As educators, we strive to help our students develop effective conversation skills. One key aspect is learning to ask questions that drive conversations forward, rather than asking obvious questions that hinder the flow. This is especially important for students in special education. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement activity, provide discussion questions, and suggest related skills to help students avoid asking obvious questions and improve their conversation skills.

Introduction

Effective conversation skills are essential for social-emotional learning. Students need to learn how to ask questions that move conversations forward, rather than posing obvious questions that can stop them. In the given example, Connor asked Madison questions he already knew the answers to, which led to confusion and halted the conversation. By learning to ask questions that elicit new information, students can improve their conversation skills and foster stronger connections with their peers.

No-Prep Activity: The Question Chain Game

The Question Chain Game is a simple activity that requires no preparation or materials from the educator. The goal is to help students practice asking relevant questions that drive conversations forward. Here’s how it works:

1. Have students sit in a circle.
2. Choose a student to start the conversation by making a statement (e.g., “I went to the park yesterday.”)
3. The next student in the circle must ask a relevant question to the previous statement (e.g., “What did you do at the park?”)
4. Continue around the circle, with each student asking a question related to the previous statement or question.
5. If a student asks an obvious question or one that has already been answered, they must try again with a new, relevant question.

This activity helps students practice listening attentively to their peers and asking questions that gather new information, ultimately improving their conversation skills.

Discussion Questions

• Why is it important to ask questions that drive a conversation forward?
• How can asking obvious questions impact the flow of a conversation?
• What strategies can we use to think of relevant questions to ask during a conversation?
• How can we practice active listening to better understand what information has already been shared in a conversation?
• Why is it important to be mindful of the questions we ask in a conversation, especially when interacting with our peers in special education settings?

Related Skills

In addition to avoiding obvious questions, there are other relevant skills that can help students improve their conversation abilities:

• Active Listening: Encourage students to listen carefully to their conversation partners and respond thoughtfully.
• Empathy: Teach students to put themselves in others’ shoes and consider their feelings during conversations.
• Turn-taking: Help students understand the importance of giving others a chance to speak and not dominating the conversation.
• Nonverbal Communication: Show students how to use body language and facial expressions to convey their interest and understanding during conversations.

Next Steps

Ready to dive deeper into teaching conversation skills and other social-emotional learning topics? Sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech to access a variety of resources designed to support educators working with students in special education. By incorporating these activities and strategies into your teaching, you can help your students develop the skills they need to engage in meaningful, effective conversations with their peers.