Listening and Speaking: Participating in Conversations
Listening and Speaking: Participating in Conversations Objective: The student will be able to participate in collaborative conversations with peers and adults in small and larger groups by listening attentively and responding appropriately.
Learning Objectives
- Students will listen carefully to a story read aloud.
- Students will take turns speaking in response to questions about the story.
- Students will demonstrate understanding by answering simple questions.
Materials Needed
- Storybook suitable for Kindergarten (e.g., ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?’)
- Picture cards related to the story
- A quiet, comfortable space for group discussion
Key Vocabulary
- Conversation
- Talking with one or more people, taking turns to speak and listen.
- Listening
- Paying close attention to the words someone else is saying.
- Respond
- To answer or react to what someone else has said.
Detailed Activities
Story Listening and Discussion
- Gather the student in a quiet space and explain that you will read a story together.
- Read the story aloud slowly and clearly, showing the pictures to the student.
- Ask simple questions about the story, such as ‘Who is in the story?’ or ‘What happened first?’
- Encourage the student to respond with complete sentences or words they know.
- Take turns speaking, modeling how to listen and respond respectfully.
Picture Card Conversation
- Show the student picture cards from the story one at a time.
- Ask the student to describe what they see on the card.
- Respond to their answers and ask follow-up questions to encourage more speaking.
- Practice taking turns by having the student ask you a question about a picture.
- Praise the student for listening and speaking clearly during the activity.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Keep the environment calm and free from distractions to help your child focus on listening.
- Be patient and give your child time to think and respond during conversations.
- Model good listening skills by making eye contact and nodding when your child speaks.
Assessment Questions
- Can you tell me who the story was about?
- What happened first in the story?
- Can you tell me what you see in this picture?
- Can you ask me a question about the story?
Extension Ideas
- Practice having short conversations about daily activities, like what you ate or what you saw outside.
- Use puppets or stuffed animals to act out simple conversations to make speaking fun.
- Record your child telling a short story or describing a picture and listen to it together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Encourage your child gently and praise any effort they make. Use puppets or toys to make speaking feel like play, and start with short answers before expecting longer sentences.
Use simple language to retell the story, show pictures often, and relate the story to your child’s own experiences to make it more understandable.
Short daily practices of 5-10 minutes are effective. Consistent, gentle practice helps build confidence and skills over time.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children may think that conversation means just talking, but listening is equally important.
- Students sometimes answer without waiting for the full question because they are eager to speak.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use visual aids like pictures and gestures to support understanding.
- Keep questions simple and provide choices for answers.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage them to ask their own questions about the story.
- Have them retell the story in their own words with added details.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Start with short listening sessions and increase length as attention improves.
- Allow extra time for student responses and turn-taking during conversations.
Standards
- K.SL.2 — Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.
Printable Worksheet
Plan Your Own Lesson
Looking for a custom lesson plan? Try our Lesson Planning Generator — create standards-based plans for any topic, instantly!
Common Core Aligned Lesson Plans
Looking for another common core lesson? See all of the lesson plans here.
More Free Lesson Plans
We’re adding more every week! Check back soon or explore all our lesson plans here.
Leave a Reply