Social Skills

What it is

An area of student need, involving difficulties with social interactions.

Teaching Strategies

Instructional
• Directly teach lessons to the whole class on specific social skills.
• Determine the student’s baseline of current functioning and next steps in social skill development (see the list of social skills below).
• Develop an alternative programming goal for the student on an attainable social skill improvement.
• Use media/literature examples to highlight pro-social skills and positive choices made by the characters.
• Develop “how to” charts on various social skills of need.
• Use positive reinforcement for improvements.
More...

Environmental

• Use preferential seating to place student near others who would foster positive interactions, and close to the teacher for coaching.
• Post rules and consequences.
• Post social skills visuals/charts with strategies.
• Provide activities for unstructured times (ball, game, etc.).

Assessment

• For group projects/presentations, provide structure, chunk requirements and provide frequent feedback.
• Assess the student in an area of strength (oral, written, with computer, etc.).



Characteristics notebook pencil

Students with social skills needs may have problems interacting with peers and/or adults. They may misinterpret social situations, may seem uncomfortable with others and may feel victimized.

Visual prompts
Visual promptsSocial Skills
Visual Prompts
Visual PromptsSocial Skills
Social Skills Narrative/Story
Social Skills Narrative/StorySocial Skills


Resources
For Purchase

DVDs outlining various social skills for various ages of students.

For the development of customized social stories.

Student Needs IPRC Exceptionalites Diagnosed Conditions