Why Social Skills?
Social skills learned through extra-curricular activities, sports teams, and clubs are necessary for daily interactions with others, for post-secondary education, and for careers. Students with disabilities "may be missing activities that are an important part of high school, such as creating social networks, learning negotiation, and practicing relational problem-solving techniques" (Hurewitz, 2008, p. 113). Many social emotional curriculums included complex skills designed for the general education public. Students with disabilities need a more structured curriculum which can be accommodated to meet the needs of the students. This self-created curriculum focuses on necessary skills needed for post-secondary education and careers through the use of a read alouds and best practice methods.
About the Curriculum!
This curriculum includes 15 lessons focused on teaching students social skills needed for postsecondary education and careers. The focus skills for each lesson evolved from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) definition for Autism. The definition states Autism is "persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts" and is "restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities" (Autism Speaks, 2018). With the use of these two parts of the definition, the skills are categorized into two groups. A) skills focused on communication and interaction, and B) skills focused on behaviors and emotions.
Each lesson follows the same outline. The outline for all lessons is as followed...
1. State Essential Question
2. Brain Warmup
3. Read Aloud
4. Model Activity
5. Group Activity
6. Brain Cooldown
Read Aloud Component:
Each lesson includes the use of a picture book read aloud to teach the students about a specific social skill. The read aloud enables students to hear and see the skill in action. Discussion questions are provided for each read aloud to aid in a conversation about the skill prior to the read aloud.
Additional Features:
The activities in each lesson use best practice strategies to teach and practice skills. Best practice methods include teacher modeling, role play, and hands on activities. This curriculum is non-scripted which allows for modifications and accommodations to be made to meet the needs of the students. Lessons provide a general outline of materials needed, activities, and suggested topics to discuss.
