Effective communication is a vital skill that students need to develop, and one aspect of it is knowing when to talk in a conversation. As speech-language pathologists, it is our responsibility to guide and support students in acquiring this essential social skill. In this blog post, we will introduce a valuable tool called the Conversation Stoplight and provide a free knowing when to talk lesson plan for teaching middle school students how to navigate conversations with confidence and consideration.

What is ‘The Conversation Stoplight’?

The Conversation Stoplight is a visual aid that helps students recognize the appropriate times to talk during a conversation. It uses a traffic light analogy to represent three different situations:

1. Red Light: Stop – Students should not speak when the conversation light is red. This signifies moments when someone else is talking, or it is not the appropriate time to interject.
2. Yellow Light: Pause – Students should pause and listen when the conversation light is yellow. This indicates that it may be acceptable to contribute to the conversation, but they should be mindful of others and wait for a suitable opportunity.
3. Green Light: Speak – Students can speak when the conversation light is green. This means it is their turn to talk, and they should express their thoughts or share relevant information.

Knowing When to Talk Lesson Plan

Objective: By the end of this lesson, middle school students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the Conversation Stoplight concept and apply it to identify appropriate times to talk, pause, or listen during conversations.

Introduction

Begin the lesson by explaining the importance of effective communication and how knowing when to talk is a crucial aspect of it. Introduce the Conversation Stoplight as a helpful tool for students to understand when it is appropriate to contribute to a conversation.

Discussion

1. Explain each color of the Conversation Stoplight and its meaning using clear examples. Encourage students to share their experiences or observations regarding different conversation scenarios.
2. Conduct a role-play activity where you act as the facilitator and model different conversation situations. Use visual cues or physical props to indicate the traffic light colors and guide students on when to talk, pause, or listen.

Activity: Conversation Stoplight Question Cards

1. Print and cut out the set of Conversation Stoplight Question Cards. Each card should contain a conversation scenario, and students need to determine whether it is a red, yellow, or green light situation.
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups and distribute the cards. Encourage students to discuss and justify their answers. This activity promotes critical thinking and reinforces their understanding of the Conversation Stoplight concept.

Sample Video

Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video-modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here!

Related Blog Posts:

Free Elementary Connected Comments Activity

Telling a Story in Conversation Lesson

Enhancing Focus and Self-Regulation with the Five Finger Breathing Exercise