What Is Your Communication Style? (High School)

Unit	Sustaining Community
Lesson Name	What Is Your Communication Style? (High School)
Grade Band	High School (9-12)

Required Materials	Printed communication style quizzes (see link below) Pens/pencils Whiteboard and markers Printed handouts detailing communication styles Projector and computer for supplementary video/resources
Standards / Competencies	SEL Core Competencies: Self-Awareness: identifying emotions, experiencing self-efficacy, linking feelings, values and thoughts, demonstrating honesty and integrity Self-Management: managing one’s emotions, exhibiting self-discipline Social Awareness: taking others’ perspectives, recognizing strengths in others, demonstrating empathy and compassion, identifying diverse social norms, showing concern for the feelings of others Relationship Skills: communicating effectively, developing positive relationships, showing leadership in groups, resolving conflicts constructively, seeking or offering support when needed ELA Standards: Listening and Speaking Social Studies Theme: Individual Development and Identity
Recommended Time	90 mins

Required Materials

Printed communication style quizzes (see link below)
Pens/pencils
Whiteboard and markers
Printed handouts detailing communication styles
Projector and computer for supplementary video/resources

Standards / Competencies

SEL Core Competencies:

Self-Awareness: identifying emotions, experiencing self-efficacy, linking feelings, values and thoughts, demonstrating honesty and integrity
Self-Management: managing one’s emotions, exhibiting self-discipline
Social Awareness: taking others’ perspectives, recognizing strengths in others, demonstrating empathy and compassion, identifying diverse social norms, showing concern for the feelings of others
Relationship Skills: communicating effectively, developing positive relationships, showing leadership in groups, resolving conflicts constructively, seeking or offering support when needed

ELA Standards: Listening and Speaking

Social Studies Theme: Individual Development and Identity

Recommended Time

90 mins

Essential Question	What is your communication style?
Learning Objectives	Students will learn about the four types of communication styles. Students will be able to identify their own style of communication. Students will learn strategies to adapt their communication styles.

Essential Question

What is your communication style?

Learning Objectives

Students will learn about the four types of communication styles.

Students will be able to identify their own style of communication.

Students will learn strategies to adapt their communication styles.

Activating Prior Knowledge	Ask students to think about a time that they were in conflict with someone. How did they respond in the moment? How did that conflict make them feel? Invite students to share their reflections with the class and document any key words that come up in the conversation. Explain to students that people respond to conflict differently and they will be taking a quiz that will help them determine their communication style. Give each student a quiz and have them fill it out and score it, writing their scores on the top corner.
Core Instruction	Write the four different communication styles on the board: Assertive, Aggressive, Passive, Passive-Aggressive. Play the following video about the communication styles: 4 Communication Styles – Passive, Aggressive, Assertive & Passive Aggressive Write down the following words to describe the four styles Assertive: clear, direct, respectful Aggressive: forceful, dominating, disrespectful Passive: indirect, avoidant, yielding Passive-Aggressive: indirect resistance, hidden resentment Ask students, Why do you think it is important to be able to identify your own communications style and others communication style? Have students reflect on their own communication styles. Explain that very few people are always one type of style; we often use different communication styles dependent on the situation. Give an example along the lines of “The way we communicate with certain people may change. For example, you may approach conflict differently when you are arguing with a brother or sister compared to your parents, teachers, or other people who hold authority positions”. Have students share their own examples.
Wrap-up	Ask students which communication style they feel is the most productive. Most students should say “Assertive”. Are there times when a different communication style works better? Some examples: Aggressive: when a decision needs to be made quickly or there is an emergency Passive: when the conflict itself is causing a greater problem and the situation is escalating Passive Aggressive : not beneficial and should be avoided

Activating Prior Knowledge

Ask students to think about a time that they were in conflict with someone. How did they respond in the moment? How did that conflict make them feel? Invite students to share their reflections with the class and document any key words that come up in the conversation.

Explain to students that people respond to conflict differently and they will be taking a quiz that will help them determine their communication style.

Give each student a quiz and have them fill it out and score it, writing their scores on the top corner.

Core Instruction

Write the four different communication styles on the board: Assertive, Aggressive, Passive, Passive-Aggressive. Play the following video about the communication styles: 4 Communication Styles – Passive, Aggressive, Assertive & Passive Aggressive

Write down the following words to describe the four styles

Assertive: clear, direct, respectful
Aggressive: forceful, dominating, disrespectful
Passive: indirect, avoidant, yielding
Passive-Aggressive: indirect resistance, hidden resentment

Ask students, Why do you think it is important to be able to identify your own communications style and others communication style?

Have students reflect on their own communication styles. Explain that very few people are always one type of style; we often use different communication styles dependent on the situation. Give an example along the lines of “The way we communicate with certain people may change. For example, you may approach conflict differently when you are arguing with a brother or sister compared to your parents, teachers, or other people who hold authority positions”. Have students share their own examples.

Wrap-up

Ask students which communication style they feel is the most productive. Most students should say “Assertive”. Are there times when a different communication style works better? Some examples:

Aggressive: when a decision needs to be made quickly or there is an emergency
Passive: when the conflict itself is causing a greater problem and the situation is escalating
Passive Aggressive : not beneficial and should be avoided

Supplementary Resources	Understanding Your Communication Style PDF Communication style quiz

Instructional Content Adaptations	Provide adaptive technology for students with special needs. Offer alternative assignments or extra challenges for gifted students. Ensure all handouts are available in large print or digital format as needed.

Lesson prepared by Erin Boyhan

Download this lesson to access handouts.

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