How to Improve Communication Skills for Elementary Students

These children are communicating.

Communication skills are fundamental to the development of children. They prepare students for an effective school environment, creditable academics and life experiences. In the elementary schools children learn how to convey meaning to other people either by writing or speaking. They improve interpersonal relationships and learn how to share knowledge, feelings and opinions. The steps are interrelated, each dependent upon the preceding one.

Things You'll Need

• pen
• paper
• story
• comic strip
• dictionary
• flash cards

Instructions

Developing Communication Skills

1. 

   A child is listening to the teacher's explanation.

   Read 10 different words to the class. Go around the room and ask each child to tell as many of the words she remembers. Instruct the children to focus upon the person speaking to them. Show how to use eye contact. Ask the students to tell why eye contact is important to the listener. Listening is a major step in improving communication in young children.

2. 

   Children can learn to use a dictionary.

   Give each student a paragraph to read. Ask the students to identify unfamiliar words, look them up in a dictionary and write sentences using them. Make flash cards listing the words and their meanings. Direct one child to read the word on the card out loud and ask for volunteers to give the meaning. These procedures improve vocabulary, a prerequisite to developing and improving writing and speaking skills in the elementary schools.

3. 

   The student is practicing writing.

   Teach the class how to brainstorm. This method entails writing random ideas that come to mind. Write a list of words on the board and have students write a sentence or a short paragraph using five of the words. Read a few to the class and have the students discuss their reaction to the material read. Teachers can use these methods to help students improve the simple skill of writing.

4. Pass out comic strips with the last frame cut out. Tell the students to write a paragraph showing how they imagine the story might end. Direct the students to read these to the class. Teach the pupils the principles of outlining, writing a rough draft and submitting a final revision of a paper. Instruct the students to pick any item in the room, write a descriptive paragraph about it and then develop it into an original story for homework. Help the children develop sophisticated writing skills by using these methods.

5. 

   This child is showing someone how to make something.

   Read a sentence to the class and go around the room asking each child to add another sentence verbally. Advise students to take the last paragraph they wrote from the brainstorming exercise and read it to the class. Emphasize speaking loudly and clearly.

6. 

   These boys are practicing communication skills learned in school.

   Provide the children with stories to read aloud. Discuss the action of the characters. Have students present a brief speech giving their opinion of something important to them. Arrange for a simple debate to further expression of ideas and analytical thinking. Teach the class impromptu speaking, in which students pick a topic from a hat and speak on it for a few minutes. This is a fun way of improving communication skills.

References

• Elementary communication skills
• Teaching writing skills
• "Resource Guide for Instruction and Training"

Resources

• Games for improving communication
• Writing lesson plans