Introduction
Effective communication is a crucial life skill for students of all ages, particularly for those in Special Education. In this blog post, we will introduce an engaging and accessible activity called “Guess What Happens Next” to help students learn about Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers. This activity aims to develop students’ ability to understand how people react in different situations and improve their communication skills by identifying the elements that drive or stop a conversation.
No-Prep Activity: Guess What Happens Next
This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator and can be easily integrated into a lesson plan. Here’s how it works:
- Divide your students into small groups or pairs.
- Present a series of short, scripted conversations to the students. These conversations should include examples of both Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers.
- Pause the conversation at a critical point and ask the students to guess what happens next. Provide them with three choices: a) the conversation continues positively, b) the conversation stops abruptly, or c) an unexpected reaction occurs.
- After the students make their guesses, reveal the correct answer and discuss the reasons behind the outcome. Encourage students to think about the impact of body language, tone of voice, and choice of words on the conversation.
- Repeat the process with different conversation scenarios, allowing students to practice their skills in identifying Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers.
Discussion Questions
Use these questions to stimulate further discussions among your students:
- Why is it important to recognize Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers in our daily interactions?
- What are some examples of body language or tone of voice that could be perceived as Conversation Stoppers? How can we improve these aspects of our communication?
- How can we practice using Conversation Drivers to keep a conversation going or steer it in the right direction?
- What strategies can we use to handle a conversation that has been stopped by a Conversation Stopper?
- How do communication skills impact our relationships with others and our overall social-emotional well-being?
Related Skills
While focusing on Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers, it is also essential to address other relevant communication skills for students, such as:
- Active listening
- Empathy and understanding others’ perspectives
- Asking open-ended questions
- Nonverbal communication (e.g., facial expressions, gestures, and body language)
- Conflict resolution and problem-solving
Next Steps
Now that you have learned about the “Guess What Happens Next” activity and its benefits in teaching Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers, it’s time to take the next step in enhancing your students’ social-emotional learning journey. We encourage you to sign up for free samples of this skill and other related materials at Everyday Speech. These resources provide valuable tools and support to help you create an engaging and inclusive learning environment for your students.
