Introduction

As educators, it’s essential to teach our students the importance of choosing appropriate conversation topics. Conversations can cover a wide range of subjects, from the weather to TV shows, but it’s crucial to consider the person we’re talking to before deciding on a topic. By being mindful of the interests and preferences of others, students can engage in more meaningful conversations and develop stronger social connections. This blog post focuses on incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning to help students in Special Education make better topic choices during conversations.

No-Prep Activity: Topic Toss

This simple, no-prep activity encourages students to practice choosing appropriate conversation topics based on the person they’re talking to. Here’s how it works:

1. Have your students sit in a circle.
2. Introduce a soft, throwable object (like a beanbag or a small stuffed toy) that will be passed around the circle.
3. Assign a specific role or relationship to each student (e.g., a friend, a teacher, a grandparent).
4. Start the activity by holding the throwable object and mentioning a conversation topic that is appropriate for the role assigned to the student on your left.
5. Toss the object to that student, who will then have to come up with an appropriate conversation topic for the next student, based on their assigned role.
6. Continue this process until everyone has had a turn to speak.

This activity helps students develop their ability to consider the interests of others when choosing conversation topics, as well as practice active listening and turn-taking in a group setting.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Topic Toss activity, consider discussing the following questions with your students:

1. Why is it important to choose appropriate conversation topics when talking to different people?
2. How can you find out what topics might interest the person you’re talking to?
3. What are some conversation topics that might be suitable for most people?
4. How can you change the topic if you notice that the person you’re talking to isn’t interested?
5. What can you do if you’re unsure about what topics to discuss with someone?

Related Skills

Alongside choosing appropriate conversation topics, there are other essential skills that students can develop to improve their social interactions:

• Active listening: Encouraging students to truly listen to the person they’re talking to, show empathy, and respond appropriately.
• Nonverbal communication: Teaching students to pay attention to body language, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues to better understand the emotions and interests of others.
• Taking turns: Helping students understand the importance of giving others a chance to speak and share their thoughts during conversations.
• Asking open-ended questions: Guiding students to ask questions that encourage deeper conversations and enable them to learn more about the person they’re talking to.

Next Steps

Now that you have some ideas to help your students choose appropriate conversation topics, it’s time to put these strategies into practice. To access more resources and sample materials for teaching Social-Emotional Learning skills, sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. By incorporating these techniques into your teaching, you’ll be supporting your students in developing strong communication skills and fostering more meaningful connections with others.