One Sided Sid & Unwonderer

One Sided Sid: This character gets the person to talk about his own set of topics or his own plan. Even when someone else brings up his interests, he just talks about his own interests. He may interrupt to talk about what is on his mind, not seeing that someone may have another plan.

Unwonderer: Can prevent the person from showing interest (social wondering) in others or considering what others may want to do based on their interests.

“T H I N K A B L E S”

Other Side Sally: I help you remember that conversations are also about thinking about the other person or persons and finding out about them.

Coloring page: In the thought bubbles write the strategies used to defeat one sided Sid/Unwanderer.

Socia-Lee Wonderer: I remind you to think about and use your social wonder questions so you can keep the other person interested during the conversation

Superflex Strategies to defeat One Sided-Sid:

Open your friend-file and think about what you know about the person. Ask questions to find out more about him and his experiences or interests.
Think with your eyes to figure out what the person’s plan is. If he looks busy, save your questions for another time.
Look for clues that others are not interested: Looking away, bored, trying to change the topic. –Social Detective Toolbox

Strategies to defeat the Unwonderer:

Look at the other person. Make eye contact.
Listen to the topic. Maybe ask a question that is related to the topic.
Remember what people like to talk about. Try to talk to them about their interests.
You can use questions that start with WH, like why, where, what, who, when.

Prezi Explaining Unwonderer with videos and strategies:

https://prezi.com/g6_jrgn9lsps/defeating-the-unwonderer/

Videos:

Social Skills Training: Taking Turns Speaking – Two boys have conversation, but one boy doesn’t let the other child talk. This video does an excellent job explaining what each boy is thinking and how they could have a better conversation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RjRZ9jMfs0&t=46s
One Sided Sid – Two teachers show example of One Sided-Sid when talking about their drawings. Lists specific strategies to defeat character then shows the conversation again with the teacher using the strategies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEdeYiTz4ko
Toy Story Paleontological Debate – Quick, cute video showing Rex going on and on about a topic that no one else is interested in. Have the kids detect the signs that others aren’t interested (look bored, yawn, walking away, twiddling fingers, etc.) https://youtu.be/Vxn9dPYbL94
Model Me Conversation Cues – Shows and explains how to identify when others are no longer interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmz_c3z3JUI&list=PLtvJf6Wzc4WgBO0KhZJ7wMjarqHAoKM48
Using Our Friend File – Two boys about a video game, but one does all the talking. Shows him apologize for not including him in the conversation. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/443463894536545774/
Big Bang Theory –Sheldon debates Xbox 1 vs PS4 and Amy isn't very interested but uses sarcasm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-E9cYyaSRI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJh0cjGnPk Here is a video that shows a good example of showing interest in another person’s story.
Chatterbox – Story of Mr. Chatterbox: the more he talks, the more his hat grows. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/464363411554131830/

Books:

Being Selfish, Berry, J. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZwB7j8qDGM

Little Miss Chatterbox, Hargreaves, R. Little Miss Chatterbox met people just like her who liked to talk as much as she does but the main plot was about her trying to get a job, which she did at a bank in happy land. She ended up getting into trouble and being fired at work because she couldn’t stop talking long enough to help the customer. This happed at every job she got the whole week after that as well. This is a good book because it shows the children the flaws of being too talkative. She ended up finding a job that fit her perfectly in the end because it was one where she had to talk the whole time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK6M7uRzdGg – Link to youtube book read aloud.

I’m the biggest thing in the ocean, Sherry, K.

Superflex takes on One-sided Sid, the Unwanderer and the team of unthinkables – Michelle Garcia-Winner - This clever duo tries to get students to do or say things that show they're only thinking about themselves and not others. Students learn helpful strategies to regulate their own behaviors when Sid and his sister invade their thinking: Social wonders versus world wonders People files The Boredom Alert Noticing interested/not interested clues in others Interest-O-Meter strategy Add-a-Thought strategy Ask-a-Question strategy Question Word Bank: who, what, where, when, why, and how? The accompanying CD includes 11 related lessons that help children practice the strategies introduced in the book.

My Mouth is a Volcano: All of Louis thoughts are very important to him. In fact, his thoughts are so important to him that when he has something to say, his words begin to wiggle, and then they do the jiggle, then his tongue pushes all of his important words up against his teeth and he erupts, or interrupts others. His mouth is a volcano! My Mouth Is A Volcano takes an empathetic approach to the habit of interrupting and teaches children a witty technique to capture their rambunctious thoughts and words for expression at an appropriate time. Told from Louis’ perspective, this story provides parents, teachers, and counselors with an entertaining way to teach children the value of respecting others by listening and waiting for their turn to speak.

Activities:

Topple: Explain that a conversation needs to be balanced. Show that if one person is doing all the talking (placing all the game pieces on one corner), the topple game tips over. Assign each person in the group a corner of the topple game. Practice a conversation and have each student add a piece to the game each time they add to the conversation. Remind them the conversation needs to be “balanced.”

Spinner/Dice Activity: The dice or spinner has only two options: Comment or question. Make a rule that when the student lands on comment, it must be about someone else’s comment or question (thinking about others defeats One-Sided Sid). On question, the student must ask someone a question.

Native American Talking Stick: This is a method of enforcing turn-taking in conversation which is part of Native American lore and tradition. Making simple Talking Sticks and using them can provide a fun and useful series of social skills lessons for young people on the autism spectrum. Link to make talking stick: http://www.ehow.com/how_7338194_make-talking-stick.html It may be helpful to watch a video explaining the theory behind the talking stick.

Paper Chain activity: Each child gets a different color of paper strips and the SLP will have a pair of scissors. Teach the kids that a conversation is like a chain because we need to take turns and “connect” to each other’s comments by asking questions/commenting on something that has been said. As each person adds the the conversation, they may connect their paper strip (via glue or staples). When someone doesn’t take turns, the chains won’t be colorful (clearly indicating that one person is One-Sided Sid). When a doesn’t comment/awknowledge/ask a question about what someone else has said, the SLP can cut the chain, explaining that the conversation has not been linked and the comments didn’t “connect to each other.”

Mr. Chatterbox Hats: Have a large hat already made that will fall on the kids’ faces. When the hat falls over their face no one will be listening because you can’t see their face. Similarly, when they talk too much, people get bored and stop listening. Have the students make their own hat and talk about the size they should make it. They will want to make it fit perfectly, not too big (talking too much), not too small (talking too little).

Pie Charts: Use these visuals to raise awareness of proportionality in group discussion. (Attached at the end of document).

Draw the “Other Side” (attached at the end of the document) – Print off One-Sided Sid for each student. Have them color/make the other side of Sid on the blank side of the paper. Write the strategies to include others in your conversation on the once blank side of Sid. Remind students to use their “other side” during conversations (don’t be one sided).

Color Other Side Sally: Color her and write strategies in the bubbles to defeat One-Sided Sid.

Songs:

“I Wanna Talk about Me”, Toby Keith
“You’re So Vain”, Carly Simon
“That Don’t Impress Me Much”, Shania Twain
“Selfish”, Asia Cruise
“Talk too Much”, Fankie Ford