Practicing Social Skills

Posted: October 1, 2008 by Mrs. O'Brien in Social Skills Program

One of the most important aspects of social skills is being able to initiate, maintain and end a conversation. We have been studying greetings, body language, tone of voice and appropriate topics for conversation. Generally the students do not have any written homework; however, they do need to practice their conversation skills. Please look for a packet that will talk about the following topics:

· Maintaining appropriate space

· Listening posture

· Tone of voice

· Greetings

· How and when to Interrupt

· Staying on topic

· Maintaining a conversation

· Taking turns talking

· Starting a conversation

· Joining a conversation

· Ending a conversation

Due to the difficulty of some of these topics it is important to practice with your student daily. You can help your student with the skill by doing the following: quizzing your student about the steps needed for the skill, modeling and role-playing with your student, and coaching your student to use the skill when it is appropriate to do so.

With your help, I know your student will be able to learn these skills and start to generalize them to other areas beyond school.

Social Skills Survey

Posted: September 29, 2008 by Mrs. O'Brien in Social Skills Program

A social skills survey is being sent out with your student today. Please fill out, seal in envelope provided and send it back with your student.

Lessons will be constructed based on feedback from parents.

Practicing Social Skills

Posted: September 17, 2008 by Mrs. O'Brien in Social Skills Program

One of the most important aspects of social skills is being able to initiate, maintain and end a conversation. We have been studying greetings, body language, tone of voice and appropriate topics for converstaion in class. Genearlly the students do not have written homework; however, they do need to practice their conversation skills. During parent night, you will receive a packet with topics to cover with your student. These topics will be covered in class, however, due to the difficulty of some of these topics, it is important to practice with your student daily. You can help your student by doing the following: quizzing your student about the steps needed for the skill, modeling and role-playing with your student, and coaching your student to use the skill when it is appropriate to do so.

With your help, I know your student will be able to learn these skills and start to genearlize them to other areas beyond school.

Social Skills

Posted: August 26, 2008 by Mrs. O'Brien in Social Skills Program

School-wide social values are part of the every-day experience at New Vista. Creating a school-wide value system creates a common language for all. Using these values, teachers, students and parents are able to use the same words for student expectations, and everyone knows what is expected. Our core student values are:

Responsibility
Patience
Problem Solving
Initiative
Safety