Unit 6: Family Communications
Unit 6 is designed to help students open communications where they may not have been: with their parents/caregivers. Please keep in mind that there may be students in your classes who may not have a family member that they can interact with due to either time or safety considerations. For these students, it is especially important to support their communication practice with a positive adult role model.
Extension: Have students work in pairs. Assign each pair one of the questions in the Family Interview (Student Guide, page 47). Have them work together to practice appropriate non-verbal techniques for the interview (such as those on page 44).
The three web-based activities associated with Unit 6 are Concentration, Self-Check, and Web Inquiry: “Five Things to Practice for Better Communication.”
Web Inquiry: Students will read the article “Five Things to Practice for Better Communication” from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation website. The article addresses important topics in communication such as active listening, understanding and respecting another’s position, and using “I” statements. Its discussion of respectfully expressing your views serves as a good set-up for Unit 7, which focuses on assertiveness as a key tool in healthy relationships.
Extension: Have students work in pairs; ask each pair to find a non-controversial topic that they don’t agree on (e.g., whether to take a shower in the morning or the evening). Have them use the tips and techniques in the article to reach an understanding of each other’s position.
This article on communication aligns with the following goals of Unit 6 of the LST High School curriculum:
- Which communication skills can help families avoid misunderstandings about each other’s needs and expectations.
- The difference between understandings and agreements and why it is important to know the difference.
Students will read the article “A Healthy You!” from the Centers for Disease Control website. The article outlines a CDC initiative targeting six critical health areas that profoundly affect teenagers’ health, as well as other significant topics.