Narrator: When we have conversations with others, we need to stay on topic. The topic is what you are talking about. So staying on topic means you both talk about the same thing. We also want to make sure our comments connect back to what the other person said. If a friend asked you about Science homework, they would be confused if you started talking about volleyball. Those topics don’t match. Your comments should stay on the same topic and connect back to what other people are saying. If we don’t stay on topic, others will get confused. Let’s see what happens when Haley doesn’t stay on topic.

[SCENE 1]

Jack: Hey! Did you hear about Connor’s party?

Haley: Yeah! I can’t wait.

Jack: Me too. It’s at a bowling alley, and I love bowling.

Haley: My brother got a dog.

Jack: Ah… oh-okay. Um…I like bowling without the bumpers, but it’s pretty hard.

Haley: His name is Rico.

Narrator: What happened there? Did Haley stay on topic? How do you think this made Jack feel?

Jack: (thought bubble) We were talking about Connor’s party, but… Haley kept bringing up her brother’s dog. That was confusing.

Narrator: Jack felt confused when Haley didn’t stay on topic. Jack was talking about the party when Haley started talking about her brother’s dog. Her comments about the dog didn’t connect back to Jack talking about the party. Haley needed to stay on topic by making a connecting comment about the party. Let’s watch her try again.

[SCENE 2]

Jack: Hey! Did you hear about Connor’s party?

Haley: Yeah! I can’t wait.

Jack: Me too. It’s at a bowling alley, and I love bowling.

Haley: (internal thought) I really want to tell Jack about my brother’s new dog. But… I guess that would be confusing because we’re talking about the party now. I guess I should stay on topic.

Haley: Me too! I haven’t been bowling in a long time.

Jack: I love bowling without the bumpers, but it’s pretty hard.

Haley: That is hard.

Narrator: That time, Haley thought about staying on topic. Even though she wanted to tell Jack about the dog, she knew it would be confusing to bring up something new, so she made a comment about the party. Her comments connected back to Jack’s comments about the bowling party. Now no one was confused and they had a successful conversation. Remember, it’s important to connect your comments and stay on topic.