Sharing Ideas Clearly: Speaking and Listening Skills
Sharing Ideas Clearly: Speaking and Listening Skills Objective: Students will be able to express their ideas clearly and build on others’ ideas in conversations and discussions, developing listening and speaking skills aligned with standard 6.SL.4.
Learning Objectives
- Learn to state ideas clearly when speaking.
- Practice listening carefully to others.
- Respond appropriately to build on others’ ideas during conversations.
Materials Needed
- Picture cards or story prompts
- Paper and pencil
- Timer or stopwatch
Key Vocabulary
- Express
- To share your thoughts or feelings clearly with others.
- Respond
- To answer or react to what someone else has said.
- Discussion
- A conversation where people share and talk about ideas.
Detailed Activities
Clear Sharing Circle
- Gather the student and parent in a circle or seated area for discussion.
- Use picture cards or story prompts to introduce a topic (e.g., a favorite animal or a fun activity).
- Ask the student to express their thoughts clearly about the topic for 1-2 minutes.
- Encourage the parent to listen carefully and then ask the student a follow-up question to build on their idea.
- Switch roles so the student can ask questions and listen to the parent’s ideas.
- Repeat with 2-3 different prompts to practice expressing and responding.
Listening and Responding Game
- Explain that the student will listen to a short story or statement from the parent.
- After listening, the student will restate the main idea in their own words.
- Then, the student will add a new related idea or ask a question about the story.
- Switch roles so the parent also practices listening and responding.
- Use a timer to keep each turn about 2-3 minutes.
- Discuss how listening well helps us understand and share better.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Encourage your child to speak in full sentences and explain their thoughts clearly.
- Model active listening by making eye contact and asking thoughtful questions.
- Keep activities fun and pressure-free to build confidence in speaking and listening.
Assessment Questions
- Can you tell me one idea you shared during our discussion?
- How did you listen to what I said? Can you tell me one thing you remember?
- What question did you ask or answer after listening to someone else?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child share their ideas about a favorite book or movie and ask questions about it.
- Create a family story time where each person adds a sentence to a story to practice building on ideas.
- Record a short conversation and listen to it together to notice clear speaking and good listening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with short, simple topics they enjoy and praise their efforts. Use games and encourage speaking in small steps to build confidence.
Model good listening habits like making eye contact and repeating what you heard. Use engaging stories and ask questions to keep their attention.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may think speaking loudly is the same as speaking clearly.
- Some children may believe listening means just being quiet, not actively understanding or responding.
- Students might confuse sharing ideas with telling all their thoughts at once instead of organizing them.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use simpler topics and shorter speaking turns.
- Provide sentence starters to help express ideas.
- Practice listening with visual aids or gestures.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage longer presentations with more detail.
- Have them lead a group discussion or ask challenging questions.
- Introduce new vocabulary words to use in conversations.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Begin with short activities focusing on either speaking or listening.
- Gradually increase the length of discussions as confidence grows.
- Allow frequent breaks if the student becomes tired or distracted.
Standards
- 6.SL.4 — Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
Printable Worksheet
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