Introduction

Effective communication is a vital skill for students in special education, and teaching conversation skills is an essential aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. The concept of Conversation Drivers and Stoppers is a fun and engaging way to help students understand the difference between strategies that promote smooth communication (Conversation Drivers) and those that impede it (Conversation Stoppers). This blog post presents a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help educators teach these crucial conversation skills to their students.

No-Prep Activity

For this activity, students will participate in a role-playing exercise to practice using Conversation Drivers and Stoppers. Begin by dividing the students into pairs. Each student will take turns being the speaker and the listener. The speaker will start a conversation about a topic of their choice, and the listener will respond using either a Conversation Driver or a Conversation Stopper. After each exchange, the students will identify whether the listener used a driver or a stopper and discuss how it affected the conversation.

Here are some examples of Conversation Drivers and Stoppers to provide to the students:

• Driver: Asking open-ended questions
• Stopper: Giving one-word answers
• Driver: Showing interest in the speaker’s topic
• Stopper: Changing the subject abruptly
• Driver: Offering encouragement or compliments
• Stopper: Interrupting or talking over the speaker

Encourage the students to practice using different drivers and stoppers in each exchange. This will help them become more aware of the impact their responses have on the flow of a conversation.

Discussion Questions

1. How did it feel when your partner used a Conversation Driver? How did it feel when they used a Conversation Stopper?
2. Can you think of a time when you used a Conversation Stopper in a real-life conversation? How did it affect the interaction?
3. Why is it important to use Conversation Drivers in our daily communication with others?
4. What are some strategies you can use to turn a Conversation Stopper into a Conversation Driver?
5. How can practicing with Conversation Drivers and Stoppers help improve your overall communication skills?

Related Skills

Beyond Conversation Drivers and Stoppers, there are other relevant skills that can help students improve their communication abilities. These skills include:

• Active listening: Paying full attention to the speaker, maintaining eye contact, and providing verbal and non-verbal feedback.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which can lead to more meaningful and supportive conversations.
• Assertiveness: Expressing one’s thoughts and feelings in a respectful and confident manner.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing and resolving disagreements in a healthy and constructive way.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about Conversation Drivers and Stoppers and how they can be used to teach conversation skills to special education students, it’s time to put this knowledge into practice! To access free sample materials that cover this skill and others, sign up at Everyday Speech. By incorporating these resources into your teaching, you can help your students develop the communication skills they need to succeed in all aspects of life.