Introduction

In any conversation, it’s essential for participants to make connected comments to ensure the dialogue remains engaging and on-topic. Connected comments are responses that relate to the ongoing conversation, which helps maintain a cohesive discussion and fosters better understanding among the participants. This blog post will explore the concept of making connected comments, provide a no-prep activity for educators to implement in their classrooms, offer discussion questions, and suggest related skills for students to develop.

No-Prep Activity: Topic Train

This simple, no-prep activity is designed to help students practice making connected comments and staying on topic in conversations. Here’s how it works:

1. Divide students into small groups or pairs.
2. Choose a topic for the conversation (e.g., favorite hobbies, weekend plans, or a recent school event).
3. Ask the students to engage in a conversation about the chosen topic, ensuring that each participant makes a connected comment or asks a relevant question when it’s their turn to speak.
4. Monitor the conversations, gently reminding students to stay on topic and make connected comments if they stray from the subject.
5. After a few minutes, stop the conversation and discuss the importance of making connected comments and staying on topic.

This activity helps students build their conversational skills by focusing on making connected comments and staying on topic, ultimately improving their interpersonal communication abilities.

Discussion Questions

• Why is it important to make connected comments in a conversation?
• How does making connected comments help keep a conversation engaging and enjoyable for all participants?
• What strategies can you use to ensure you’re making connected comments and staying on topic during a conversation?
• How can you politely redirect a conversation back on topic if someone begins discussing an unrelated subject?
• What challenges might someone face when trying to make connected comments, and how can they overcome these obstacles?

Related Skills

Developing the ability to make connected comments and maintain a focused conversation is just one aspect of effective communication. Other related skills that students should work on include:

• Active listening: Paying close attention to what the other person is saying and responding thoughtfully.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which can help create more meaningful connections and conversations.
• Nonverbal communication: Using body language, facial expressions, and gestures to convey meaning and emotion during a conversation.
• Respectful disagreement: Expressing differing opinions in a polite and respectful manner.

Next Steps

Teaching students to make connected comments and engage in effective conversations is an essential part of their social-emotional learning journey. To explore more activities, materials, and resources designed to help students develop these skills, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with the tools you need to support your students in their ongoing development of connected commenting and other vital communication skills.