Introduction

In a classroom setting, students often encounter situations where others may unknowingly cause distractions or engage in annoying behaviors. As educators, it’s essential to teach students effective communication skills to address these situations calmly and politely. This blog post will discuss a practical no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help elementary students learn how to communicate about distractions and annoyances in a respectful manner.

No-Prep Activity: The Polite Request Game

This activity aims to teach students how to politely address distracting or annoying behaviors. Divide the students into pairs. One student will act as the person causing a distraction, while the other student will practice addressing the issue politely. Have each pair switch roles after a few rounds to ensure that all students have an opportunity to practice both perspectives. Encourage them to use phrases such as “Could you please…?” or “Would you mind…?” while stating their request. This activity helps students practice staying calm and using polite language to express their concerns.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to stay calm when addressing someone who is causing a distraction or annoyance?
2. How can we ensure that our request to stop the distracting behavior is polite and respectful?
3. What are some examples of situations where it might be necessary to address a distracting or annoying behavior?
4. How can we show appreciation when someone stops their distracting behavior after we’ve asked them to?
5. What can we do if someone doesn’t stop their distracting behavior after we’ve asked them politely?

Related Skills

Teaching students how to communicate about distractions and annoyances effectively also helps them develop other essential social-emotional skills, such as:

• Active Listening: Encourage students to listen carefully to others when they express their concerns or needs.
• Empathy: Help students understand and share the feelings of others, especially when they are experiencing discomfort due to distractions.
• Conflict Resolution: Teach students how to resolve disagreements or misunderstandings without resorting to negative behaviors.
• Self-Awareness: Assist students in recognizing their actions and how they may impact others in a classroom setting.
• Self-Regulation: Help students learn to control their emotions and behaviors, especially when dealing with distractions and annoyances.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of how to teach students to communicate about distractions and annoyances effectively, take the next step in enhancing their social-emotional learning journey. Sign up for free samples of these skills and many others to help create a positive learning environment for your students.