correcting their peers gently and at appropriate times, while the other students can pretend to make mistakes or play differently. After the role-play, have the students discuss how they felt during the activity and what they learned about gentle correction and timing.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to think about how and when we correct others?
2. How did it feel when someone corrected you gently and at the right time during the role-play? How did it feel when they didn’t?
3. What are some strategies you can use to correct others in a gentle way?
4. How can you determine if it’s the right time to correct someone?
5. What can you do if you notice that someone is constantly correcting others in a harsh way or at inappropriate times?

Related Skills

Teaching students the art of gentle correction and timing also helps them develop other essential skills, such as:

• Empathy: Understanding how others might feel when being corrected.
• Active listening: Paying attention to the speaker and their feelings before offering corrections.
• Communication: Expressing thoughts and corrections clearly and respectfully.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements or misunderstandings in a constructive way.

Next Steps

Now that you’ve learned about teaching students the art of gentle correction and timing, it’s time to put these skills into practice. To help you get started, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of this skill and others at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with engaging and effective materials to support your students’ social-emotional growth and ensure a positive learning environment.