Introduction
Staying on topic in conversations is an important skill to develop in young children. It helps them build better communication skills, fosters deeper connections with others, and enhances their social-emotional learning. In this blog post, we will discuss a no-prep activity for educators to use in teaching Kindergarten students how to stay on topic in conversations. We will also provide discussion questions to further stimulate conversation and mention related skills that can be taught alongside staying on topic.
No-Prep Activity
For this activity, you will need no additional materials or preparation. Begin by explaining to the students that staying on topic means talking about the same subject as the other person in the conversation. To demonstrate this, pair students up and have them take turns sharing something about themselves, such as their favorite food or a recent event they enjoyed. The other student should then respond with a statement or question related to the initial topic. Encourage students to practice active listening and remind them to stay on topic during their responses. Rotate partners several times to give students the opportunity to practice staying on topic with different peers.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to stay on topic during a conversation?
- How does it feel when someone doesn’t stay on topic when talking to you?
- What can you do if you’re having trouble staying on topic in a conversation?
- How can practicing staying on topic help improve your communication skills?
- What are some other ways we can show we are listening to someone during a conversation?
Related Skills
Staying on topic in conversations is just one of many skills that can be developed as part of social-emotional learning. Other related skills that can be taught alongside staying on topic include:
- Active listening
- Empathy and understanding others’ feelings
- Asking appropriate questions
- Expressing thoughts and feelings clearly
- Maintaining eye contact during conversations
Next Steps
Teaching Kindergarten students to stay on topic in conversations is a valuable skill that will serve them well in their social-emotional development. If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to help teach this skill and others, we invite you to sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These samples include a variety of tools and exercises designed to help educators effectively teach social-emotional learning skills to young students.
