Introduction

When engaging in conversations, it is crucial for students to understand the importance of staying on topic. Staying on topic means discussing the same subject and ensuring that our comments connect back to what the other person said. This helps avoid confusion and promotes effective communication. In this blog post, we’ll explore a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help educators teach elementary students how to stay on topic during conversations.

No-Prep Activity: Topic Train

This activity requires no preparation or materials and can be done in a classroom setting. The purpose of the Topic Train is to help students practice staying on topic by ensuring their comments connect back to the previous statement made by a classmate.

1. Ask the students to sit in a circle.
2. Explain to the students that they will be taking turns making a comment related to a chosen topic.
3. Select a topic (e.g., a recent field trip, a popular movie, or a favorite book) and ask the first student to make a comment related to the topic.
4. Continue around the circle, with each student making a comment that connects back to the previous statement.
5. If a student makes a comment that doesn’t stay on topic, gently redirect them to the current topic.
6. Continue the activity until each student has had a chance to participate.

This activity helps students become more aware of the importance of staying on topic and connecting their comments to the conversation’s subject.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Topic Train activity, use these discussion questions to stimulate further conversations about staying on topic:

1. Why is it essential to stay on topic during conversations?
2. How does staying on topic help us communicate effectively with others?
3. What are some strategies that can help us stay on topic when we’re talking with others?
4. How can we politely bring a conversation back on topic if it starts to veer off course?
5. Can you think of a time when you or someone else didn’t stay on topic during a conversation? How did it affect the conversation?

Related Skills

In addition to staying on topic, there are other essential social-emotional skills that students should develop to communicate effectively. Some of these skills include:

• Active listening: Paying attention to what the other person is saying and responding appropriately.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Respect: Treating others with kindness and consideration.
• Assertiveness: Expressing thoughts and feelings confidently and respectfully.
• Conflict resolution: Solving disagreements and finding a solution that is fair to all parties.

Next Steps

Staying on topic is a critical social-emotional skill that helps students communicate effectively with their peers and teachers. To further enhance your students’ social-emotional learning, we encourage you to explore more resources and activities by signing up for free samples at Everyday Speech. With a variety of materials available, you’ll find plenty of resources to help your students grow and succeed in their social-emotional development.