How on earth do you teach problem-solving??? I’ve never found a resource thorough but flexible enough for any situation. I’ve created a “Problem-Solving Workbook” to guide you through teaching this complicated skill, but here is an in-depth look at how I teach students to...
I recently posted an infographic explaining why speech-language pathologists are qualified to teach “social skills” – what we call pragmatic language. In a similar vein, sometimes I feel like people are confused why we are qualified to target working memory, organization, and emotional regulation...
This is the activity I use the most! Once students can generate their own questions, take turns, and understand the concept of staying on-topic, I pull out my On-Topic Target. As I use it frequently, I have it laminated and easily accessible on my...
Welcome back! This is my second post in my “Conversation Basics” blog series. My previous post discussed how I teach turn-taking with students who are learning the basics of social communication. Today I will be talking about how I use a conversation tree to...
Welcome to my new blog series on conversation basics! Today I will be sharing how I teach conversational turns for students with moderate special needs using my conversation graphic organizer. The next two posts will show how I reduce scaffolding while targeting conversational turns...
Most people seem confused why I am qualified to teach social communication. Isn’t that mental health’s job? Shouldn’t the social worker, counselor, or psychologist teach that? My first school district, in a kind effort to lessen our caseload, recommended we leave “social skills” to...
Welcome to the third and final post on my purple and orange thoughts system. To review, I put purple thoughts (puff balls) in my brain (small, clear fish bowl) each time a student does something expected and orange thoughts (puff balls) for unexpected behaviors. The “expected” and “unexpected” concepts are from Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking® curriculum. This system...
Welcome back! Today I’m elaborating on the purple and orange thoughts system by diving into how to deal with orange thoughts. As a quick refresher, I put purple thoughts in my “brain” each time a student does something expected and orange thoughts for unexpected...
This is my favorite tool I use every single day in groups. It teaches students how their behavior impacts me, their teacher, before generalizing the concept to their peers. It’s also my reward system – which makes it easy to incorporate no matter what...
Sometimes the sweetest kids have the most difficulty making friends. It’s hard to watch when their sweetness isn’t reciprocated by their peers. It’s even harder when they get pushed around by mean peers who claim to be their friends. I created the “True Friends...
I have worked with many students who have difficulty with emotional regulation, and helping them is no walk in the park. There are so many influencing factors it’s hard to know what will help the most. Sensory tools? Talking about anxiety? Pragmatic language lessons? ...
I finally read Daniel Goleman’s Social Intelligence this summer. It has been on my booklist for quite a while, and it did not disappoint. The book had a lot to offer regarding the science behind human interaction, but I most appreciated the explanation of...
I am very thankful to work with parents who want ideas for things they can work on at home with their child. Especially when it comes to social communication, true learning can’t happen in a small, sterile setting alone. People with social learning difficulties...
Pokémon GO means making friends is a walk in the park. Last week I finished reading The Science of Making Friends by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson and entered the social world of Pokémon GO, surprisingly complementary experiences. Dr. Laugeson’s book helps socially challenged teens and...
School’s out! It’s time for sunshine, relaxation, and play dates….but what do you do if play dates are more stressful than school? While summer can be a welcome break from routine, it can also be an intimidating amount of unstructured time, especially for kids...
We are thrilled to announce that we will be offering several classes with the Highlands Ranch Community Association this summer! We have designed three different classes for three different age groups. It is our hope to equip students with a better understanding of the...
“I could enjoy friendship and good times. It was my lack of skills, not lack of motivation, that had held me back. Now I was competent enough socially to open my life a wider range of people. I could have more friends.” –Excerpt from...