Teaching students how to have engaging and comfortable conversations is an essential part of their social development. Conversation Drivers are behaviors that drive or keep a conversation going, making others feel at ease while talking with us. In this blog post, we’ll explore an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity for teaching Conversation Drivers to elementary students, followed by discussion questions and related skills. We’ll also provide information on how to access free sample materials for further exploration.
Introduction
Conversation Drivers are actions that make others feel comfortable and happy while talking with us. They include using eye contact and body language to show interest and attentiveness, making connected comments that relate back to the other person’s statements, and sharing the conversation by giving equal talking time to everyone involved. When students learn to use Conversation Drivers effectively, they can build stronger connections with their peers and develop essential social skills.
No-Prep Activity
This activity, called “Pass the Conversation Ball,” is designed to help students practice using Conversation Drivers in a fun and engaging way. Here’s how it works:
- Have the students sit in a circle.
- Explain to the students that they will be passing an imaginary ball (the “Conversation Ball”) around the circle as they talk to each other.
- Introduce a topic for the conversation, such as a favorite hobby or a recent event at school.
- When a student has the “Conversation Ball,” they should use a Conversation Driver, such as making eye contact, making a connected comment, or giving others a chance to speak.
- After using a Conversation Driver, the student should “pass” the imaginary ball to another student in the circle, who will then continue the conversation using their own Conversation Driver.
- Continue the activity for several minutes, encouraging students to practice using different Conversation Drivers throughout the conversation.
This activity helps students become more aware of the Conversation Drivers they are using and provides an opportunity for them to practice these skills in a supportive environment.
Discussion Questions
After completing the “Pass the Conversation Ball” activity, engage students in a discussion to help them reflect on the experience and deepen their understanding of Conversation Drivers. Consider using the following questions to guide the conversation:
- Which Conversation Drivers did you find the easiest to use during the activity? Why?
- Which Conversation Drivers did you find the most difficult to use? How can you improve in using these drivers in future conversations?
- How did using Conversation Drivers affect the overall flow and feel of the conversation?
- How can using Conversation Drivers help you build stronger connections with your peers?
- Can you think of a situation where using Conversation Drivers would be particularly important? Explain your answer.
Related Skills
Conversation Drivers are just one aspect of effective communication and social-emotional learning. Other related skills that can help students develop strong social connections and communication abilities include:
- Active listening
- Empathy and understanding
- Nonverbal communication
- Conflict resolution
- Assertiveness and self-expression
By teaching students these related skills alongside Conversation Drivers, educators can help them build a strong foundation for successful social interactions.
Next Steps
To further explore Conversation Drivers and other essential social-emotional learning skills, we encourage you to sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with additional tools and activities to support your students’ social-emotional development and help them become better communicators.
