Lesson Plan
Progress Check Communication Basics
Students will complete a 6-item communication quick check and submit a self-reflection on listening and I-statement use this week.
This lesson is important because it allows students to gauge their understanding of essential communication skills, reflect on their personal practice, and set actionable goals for improvement, fostering self-awareness and continuous growth.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through a quick check, journal reflection, and goal setting.
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Progress Check Communication Basics Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Unit 3 Check Slides, Communication Quick Check (6 items), Listening and I-Statement Log, Exit Ticket One Conversation Goal, and Communication Quick Check Answer Key.
- Ensure copies of the Communication Quick Check (6 items) and Listening and I-Statement Log are ready for distribution, or that students have access to digital versions.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Rate Your Practice Frequency
5 minutes
- Display the first slide of the Unit 3 Check Slides.
- Instruct students to anonymously rate their frequency of practicing active listening and using I-statements this week, perhaps on a show of fingers or a quick digital poll.
- Briefly discuss general trends without individual call-outs. This serves as the “Do Now” activity.
Step 2
Communication Quick Check Quiz
10 minutes
- Distribute or direct students to the Communication Quick Check (6 items).
- Explain that this is a formative assessment to help them and you understand their current grasp of basic communication concepts. It is not heavily graded but is for understanding.
- Give students 10 minutes to complete the quiz individually.
Step 3
Curate Journal Entries and Reflect
10 minutes
- Transition to the Listening and I-Statement Log.
- Instruct students to review their log entries from the week.
- Prompt them to reflect on any trends they notice in their listening skills and I-statement usage. For example: "Did you find it easier to use I-statements in certain situations? When was listening most challenging?"
Step 4
Cool-Down: Set One Conversation Goal
5 minutes
- Distribute or direct students to the Exit Ticket One Conversation Goal.
- Instruct students to set one specific, actionable goal for practicing a communication skill in an upcoming conversation next week.
- Collect the cool-downs as students leave, using them to inform future instruction or individual check-ins.
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Slide Deck
Communication Check-In!
How often did you practice active listening and using 'I-statements' this week?
1 = Never
2 = Rarely
3 = Sometimes
4 = Often
5 = Always
Show me on your fingers or respond to the poll!
Welcome students and introduce the purpose of the quick check: to see where everyone is at with communication skills. Explain that this is a low-stakes activity for their learning. Display the question and have students respond anonymously, e.g., show on fingers 1-5, or use a quick poll tool if available. Emphasize honesty for self-assessment.
Time for a Quick Check!
Let's see what we know about communication basics.
This is a quick check, not a test, to help us all understand our strengths and areas for growth.
You'll have 10 minutes to complete the Communication Quick Check (6 items).
Transition to the quiz. Explain its purpose as a formative assessment, not a high-stakes test. Guide students to where the Communication Quick Check (6 items) is located.
Reflect and Review Your Log!
Now that you've completed the quick check, let's look at your personal practice.
Take a few minutes to review your entries in your Listening and I-Statement Log.
- What trends do you notice?
- When was it easy? When was it challenging?
After the quiz, introduce the journal reflection. Explain that reviewing their Listening and I-Statement Log will help them see patterns in their communication habits.
Set Your Next Communication Goal!
Based on your reflections, what's one specific communication skill you want to focus on in an upcoming conversation?
Fill out your Exit Ticket One Conversation Goal before you leave.
Make it a goal you can really work on next week!
Introduce the cool-down activity. Explain that setting a specific goal helps them apply what they've learned. Direct students to the Exit Ticket One Conversation Goal. Collect these as an exit ticket.
Slide Deck
Communication Check-In!
How often did you practice active listening and using 'I-statements' this week?
1 = Never
2 = Rarely
3 = Sometimes
4 = Often
5 = Always
Show me on your fingers or respond to the poll!
Welcome students and introduce the purpose of the quick check: to see where everyone is at with communication skills. Explain that this is a low-stakes activity for their learning. Display the question and have students respond anonymously, e.g., show on fingers 1-5, or use a quick poll tool if available. Emphasize honesty for self-assessment.
Time for a Quick Check!
Let's see what we know about communication basics.
This is a quick check, not a test, to help us all understand our strengths and areas for growth.
You'll have 10 minutes to complete the Communication Quick Check (6 items).
Transition to the quiz. Explain its purpose as a formative assessment, not a high-stakes test. Guide students to where the Communication Quick Check (6 items) is located.
Reflect and Review Your Log!
Now that you've completed the quick check, let's look at your personal practice.
Take a few minutes to review your entries in your Listening and I-Statement Log.
- What trends do you notice?
- When was it easy? When was it challenging?
After the quiz, introduce the journal reflection. Explain that reviewing their Listening and I-Statement Log will help them see patterns in their communication habits.
Set Your Next Communication Goal!
Based on your reflections, what's one specific communication skill you want to focus on in an upcoming conversation?
Fill out your Exit Ticket One Conversation Goal before you leave.
Make it a goal you can really work on next week!
Introduce the cool-down activity. Explain that setting a specific goal helps them apply what they've learned. Direct students to the Exit Ticket One Conversation Goal. Collect these as an exit ticket.
Slide Deck
Communication Check-In!
How often did you practice active listening and using 'I-statements' this week?
1 = Never
2 = Rarely
3 = Sometimes
4 = Often
5 = Always
Show me on your fingers or respond to the poll!
Welcome students and introduce the purpose of the quick check: to see where everyone is at with communication skills. Explain that this is a low-stakes activity for their learning. Display the question and have students respond anonymously, e.g., show on fingers 1-5, or use a quick poll tool if available. Emphasize honesty for self-assessment.
Time for a Quick Check!
Let's see what we know about communication basics.
This is a quick check, not a test, to help us all understand our strengths and areas for growth.
You'll have 10 minutes to complete the Communication Quick Check (6 items).
Transition to the quiz. Explain its purpose as a formative assessment, not a high-stakes test. Guide students to where the Communication Quick Check (6 items) is located.
Reflect and Review Your Log!
Now that you've completed the quick check, let's look at your personal practice.
Take a few minutes to review your entries in your Listening and I-Statement Log.
- What trends do you notice?
- When was it easy? When was it challenging?
After the quiz, introduce the journal reflection. Explain that reviewing their Listening and I-Statement Log will help them see patterns in their communication habits.
Set Your Next Communication Goal!
Based on your reflections, what's one specific communication skill you want to focus on in an upcoming conversation?
Fill out your Exit Ticket One Conversation Goal before you leave.
Make it a goal you can really work on next week!
Introduce the cool-down activity. Explain that setting a specific goal helps them apply what they've learned. Direct students to the Exit Ticket One Conversation Goal. Collect these as an exit ticket.
Quiz
Communication Quick Check (6 items)
Journal
My Communication Practice Log
Instructions:
Throughout the week, try to pay attention to your conversations. Use this log to record when you practiced active listening or used 'I-statements.' Reflect on how it went.
Entry 1:
Date:
Situation: (Briefly describe what happened and who you were talking to)
Communication Skill Used: (Active Listening / I-Statement)
What I said/did:
How it went (what was the outcome/how did you feel?):
Entry 2:
Date:
Situation: (Briefly describe what happened and who you were talking to)
Communication Skill Used: (Active Listening / I-Statement)
What I said/did:
How it went (what was the outcome/how did you feel?):
Entry 3:
Date:
Situation: (Briefly describe what happened and who you were talking to)
Communication Skill Used: (Active Listening / I-Statement)
What I said/did:
How it went (what was the outcome/how did you feel?):
Weekly Reflection:
Looking back at your entries, what trends do you notice about your communication skills this week? What did you find easy, and what was challenging?
Cool Down
Exit Ticket: My Next Conversation Goal
Name: ____________________________
Think about what you've learned and reflected on today about communication skills. For your next important conversation (it could be with a friend, family member, or even a teacher), what ONE communication goal will you set for yourself?
Choose one of the following, or create your own specific goal:
- Active Listening: I will try my best to listen without interrupting and ask clarifying questions.
- I-Statement: I will use an 'I-statement' to express my feelings or needs.
- Eye Contact: I will make consistent eye contact to show I am engaged.
- Summarizing: I will summarize what the other person said to ensure I understood.
My Goal for Next Week:
I will focus on ____________________________________________________________________
In this conversation, I will try to:
Why is this goal important to you?
Answer Key
Communication Quick Check Answer Key
Question 1:
Which of these is an example of active listening?
- Correct Answer: Nodding, making eye contact, and summarizing what the other person said.
- Thought Process: Active listening involves both verbal and non-verbal cues that show you are engaged and understanding. Interrupting, looking at your phone, or planning your response are all signs of passive or non-listening.
Question 2:
Explain in your own words why active listening is important.
- Sample Answer: Active listening is important because it helps you truly understand what someone else is saying, not just hear their words. It shows respect and can prevent misunderstandings, making conversations more effective and people feel heard.
- Thought Process: Look for answers that emphasize understanding, empathy, respect, and preventing miscommunication. Students should articulate the benefits beyond just 'hearing' words.
Question 3:
What is the main purpose of an 'I-statement'?
- Correct Answer: To express your feelings and needs clearly without blaming.
- Thought Process: 'I-statements' focus on the speaker's feelings and perspective, allowing them to communicate their needs without making the other person feel attacked or blamed. This leads to more constructive conversations.
Question 4:
Turn this 'You-statement' into an 'I-statement': 'You always make me angry when you take my things without asking!'
- Sample Answer: 'I feel angry when my things are taken without me being asked, because then I can't find them when I need them.' (Or: 'I feel frustrated when you take my things without asking, because I worry they might get lost.')
- Thought Process: The key is to shift the focus from