Interruptions are a part of everyday life, and knowing how to handle them appropriately is an essential social skill. For students in special education, learning the art of polite interruptions can significantly improve their communication and interactions with others. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity for teaching polite interruptions, followed by discussion questions, related skills, and next steps.

Introduction

Polite interruptions are a crucial aspect of social-emotional learning, as they help students understand the importance of respecting others’ time and attention. By teaching students to interrupt in a considerate manner, we can help them develop empathy, communication, and problem-solving skills. The example given in the prompt illustrates how a polite interruption might look like in a conversation between students.

No-Prep Activity

This activity requires no preparation or materials, making it an ideal choice for educators who want to teach the skill of polite interruptions without any hassle. The activity is called “The Interruption Chain,” and it works as follows:

1. Have students sit in a circle or arrange their chairs in a way that everyone can see each other.
2. Explain to the students that they will participate in a conversation chain, where each student will take turns speaking.
3. Begin the activity by starting a conversation on a random topic. For example, “Yesterday, I went to the park and saw a beautiful butterfly.”
4. As the conversation progresses, encourage students to practice polite interruptions when they have something important or relevant to add to the discussion.
5. Remind students to use phrases such as “sorry to interrupt” or “excuse me” and provide a reason for the interruption.
6. Continue the conversation chain for a few minutes, allowing students to practice polite interruptions multiple times.
7. After the activity, discuss with the students how they felt about interrupting and being interrupted, as well as the importance of respecting others’ time and attention.

Discussion Questions

After completing the no-prep activity, engage your students in a discussion to further explore the concept of polite interruptions. Here are some questions to help guide the conversation:

• Why is it important to interrupt politely when we need to speak to someone?
• How do you feel when someone interrupts you without being polite? How does it affect your conversation?
• What are some situations where it might be necessary to interrupt someone?
• How can we ensure that we are interrupting for a valid reason and not just because we want to be heard?
• What are some other ways we can show respect and empathy when interrupting a conversation?

Related Skills

Teaching polite interruptions is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Here are some other related skills that can help students develop effective communication and interpersonal abilities:

• Active listening: Encourage students to listen carefully to others and respond appropriately.
• Empathy: Help students understand and share the feelings of others.
• Assertiveness: Teach students how to express their thoughts and feelings in a confident and respectful manner.
• Conflict resolution: Equip students with the skills to resolve disagreements and find solutions to problems.
• Collaboration: Foster teamwork and cooperation among students.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about teaching polite interruptions and its importance in social-emotional learning, it’s time to take action. To get started, sign up for free samples of skill-based activities and resources at Everyday Speech. These materials will help you incorporate this essential skill into your lessons and support your students’ social-emotional development.