Taking Turns in Conversations
Taking Turns in Conversations Objective: Students will learn to participate in conversations by taking turns speaking, listening to others, and responding appropriately as described in standard K.SL.5.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the importance of taking turns when talking with others.
- Practice listening carefully while others are speaking.
- Respond politely and appropriately during conversations.
Materials Needed
- Picture book with simple dialogue (e.g., ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?’)
- Talking stick or any small object to pass around
- Paper and crayons for drawing
Key Vocabulary
- Conversation
- Talking with someone and listening to what they say.
- Turn-taking
- Waiting for your chance to speak when talking with others.
- Listening
- Paying attention to what someone else is saying.
Detailed Activities
Story Time and Discussion
- Read a picture book aloud to the student, emphasizing the dialogue between characters.
- Pause after each character speaks and explain that in conversations, people take turns talking.
- Ask the student to repeat simple lines from the story when it is their turn.
Turn-Taking Practice
- Introduce a talking stick or small object that the speaker will hold while talking.
- Take turns passing the object and saying something simple about their day or favorite things.
- Encourage the student to listen carefully while it is not their turn.
Drawing and Sharing
- Have the student draw a picture about something they like.
- Take turns sharing about their drawing using the talking stick.
- Model polite responses and encourage the student to respond similarly.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Be patient and model good listening and turn-taking behaviors.
- Use simple language and praise your child when they wait their turn to speak.
- Keep activities short and engaging to match your child’s attention span.
Assessment Questions
- What do we do when someone else is talking?
- How do we know when it is your turn to speak?
- Can you tell me one thing your friend said during our conversation?
Extension Ideas
- Practice turn-taking during family meals or playtime.
- Use puppets or stuffed animals to role-play conversations with turn-taking.
- Create a simple conversation chart with pictures to remind your child about taking turns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gently remind your child that everyone has a turn to speak and practice waiting by using the talking stick during activities.
Make eye contact, use simple instructions, and praise your child when they listen carefully.
Yes, at this age simple responses are normal; encourage them to express their thoughts with the words they know.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Children may think they need to speak first and may interrupt others.
- Students might believe listening is less important than speaking.
- Some children may be shy and hesitant to take turns speaking.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use visual cues like the talking stick to signal whose turn it is.
- Keep speaking turns very short and provide more prompts.
- Use familiar topics to encourage participation.
For Advanced Students:
- Introduce simple questions to ask peers after their turn.
- Encourage your child to add more details when it is their turn to speak.
- Practice conversations in pairs or small groups with family members.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 10-15 minutes on story time and discussion to model conversation.
- Allocate 15 minutes for turn-taking practice using the talking stick.
- Use the last 10-15 minutes for drawing, sharing, and reinforcement.
Standards
- K.SL.5 — Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
Printable Worksheet
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