Making Connected Comments: What Are Connected Comments? (Pre-K & K)

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This session teaches Connected Comments, the skill of keeping a conversation on topic by adding questions and comments that fit what someone just shared. Young learners explore what it means to make a connected comment, then talk about how they might respond when a friend names a favorite animal. In a quick group game, each child takes a turn naming an idea that keeps a topic going. The takeaway is that connected comments show a friend they are listening and interested.

Created by Brittany Brunell, M.S. CCC-SLP Co-founder and Chief Learning Officer
Video modeling lesson
Extension activity
Topic
Communication
Focus
Conversation Maintenance
Grade level
Pre-K & K

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Each video modeling lesson is part of a no-prep session designed by our clinical team, with all the structure, scaffolding, and support you need to teach it.

Engaging materials

  • Video modeling lesson

    Making Connected Comments

    In this lesson, learners will be taught how to connect to other people's comments to keep a certain conversation topic going. Making connected comments assures the person you are talking to that you are listening and interested in what they are saying.

  • Extension activity

    Conversation Maintenance

    This card-flipping memory game allows students to practice conversational skills in various situations. Students will think about how much to talk, what to ask and how to respond.

Plus everything you need to teach them

  1. Warm-up

    • Video: Lion and Cat Breathing3:12
    • Video: Our Senses Calming Break2:27
    • Video: Yoga Pose Library

  2. Session Opener

    What is a Connected Comment?

    • Connected Comments
    • Topic

  3. Practice

    • Discussion Question
    • Role-Play Activity
    • Mini Game
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How to use it with your students

  1. 1Watch Play the video modeling lesson so students see the skill in action.
  2. 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
  3. 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.

Example Session Notes

In this lesson, students learned that Making Connected Comments mean talking about the same topic to keep a conversation going. They practiced noticing when a comment matched what a friend was talking about and when it went off-topic, and they saw how staying on the same topic helps both people enjoy talking to each other.

Key Terms

Connected Comments
Connected comments are when you talk about the same thing your friend is talking about. Your comments fit together like puzzle pieces.
Topic
A topic is what you are talking about. When you and your friend talk about the same topic, it helps you understand each other and keep the conversation going.

Sample IEP Goals This Session Supports

  • Making Connected Comments (Staying on Topic)

    When engaged in a conversation, learner will make related comments or ask questions for X conversational exchanges in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).

  • Topic Radar (How to Pick the Topic)

    Learner will initiate a conversation with a familiar peer or adult based on past knowledge of their conversation partner's preferred topic(s) in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).

  • Topic Surfing (Shifting the Topic)

    When engaged in conversation, learner will shift the topic of conversation using a transitional statement or question to maintain the conversation in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).

  • Think It or Say It (Using a Filter)

    Given hypothetical social situations, learner will identify likely social impacts of expressing a thought out loud versus keeping it internal and explain their reasoning with 80% accuracy independently/given X prompt(s) over 3 consecutive sessions.

  • The Two W's (Making Small Talk)

    Given a social situation calling for brief conversation (e.g., waiting in line, greeting a familiar adult), learner will initiate or sustain a short exchange using a neutral topic in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s) over 3 consecutive sessions.

  • Conversation Measuring Cup (Giving Long or Short Responses)

    Given hypothetical social situations, learner will identify whether a 'short' or 'long' response is warranted with 80% accuracy independently/given X prompt(s) over 3 consecutive sessions.

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Keep it going after the session

At home or in the classroom, when a student says something about a topic, try adding a comment that connects to it, like "I like trucks too, mine is red." This helps model the target skill of Making Connected Comments.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this session free?

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