Maine School Administrative District #4

CORE CURRICULUM: SCOPE AND SEQUENCE

Department: Wellness

CONTENT STANDARD: COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Students will understand that skillful communication can contribute to better health for them, their families, and the community. Students need effective communication skills to develop and maintain healthy personal relationships. The ability to organize and convey information, beliefs, opinions, and feelings is a skill that can reduce and avoid conflict. Communication skills enable individuals to be advocates for a healthy school, home, workplace, and community.

Performance Indicators: The learner will·

Kindergarten-Grade 4

1.      Review and extend prior learning

2.      Demonstrate healthful ways to express needs, wants, and feelings (adapted)

3.      Distinguish between verbal and nonverbal communication

4.      Use appropriate communication and listening skills to enhance health

5.      Differentiate between negative and positive ways to deal with conflict

6.      Demonstrate non-violent strategies to resolve conflicts

7.      Express opinions and give accurate information about health issues

Grades 5-8

1.      Review and extend prior learning

2.      Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills to enhance health and to build and maintain healthy relationships, e.g., positive peer pressure

3.      Demonstrate refusal and negotiation skills which can enhance health by enabling them to deal with negative peer pressure

4.      Demonstrate conflict-resolution strategies

5.      Analyze various communication methods which can be used to give information, ideas, and opinions about health issues [e.g., write a fictitious or real letter to someone who is trying to change a health behavior (e.g., stop smoking, start exercising), and give them encouragement by citing the benefits of the change (e.g., reduced risk of lung cancer and heart disease)]

Grades 9-12

1.      Review and extend prior learning

2.      Demonstrate healthful ways to listen and communicate effectively with family, peers, and others (adapted)

3.      Demonstrate strategies that can be used to prevent or solve conflicts without harm

4.      Analyze the possible causes of conflict in schools, families, and communities

5.      Evaluate the effectiveness of various communication methods for accurately delivering health information and ideas

6.      Utilize strategies to overcome barriers when communicating information, ideas, feelings, and opinions about health issues

7.      Demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively as an advocate for healthy individuals, families, schools, and communities

8.      Adapt health messages and communication techniques to the characteristics of a particular audience

Developed

curr-communication skills.doc