Lesson Plan
Speak Up: Communication Needs
Students will learn to identify their communication needs and practice advocating for them effectively in various situations, such as asking a teacher to wear an FM system.
Developing self-advocacy skills is essential for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students to ensure their access to information and full participation in academic and social settings. This lesson empowers them to take an active role in their communication success.
Audience
Middle School Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through discussion, role-playing, and a game, students will build confidence in advocating for their needs.
Materials
Listening Scenarios Warm-Up (#listening-scenarios-warm-up), Advocacy Role-Play Activity (#advocacy-role-play-activity), Communication Bingo Game (#communication-bingo-game), My Advocacy Power Cool-Down (#my-advocacy-power-cool-down), and Speak Up: Communication Needs Slide Deck (#speak-up-communication-needs-slide-deck)
Prep
Review Materials & Set Up
10 minutes
- Review the Speak Up: Communication Needs Lesson Plan, Listening Scenarios Warm-Up, Advocacy Role-Play Activity, Communication Bingo Game, My Advocacy Power Cool-Down, and Speak Up: Communication Needs Slide Deck.
- Ensure the interpreter is briefed on the lesson objectives and activities.
- Prepare any necessary printouts for the Advocacy Role-Play Activity and Communication Bingo Game (if applicable).
- Arrange seating for small group work during the activity.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Welcome & Objective (2 minutes):
- Begin by welcoming students. Use Speak Up: Communication Needs Slide Deck Slide 1.
- Introduce the day's topic: advocating for their communication needs.
- Explain why this skill is important for them, giving a brief real-world example (e.g., asking a teacher to wear an FM system).
- Listening Scenarios Warm-Up (3 minutes):
- Distribute the Listening Scenarios Warm-Up or display scenarios on Speak Up: Communication Needs Slide Deck Slide 2.
- Ask students to read each scenario and think about how they would feel and what they would say or do.
- Briefly discuss one or two scenarios as a whole group, encouraging initial thoughts.
Step 2
Advocacy Role-Play Activity
15 minutes
- Introduce Activity (2 minutes):
- Transition to the main activity using Speak Up: Communication Needs Slide Deck Slide 3.
- Explain that students will work in small groups to practice advocating for their communication needs through role-playing.
- Review the key things to remember for effective advocacy (clear, direct, explain why, suggest solutions, body language).
- Group Work & Role-Play (10 minutes):
- Divide students into small groups (e.g., 3-4 students per group).
- Distribute the Advocacy Role-Play Activity scenarios to each group.
- Instruct groups to choose a scenario and practice acting it out, rotating roles so everyone gets a chance to advocate.
- Circulate among groups, providing support, feedback, and encouragement.
- Share Out (3 minutes):
- Bring the class back together.
- Ask each group to briefly share one key takeaway or a successful advocacy strategy they used during their role-play.
Step 3
Communication Bingo Game
7 minutes
- Introduce Game (2 minutes):
- Introduce the Communication Bingo Game using Speak Up: Communication Needs Slide Deck Slide 4.
- Explain the rules of Bingo: mark off squares as they hear examples of advocacy strategies.
- Clarify that you will call out various advocacy actions, or they can listen for them in the brief group share-outs from the previous activity.
- Play Bingo (5 minutes):
- Call out advocacy examples (e.g., "Asking someone to face you," "Explaining why you need an FM system," "Asking for something to be repeated").
- Students mark their cards. The first to get Bingo wins a small, non-material prize (e.g., a round of applause, being the 'advocacy captain' for the day).
Step 4
Cool-Down & Wrap-Up
3 minutes
- Individual Reflection (2 minutes):
- Distribute the My Advocacy Power Cool-Down or display questions on Speak Up: Communication Needs Slide Deck Slide 5.
- Ask students to answer the reflection questions individually.
- Closing (1 minute):
- Briefly recap the importance of self-advocacy.
- Encourage students to continue practicing these skills in their daily lives.
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Slide Deck
Speak Up: Your Communication Power!
Today, we're talking about something super important: advocating for YOUR communication needs.
It's about making sure your voice is heard and you get the support you need to understand and participate!
Welcome students and introduce the topic of communication advocacy. Explain why this skill is important for them.
Warm-Up: Listening Scenarios
Let's think about different situations where communication might be tricky.
Read each scenario and consider:
- How would you feel?
- What would you do to make sure you could communicate effectively?
Introduce the Warm-Up activity. Explain that they will read scenarios and think about how they would feel and what they would do. Encourage open discussion.
Activity: Advocacy Role-Play
Now, let's practice putting our advocacy skills into action!
We'll work in small groups to act out different scenarios where you'll need to speak up for your communication needs.
Think about:
- What specific words will you use?
- How will your body language help you?
- What's your goal for the conversation?
Transition to the main activity: Role-Playing. Explain the purpose of practicing advocacy in a safe environment. Divide students into small groups and distribute scenarios.
Game: Communication Bingo!
Let's make advocating fun with some Communication Bingo!
We'll play a game where you identify different ways to advocate for your communication. Listen closely for examples!
Introduce the Communication Bingo Game. Explain the rules and encourage students to identify different advocacy strategies as they play.
Cool-Down: My Advocacy Power
Great job today!
Now, let's take a moment to reflect:
- What was one key thing you learned about advocating for yourself today?
- How will you use this skill in your daily life?
Lead the Cool-Down activity. Ask students to reflect on what they learned and how they will use these skills in the future.
Warm Up
Listening Scenarios Warm-Up
Instructions: Read each scenario below. Think about how you would feel in this situation and what you would do or say to make sure your communication needs are met. Share your thoughts with a partner or the class.
Scenario 1: The Fast Talker
Your history teacher speaks very quickly, and sometimes it's hard to follow, especially when they turn their back to the class to write on the whiteboard. You've missed a few important details about a historical event.
- How do you feel?
- What would you say or do?
Scenario 2: The Forgotten FM System
It's science class, and your teacher usually remembers to wear their FM system, but today they're excited about an experiment and forgot to put it on. They're demonstrating something at the front of the room, and you're having trouble hearing their explanations over the lab noise.
- How do you feel?
- What would you say or do?
Scenario 3: Group Work Trouble
During a group project, your classmates are all talking over each other, and it's impossible to follow the conversation or contribute your ideas. You feel like you're being left out of the discussion.
- How do you feel?
- What would you say or do?
Activity
Advocacy Role-Play Activity
Instructions: In small groups, you will receive a scenario. Work together to act out the situation, focusing on how you would advocate for your communication needs. Discuss the best ways to approach the situation and what specific words you would use.
Key things to remember during your role-play:
- Be Clear and Direct: State your need simply.
- Explain Why (briefly): Help the other person understand the impact.
- Suggest Solutions: Offer what would help you.
- Practice Body Language: Stand tall, make eye contact.
Role-Play Scenario 1: The New Substitute
Situation: You have a substitute teacher today who doesn't know about your hearing accommodations. They are speaking from across the room and not facing you when they talk. You are missing important instructions for an assignment.
Your Goal: Politely inform the substitute about your communication needs and ask them to adjust their speaking style or use the FM system.
Role-Play Scenario 2: The Loud Cafeteria
Situation: You're trying to have a conversation with a friend at lunch in the loud cafeteria, but you can't hear them well. They keep talking without realizing you're struggling to follow along.
Your Goal: Advocate for a better communication environment or suggest a different way to communicate with your friend.
Role-Play Scenario 3: The Group Project Presentation
Situation: Your group is preparing for a presentation, and one member keeps mumbling their lines or talking with their hand in front of their mouth. You need to understand everyone clearly to give a good presentation.
Your Goal: Address your group member about their speaking habits and explain how it impacts your ability to understand them.
Game
Communication Bingo!
Instructions: Listen carefully as your teacher (or classmates during role-play discussions) describes different ways to advocate for communication. When you hear an example that matches a square on your bingo card, mark it off. The first person to get five in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins "BINGO!"
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
FREE SPACE | Asked someone to face them | Suggested moving to a quieter spot | Asked for something to be repeated | Explained why they need an FM system
Asked for notes to be written down | Explained hearing loss | Asked a teacher to speak slower | Made eye contact | Suggested using captions or subtitles
Used a clear, strong voice | Asked a friend to rephrase | Pointed to their ears to indicate they can't hear | Advocated for preferential seating | Asked for visual aids
Stated, "I need..." | Asked a question to clarify | Politely interrupted to say they didn't hear | Advocated for themselves in a new situation | Asked for a written agenda
Requested a summary | Confidently stated their needs | Asked a peer to speak up | Talked to an adult about an issue | Advocated for interpreter use
Cool Down
My Advocacy Power Cool-Down
Instructions: Take a few minutes to reflect on today's lesson. Answer the questions below to think about your personal advocacy power.
-
What is one new thing you learned about advocating for your communication needs today?
-
Think about a situation in your life where you might need to advocate for yourself in the future. Describe that situation and one specific thing you will say or do.
-
On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident do you feel now about speaking up for your communication needs? (Circle one)
1 (Not confident) 2 (A little confident) 3 (Somewhat confident) 4 (Confident) 5 (Very confident)
-
What is one question you still have, or one thing you'd like more practice with regarding advocacy?