South Dakota ELA 6.SL.1.e

ELA6th GradeSpeaking & Listening

The Standard

6.SL.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Cooperate, mediate, and problem solve to make decisions as appropriate for productive group discussion.

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students listen to different ideas and help their group stay on task. When classmates disagree, they restate each view fairly and help the group choose a plan.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student invites a quiet classmate to speak, summarizes two competing ideas, and suggests a way forward. They can explain why the group's choice fits the task.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think cooperation means agreeing with the loudest person. They may treat mediation as deciding who is right, or vote before hearing everyone's concerns.
How to Assess It: Give each group three book blurbs and four minutes to choose one class read. Listen for each student to ask for a view, restate a disagreement, and help the group reach a choice.

Lesson moves

Give groups index cards and tape; have them agree on one bridge design before building it together.
Ask, 'Two teammates want different endings for your skit. What could you say to help them agree?' Have students write two replies.
Give students role cards for a poster-planning disagreement; have them practice restating both views and proposing a compromise.
Have groups choose one change to the lunch line from a list of student concerns, then explain their choice to the principal.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 6.SL.1.e, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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