In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of teaching students to think about others before speaking, a key skill in social-emotional learning. By remembering others’ interests and preferences, students can develop better communication skills and foster stronger relationships. This post will provide a no-prep activity for educators to use, discussion questions to stimulate further conversations, related skills, and next steps to support students in their growth.

Introduction

Thinking about others before speaking is a valuable skill that can help students develop empathy, understanding, and effective communication. By considering the other person’s interests, feelings, and experiences, students can engage in more meaningful conversations and demonstrate that they care about the other person. This is especially important for students in special education, as it can help them build stronger social connections and navigate various social situations more confidently.

No-Prep Activity

Here is a simple, no-prep activity that educators can use to help students practice thinking about others before speaking:

Role-Playing Scenarios

1. Divide the students into pairs.
2. Assign each student a role (e.g., Student A and Student B).
3. Provide a brief scenario for the students to act out, ensuring that Student A has some information about Student B’s interests or experiences (e.g., Student B loves painting).
4. Have Student A start the conversation, encouraging them to think about Student B’s interests before speaking.
5. Allow the conversation to continue for a few minutes, with the educator observing and providing feedback as needed.
6. Switch roles and repeat the process with a new scenario.

This activity helps students practice considering others’ interests and experiences, fostering empathy and improving their conversation skills.

Discussion Questions

Use these discussion questions to facilitate further conversations about thinking about others before speaking:

1. Why is it important to think about others before speaking to them?
2. How does considering someone’s interests and experiences help improve our communication with them?
3. What strategies can you use to remember someone’s interests or experiences?
4. How does thinking about others before speaking help build stronger relationships?
5. Can you share a time when you thought about someone’s interests before speaking to them, and how did it impact the conversation?

Related Skills

Here are some other related skills that can support students in their social-emotional learning:

• Active listening: Paying full attention to the speaker, asking questions, and providing feedback to demonstrate understanding.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, and responding with care and support.
• Nonverbal communication: Using body language, facial expressions, and gestures to convey messages and emotions.
• Conflict resolution: Identifying and addressing disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner.

Next Steps

Teaching students to think about others before speaking is an essential skill for building strong social connections and navigating various social situations. To support your students in their growth and development, consider incorporating these principles into your lessons and classroom activities. For additional resources and sample materials, sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. These materials can help educators reinforce these skills and provide students with the tools they need to succeed in their social-emotional learning journey.