Introduction
Interrupting, or speaking when someone else is already talking, can lead to negative feelings and misunderstandings. As educators, it’s essential to teach middle school students the difference between a good and a not-so-good way to interrupt. This blog post will discuss an easy-to-implement no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help students learn the appropriate way to interrupt, thus fostering respectful communication and social-emotional learning.
No-Prep Activity: Role-Playing Scenarios
This activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with a list of common scenarios where interrupting might be necessary. In each group, students will take turns acting out the scenarios, practicing both the not-so-good and the good way to interrupt.
For example, using the scenario from the prompt, students will first act out Alessandra interrupting in the not-so-good way. After discussing what went wrong, they will then act out the scenario again, but this time, Alessandra will interrupt in the right way by apologizing and explaining her urgency. Encourage students to reflect on the differences between the two approaches and how it affected the feelings of those involved.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to apologize and explain the reason for interrupting someone?
- How do you think Andrew and Serena felt when Alessandra interrupted them in the not-so-good way? How did their feelings change when she interrupted them in the right way?
- Can you think of a situation when you interrupted someone or were interrupted by someone? How did it make you feel?
- What are some strategies you can use to avoid interrupting others when it’s not necessary?
- How does learning the right way to interrupt contribute to creating a respectful and supportive classroom environment?
Related Skills
Teaching students the right way to interrupt is just one aspect of promoting social-emotional learning. Other relevant skills for middle school students include:
- Active listening: Encouraging students to listen carefully and attentively to others before speaking.
- Empathy: Helping students understand and share the feelings of others.
- Conflict resolution: Teaching students how to handle disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner.
- Assertiveness: Guiding students to express their needs and feelings clearly and confidently without being aggressive.
Next Steps
If you found this blog post helpful and want to explore more activities and strategies for teaching social-emotional learning, sign up for free samples of the discussed skills and others at Everyday Speech. By incorporating these principles into your classroom, you’ll be fostering a more respectful and supportive learning environment for your middle school students.
