Introduction

Staying on topic is an essential communication skill that helps maintain meaningful conversations and avoid confusion. It means keeping the same topic of conversation throughout the discussion. This is particularly important for high school students, as effective communication plays a crucial role in their social and academic lives. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of staying on topic, present a no-prep activity for educators to use with their students, and provide discussion questions to further explore this skill. We will also mention related skills and encourage you to explore more resources on the subject.

No-Prep Activity

Here’s a simple no-prep activity called “Topic Tennis” that educators can use to help students practice staying on topic:

1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Assign a conversation topic to each pair or group. For example, “the last movie you watched,” “favorite vacation spots,” or “weekend plans.”
3. Ask the students to have a conversation about the assigned topic for 3-5 minutes.
4. During the conversation, students should focus on staying on topic and avoid discussing unrelated subjects.
5. After the activity, have a class discussion about the experience and the importance of staying on topic.

Discussion Questions

• Why is it important to stay on topic during a conversation?
• How do you feel when someone goes off-topic in a conversation? How do you think others feel?
• What strategies can you use to bring a conversation back on topic if it starts to drift?
• How can staying on topic help improve your relationships with friends, family, and teachers?
• Can you think of a situation where going off-topic might be appropriate or helpful? Explain your reasoning.

Related Skills

Staying on topic is just one aspect of effective communication. Other relevant skills that high school students should develop include:

• Active listening: Paying full attention to the speaker, asking clarifying questions, and showing empathy.
• Nonverbal communication: Using body language, facial expressions, and eye contact to convey messages and emotions.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner.
• Assertiveness: Expressing your thoughts, feelings, and needs in an open, honest, and respectful way.

Next Steps

Now that you’re familiar with the importance of staying on topic and have a no-prep activity to practice this skill with your students, it’s time to explore more resources that can help them develop their communication abilities. To get started, we invite you to sign up for free sample materials that cover a variety of social-emotional learning skills. These resources will provide you with additional tools and strategies to support your students’ growth and success in their social and academic lives.