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Teach Social Skills

Teach Social Skills

Why should I do it:

  • Many students lack basic social skills
  • Increases instructional time
  • Improves student interactions
  • Increases student productivity
  • Helps students improve daily social functioning
  • Helps students make friends
  • Teaches students essential life skills
  • Helps students to fit in
  • Helps students to function better in classes
  • Teaches students to follow rules, expectations, procedures, etc
  • Increases self confidence, self concept, and self esteem
  • Gives students a common “language”

When should I do it:

  • It is important to teach all students appropriate social skills with any and all opportunities
  • When students have poor hygiene
  • When students seem out of place, ostracized, or isolated
  • When students exhibit poor social routines, like taking turns, sharing, waiting in line, shaking hands, poor eye contact, etc
  • When students are rude, short, pushy, etc
  • When students demonstrate poor personal care habits, like blowing nose, using a napkin, etc
  • When students appear socially awkward, weird, out of place, etc
  • When students are perceived as weird and strange by the class
  • When students do or say weird, silly, inappropriate, or out of place things

How do I do it:

  • IMPORTANT NOTE!
    • At the Tier 1 Level, think of doing social skills lessons and interventions for the whole class or groups
    • At the Tier 2 level, think of doing social skills lessons and interventions for groups and individuals
    • At the Tier 3 level, think of customizing specific social skills lessons and interventions for specific students
  • In the realm of social skills, there is a broad range of skills and topics, as well as a good deal of overlap with other skills, like interpersonal skills, coping skills, etc
  • Some common areas for social skills instruction include:
    • Hygiene
    • Manners
    • Listening
    • Being polite
    • Being considerate
    • Being respectful
    • Sharing
    • Taking turns
    • Appropriate words
    • Appropriate touch
    • How to behave in the halls, lunchroom, during instruction, etc
    • Etc
  • Please refer to the supports and resources below for lesson plans, ideas, and strategies

Resources & Support for technique:
(Items with footnotes link to external websites)

Footnotes:

  1. Webster, J. A Social Skills Lesson – What is a Friend: Launching a Unit on Friendship with Students with Social Deficits. [http://specialed.about.com/od/characterbuilding/a/Whatfriend.htm].
  2. Lewis, T., Ph.D., Powers, L., Ph.D. Implementing effective social skill instruction across the continuum of SW-PBS supports. [http://www.pbis.org/common/cms/files/pbisresources/lewispowerssocskillsforum.ppt].
  3. McIntyre, T. Teaching Social Skills To Kids Who Don’t Yet Have Them. [http://www.behavioradvisor.com/SocialSkills.html].
  4. Do 2 Learn. Schedules Overview . [http://www.do2learn.com/picturecards/howtouse/schedule.htm].
  5. CrunchingLeaves, Edited by: Cosmato, D. (2011). Elementary Etiquette: A Lesson Plan on Using Polite Words. [http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/16191.aspx].
  6. Lewis-Palmer, T. (2007). Embedding Social Skills Instruction Throughout the Day. [http://www.pbis.org/common/pbisresources/presentations/palmer0RPBS20307.ppt#1].
  7. Tin Snips. Hand Washing Song. [http://www.tinsnips.org/resources/PDF-social-skills/sshandwashingsong.pdf].
  8. WETA., LD Online. Behavior & Social Skills. [http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/behavior].
  9. Cybrary Man. Teaching Hygiene. [http://www.cybraryman.com/hygiene.html].
  10. WINGS for Kids. Reading Expressions Make it Fresh and Fun. [http://www.wingsforkids.org/files/HotWINGS-expressions.pdf].
  11. WINGS for Kids. Parade of Charades. [http://www.wingsforkids.org/files/HotWINGS-charades.pdf].
  12. Watson, S. Social Skills Activities. [http://specialed.about.com/od/characterbuilding/p/SocialSkills-2.htm].
  13. Contra Costa County Office of Education. Social Skills for Middle School Students. [http://www.cccoe.net/social/skillslist.htm].
  14. McIntyre, T. Social Skills. [http://www.behavioradvisor.com/SocialSkills.ppt].
  15. Webster, J. Social Skills Lesson Plan — Initiating Interaction With Peers: Brainstorming, Scripting and Rehearsal for Social Success. [http://specialed.about.com/od/characterbuilding/a/socialskillsinitiate.htm].
  16. Tin Snips. My Deodorant Story. [http://www.tinsnips.org/resources/PDF-social-skills/ssdeodorant.pdf].
  17. Cooperative Educational Service Agency No. 7. Visual Schedules. [http://www.specialed.us/autism/structure/str11.htm].
  18. WINGS for Kids. Teach Kids How They Impact Others with Their Emotions. [http://www.wingsforkids.org/files/HotWINGS-busDriver.pdf].
  19. Autism 4 Teachers. Social Skills. [http://www.autism4teachers.com/autism4teachers_008.htm].
  20. GOJO Industries, Inc. Lesson Plans: Hygiene. [http://www.gojo.com/united-states/market/k-12/resources/educational-materials/lessonplans.aspx?sc_lang=en].
  21. Pope, R. Social Skills. [http://www.angelfire.com/ky2/socialskills/].
  22. Steedly, K. M., Schwartz, A., Levin, M., & Luke, S.D., Evidence for Education, Volume III, Issue 2., Cover of the Social Skills publication., August 2008. Social Skills and Academic Achievement. [http://nichcy.org/research/ee/social-skills].
  23. Speaking of Speech.com, Inc. Social Skills/Pragmatics. [http://www.speakingofspeech.com/Social_Skills_Pragmatics.html].
  24. Dewar, G. (2009). Social skills activities for children and teenagers: Ideas inspired by research. [http://www.parentingscience.com/social-skills-activities.html].
  25. Kuzma, J. D. (2008). Ideas for Educators Supporting Social/Emotional Language Skills. [http://jillkuzma.wordpress.com/welcome-to-jills-social-thinking-blog/].
  26. Behavioral Institute for Children and Adolescents. Social skills Training & Aggression Replacement Techniques (START/STAIRS). [http://www.behavioralinstitute.org/START.html].
  27. Free Printable Worksheets for Teachers. Social Skills Worksheets. [http://www.theworksheets.com/s/Social+skills+Worksheets].
  28. TeacherTube.com. Social Skills (teachertube.com search). [http://www.teachertube.com/search_result.php?query=social+skills&type=all&safe=high&search-type=all&head_curriculum=0&head_content_area=0&head_subject=0&head_category=0&head_skill=0].
  29. All Business. Ten Ways to Improve Your Interpersonal Skills. [http://www.allbusiness.com/improve-interpersonal-skills/15606969-1.html
    ].
  30. Succeed Socially. Things To Do With Other People. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/activities].
  31. Succeed Socially. Dealing with anxiety & shyness in social situations and relationships. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/.search?results_page=searchresults.html&query=anxious+anxiety&name=Search].
  32. Succeed Socially. At Times It’s Socially Practical To Know Things Other People Care About. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/practicalskills].
  33. Succeed Socially. Some Ways People Can Excuse Their Legitimate Social Weaknesses. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/honest].
  34. Succeed Socially. Is Thinking You’re Better Than Other People Holding You Back Socially?. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/negativetoothers].
  35. Succeed Socially. Generally Improving Your Social Skills. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/index#socialskills].
  36. Succeed Socially. Coping With Anticipatory Nervousness. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/.search?results_page=searchresults.html&query=Nervousness&name=Search].
  37. Succeed Socially. Dealing With Regrets Caused By Your Poor People Skills. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/regrets].
  38. Succeed Socially. Thoughts On How To Make Conversation. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/conversation].
  39. Succeed Socially. Hanging Out With New People Who All Know Each Other. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/groups].
  40. Succeed Socially. How Being Less Naturally Social Can Affect Your Interpersonal Success. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/lesssocial].
  41. Succeed Socially. How To Be More Friendly And Social. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/friendly].
  42. Succeed Socially. How To Be More Fun. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/morefun].
  43. Succeed Socially. How To Meet People. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/meetpeople].
  44. Succeed Socially. How To Talk To Shyer and/or Less Social People. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/shytalk].
  45. Succeed Socially. How Your Interests Can Affect Your Social Success. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/interests].
  46. Succeed Socially. Common Worries Shy Or Insecure People Have. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/shyworries].
  47. Succeed Socially. Is Bitterness Holding You Back Socially?. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/bitterness].
  48. Succeed Socially. Is It Okay To Hang Out With Another Guy One On One?. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/oneononewithguys].
  49. Succeed Socially. Is Thinking You’re Better Than Other People Holding You Back Socially?. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/negativetoothers].
  50. Succeed Socially. Learning To Make More Eye Contact With People. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/eyecontact].
  51. Succeed Socially. Little Social Annoyances That Will Never Go Away. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/annoyances].
  52. Succeed Socially. Loosen Up To Be More Socially Successful. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/loosenup].
  53. Succeed Socially. Making Plans With People. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/plans].
  54. Succeed Socially. Mistakes Lonely People Often Make. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/lonely].
  55. Succeed Socially. My Experience With Becoming More Self-Confident. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/confidence].
  56. Succeed Socially. Other People Often Aren’t As Shallow As They Seem. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/relate].
  57. Succeed Socially. It’s Very Tricky To Know What You Want Socially. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/knowwhatyouwant].
  58. Succeed Socially. Reflections on Being Defensive and Secretive. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/defensive].
  59. Succeed Socially. Reflections On Getting Over Low Self-Esteem. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/selfesteem].
  60. Succeed Socially. Some Interpersonal Pitfalls More Intellectual Types Can Fall Into. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/intellectual].
  61. Succeed Socially. Some Thoughts On The Point Of Small Talk. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/smalltalk].
  62. Succeed Socially. Some Tips On How To Be Less Quiet In Conversations. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/quiet].
  63. Succeed Socially. Some Ways People Are Mentally Lazy About Judging Others. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/judge].
  64. Succeed Socially. The Importance of Getting Your Appearance In Order. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/lookbetter].
  65. Succeed Socially. The Importance Of Simplicity And The Basics In Social Interactions…. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/simplicity].
  66. Succeed Socially. Meeting People & Making Friends. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/index#makingfriends].
  67. Succeed Socially. Thoughts On How To Be Funny. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/funny].
  68. Succeed Socially. Thoughts On How to Be More Interesting. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/interesting].
  69. Succeed Socially. Thoughts On How To Make A Conversation. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/conversation].
  70. Succeed Socially. Thoughts on Seeming Less Weird. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/weird].
  71. Succeed Socially. How To Mingle And Talk To People At Parties. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/howtomingleatparties].
  72. Succeed Socially. Ways People Can Unintentionally Leave Friends Out Of Social Events. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/unintentionalleftout].
  73. Succeed Socially. When People Say “How’s It Going?”, “What’s Up?” or “What’s New?”. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/howareyou].
  74. Succeed Socially. When You Feel Like Your Friends Suck. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/suckyfriends].
  75. Succeed Socially. Why You Need To Directly Practice Your Social Skills And How To Do It. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/socialskills].
  76. Succeed Socially. When Your Friends Tease You A Lot. [http://www.succeedsocially.com/tease].