Functional Conversation Games

Functional Conversation Games create a natural conversational flow—one of the most challenging tasks in therapy!

Designed to support individuals with expressive language or pragmatic deficits, this set gives learners the tools to initiate, maintain, and respond in conversation with confidence.

What makes these functional conversation games so effective?

The games mimic natural, unstructured conversational interactions. The games allow clients the choice and freedom in selecting topics, creating responses, determining the order of turns, and the amount of time for each topic. 

5 Core Skill Areas

All the skills necessary for successful conversation are integrated into the games:

1. Vocabulary
2. Grammar
3. Critical thinking and reasoning with social awareness
4. Listener perspective
5. Nonverbal language

Teaching Manual

Functional Conversation Games includes a 40-page manual with directions, reproducible game boards and materials, and dozens of conversation prompts and supports.

3 Card Decks

Functional Conversation Games also includes three card decks that are used to teach 25 conversational strategies. Clients learn to express functional topics, ask questions, and give appropriate, specific comments.

Deck 1 Conversation Topics: 200 topics in the themes of Friends & Family, Everyday Happenings, Special Occasions, and Fun & Make-Believe.

Deck 2 Communication Intents: 50 natural ways to introduce a topic and take turns in conversation, such as:

• Using scripted words and starter phrases
• Asking questions to clarify and seek information
• Retelling information
• Making comments
• Offering an explanation
• Expressing an opinion

Deck 3 Places & Events: Each card lists an Everyday Place, an Everyday Event, and a Fun or Make-Believe Place or Event.

4 Games

There are four games provided in the teaching manual. Still, the card decks are designed to be used in any way that complements the targeted therapy need. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and clinicians find many ways to incorporate the heavy-weight content into social language therapy. The materials are useful for persons with:

• Expressive language and/or pragmatic (social) deficits
• High-functioning autism
• Emotional impairments, mental illness, or behaviour problems requiring improved social skills
• Mild developmental delays
• Neurological impairment resulting from stroke, brain injury, early dementia, or chemical dependency
• Auditory processing disorders

To see more of this product's contents: 

• About the Author & Table of Contents 
• Introduction

Functional Conversation Games includes: 

• 40-page manual
• 3 card decks (50 cards per deck)
• Vinyl folder

©2011