Introduction

Teaching conversation skills to students in special education can be a challenging yet essential task. One crucial aspect of these skills involves understanding how to smoothly shift from one topic to another in a conversation. Just like surfing, conversations need to flow seamlessly from one topic to the next. When we ride a wave of one topic, such as homework, we should wait until it ends before transitioning to a new one, like a favorite video game. This blog post will discuss an effective no-prep activity for teaching this skill, provide discussion questions, and suggest related skills that can benefit your students’ social-emotional learning.

No-Prep Activity: Topic Surfing

This activity requires no preparation or materials, making it an easy and engaging way to teach conversation skills. To begin, pair students up and assign each pair a starting topic. Explain that they will practice “riding the wave” of their topic just like a surfer. Their goal is to keep the conversation flowing smoothly and then transition to a new topic when the initial one has run its course.

Give the pairs a few minutes to practice. Then, have them switch partners and assign new topics. Repeat this process several times, allowing students to become more comfortable with the concept of smoothly shifting topics. Afterward, gather the class together and discuss their experiences, challenges, and successes during the activity.

Discussion Questions

• How did it feel to practice shifting topics smoothly? Were there any moments when the conversation felt awkward or confusing?
• What strategies did you use to determine when it was time to transition to a new topic? How can you apply these strategies in real-life conversations?
• How can we better recognize when our conversation partner is ready to move on to a new topic? What signals can we look for?
• Why is it important to be able to shift topics smoothly in a conversation? How does this skill contribute to positive social interactions?
• Can you think of a situation in which smoothly shifting topics might be especially important or challenging? How would you handle it?

Related Skills

Teaching students how to smoothly shift topics in a conversation is just one aspect of their social-emotional learning. Here are some related skills that can further support their development:

• Active Listening: Encourage students to practice active listening by focusing on their conversation partner, asking relevant questions, and showing empathy.
• Nonverbal Communication: Teach students to recognize and interpret body language, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues to better understand their conversation partner’s feelings and intentions.
• Conversation Etiquette: Help students develop conversation etiquette, such as taking turns speaking, not interrupting, and using polite language and tone.
• Conflict Resolution: Equip students with strategies for resolving conflicts and disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner.

Next Steps

Now that you have a better understanding of how to teach conversation skills to special education students, consider exploring more resources and activities that support social-emotional learning. To get started, sign up for free samples of various skills and activities at Everyday Speech. These resources can help you create an engaging and supportive learning environment for your students as they develop essential social-emotional skills.