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Talk It Out

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Kristy Buck

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Talk It Out Lesson Plan

Students will learn to navigate and resolve peer conflicts by practicing active listening, using I-statements, and following a structured Conflict Conversation Guide to communicate respectfully and reach mutual understanding.

Equipping 8th graders with conflict resolution skills fosters a positive classroom climate, reduces misunderstandings, and builds empathy and respect among peers.

Audience

8th Grade Group

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Guided discussion, role-play, and targeted practice.

Materials

  • Conflict Conversation Guide, - I-Statements Practice Worksheet, and - Active Listening Tips Slide Deck

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Conflict Conversation Guide to familiarize yourself with the discussion prompts and flow.
  • Print sufficient copies of the I-Statements Practice Worksheet for each student.
  • Load the Active Listening Tips Slide Deck on the classroom projector or interactive board.
  • Arrange seating in small groups of 4–5 to encourage discussion.

Step 1

Introduction & Norm Setting

5 minutes

  • Welcome students and explain the goal: to practice resolving disagreements respectfully.
  • Establish group norms (e.g., one speaker at a time, respect all opinions).
  • Highlight the importance of active listening and “I-statements.”

Step 2

Present Active Listening Tips

5 minutes

  • Display the Active Listening Tips Slide Deck.
  • Briefly review key strategies: eye contact, paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions.
  • Model one example with a volunteer to show paraphrasing and validation.

Step 3

Conflict Conversation Role-Play

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Conflict Conversation Guide.
  • In pairs, students choose a common disagreement scenario (e.g., shared locker conflict).
  • One student plays Speaker A, the other Speaker B, following the guide steps: state the problem, express feelings, request change, and brainstorm solutions.
  • Rotate roles after 5 minutes.

Step 4

I-Statements Practice

7 minutes

  • Distribute the I-Statements Practice Worksheet.
  • Students complete 3 prompts, transforming blaming statements into I-statements.
  • Circulate to offer feedback and support proper phrasing.

Step 5

Reflection & Wrap-Up

3 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share what they learned or found challenging.
  • Reinforce the value of respectful communication and active listening.
  • Encourage students to apply these skills in real-life conflicts.
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Slide Deck

What Is Active Listening?

Active listening means fully concentrating on, understanding, and responding to a speaker.

Why it matters:
• Builds trust and respect
• Prevents misunderstandings
• Shows empathy

Introduce the concept of active listening. Emphasize that we’ll explore simple habits to show we care about what someone is saying.

Maintain Eye Contact

• Look at the speaker’s eyes naturally
• Nod to show you’re following along
• Avoid looking at phones or other distractions

Explain why eye contact matters. Remind students it’s about respect—not staring. Model looking at speaker without blinking excessively.

Use Positive Body Language

• Face the speaker with an open posture
• Lean in slightly to show interest
• Use nods and appropriate facial expressions

Demonstrate good posture. Have one volunteer stand slouched and another stand engaged; ask which seems more interested.

Paraphrase and Reflect

• Restate the speaker’s words in your own terms
• Start with “So what I hear you saying is…”
• Check for accuracy: “Did I get that right?”

Walk through a short example: “So you’re saying you felt left out when…?” Encourage students to practice in pairs.

Ask Clarifying Questions

• Ask open‐ended questions (Who? What? How?)
• Encourage the speaker to expand their thinking
• Avoid interrupting or jumping to conclusions

Clarify that open‐ended questions invite more sharing. Provide a sample: “Can you tell me what happened next?”

Eliminate Distractions

• Put phones away or on silent mode
• Close unrelated tabs or notebooks
• Turn your body toward the speaker

Discuss common classroom distractions. Invite students to suggest ways to minimize them.

Summary & Practice

Key Steps:

  1. Maintain eye contact
  2. Use positive body language
  3. Paraphrase and reflect
  4. Ask clarifying questions
  5. Eliminate distractions

Turn and talk: Practice active listening with a partner for 2 minutes.

Guide students into a quick paired practice. Remind them to apply all five tips.

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Worksheet

I-Statements Practice Worksheet

Instructions: Read each blaming statement below. Rewrite it as an I-statement that:

  1. States how you feel
  2. Describes the behavior without blaming
  3. Makes a request for change (if needed)

Example
Blaming statement: “You never help me with homework.”

I-statement: “I feel overwhelmed when I work on homework alone. Could you help me review the assignments sometimes?”







1. Blaming statement: “You always interrupt me when I’m talking.”

I-statement:







2. Blaming statement: “You forgot to pass me the notes again.”

I-statement:







3. Blaming statement: “You’re always late to our meetings.”

I-statement:







Reflection: Why do you think using I-statements can help resolve conflicts more effectively than blaming statements?




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Activity

Conflict Conversation Guide

Use these steps during your role-play to structure a respectful, solution-focused conversation:

1. Opening (1 minute)

  • Greet your partner: “Thanks for talking with me.”
  • State your goal: “I’d like us to figure out a solution.”

2. Describe the Problem (1 minute)

  • Use neutral, specific language:
    “I noticed that when you borrow my pencil without asking, I can’t finish my work.”

3. Express Your Feelings (30 seconds)

  • Use an I-statement:
    “I feel frustrated when I don’t have my pencil.”

4. Make a Request (30 seconds)

  • Clearly ask for what you need:
    “Could you please ask me before borrowing my supplies?”

5. Invite a Response (30 seconds)

  • Ask an open-ended question:
    “What do you think?”

6. Listen & Paraphrase (1 minute)

  • Maintain eye contact and nod.
  • Paraphrase: “So what I hear you saying is…”
  • Check for accuracy: “Did I get that right?”

7. Brainstorm Solutions (1 minute)

Brainstorm at least two ideas together:






8. Agree on a Plan (30 seconds)

  • Choose one solution: “Let’s…”
  • Set a simple next step: “I will remind you before class.”



9. Closing (30 seconds)

  • Thank each other: “Thanks for working with me.”
  • Confirm understanding: “We both agree to…”



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