Introduction

For middle school students, learning the art of conversation is an important part of their social-emotional development. Conversation Drivers are behaviors that keep a conversation going, while Conversation Stoppers are behaviors that can make a conversation confusing or uncomfortable for the other person. Teaching students to use Conversation Drivers can help them become better communicators, build positive relationships, and navigate various social situations. In this blog post, we will discuss an engaging no-prep activity, thought-provoking discussion questions, and related skills to help educators teach Conversation Drivers and Stoppers to middle school students.

No-Prep Activity: Role-Play Scenarios

This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Divide the class into pairs, and have each pair come up with a conversation topic. One student in each pair will be responsible for using Conversation Drivers, while the other student will use Conversation Stoppers. After a few minutes of role-playing, the students will switch roles. This activity encourages students to practice using both types of behaviors, helping them understand the impact of their communication skills on the conversation.

Discussion Questions

1. How did it feel to use Conversation Stoppers during the role-play? How do you think your partner felt?
2. What strategies can you use to transition from Conversation Stoppers to Conversation Drivers in a real-life conversation?
3. Why is it important to share the conversation and allow each person to talk for an equal amount of time?
4. How can making eye contact and using body language help improve a conversation?
5. What are some challenges you might face when trying to use Conversation Drivers in a conversation? How can you overcome these challenges?

Related Skills

Teaching Conversation Drivers and Stoppers can also help students develop related social-emotional skills, such as:

• Active Listening: Encouraging students to focus on the speaker, ask clarifying questions, and provide feedback during a conversation.
• Empathy: Helping students understand and share the feelings of others by putting themselves in another person’s shoes.
• Conflict Resolution: Teaching students how to identify and resolve conflicts through open communication and problem-solving strategies.
• Assertiveness: Empowering students to express their feelings, opinions, and needs in a respectful and confident manner.

Next Steps

Teaching Conversation Drivers and Stoppers is just one aspect of fostering strong social-emotional skills in middle school students. To further support your students’ development, consider exploring additional resources and activities. Sign up for free samples of Conversation Drivers and Stoppers, as well as other social-emotional learning materials, to help your students become effective communicators and build positive relationships with their peers.