Examining the Effectiveness of a Social Thinking Curriculum for Improving Social Skills in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Examining the Effectiveness of a Social Thinking Curriculum for Improving Social Skills in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders PDF Author: Kathryn Banting
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Autism spectrum disorders
Languages : en
Pages : 37

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Book Description
The purpose of my research was to investigate the effectiveness of a social thinking curriculum from Think Social! A Social Thinking Curriculum for School-Age Students by Michelle Garcia Winner (2005) with a group of two elementary school students identified with high-functioning autism and autism spectrum disorder. The problem I was facing with my students with ASD, was that their deficits in social adaptability and interpretation of others' thoughts and feelings was directly affecting not only their interactions during social situations but also their ability to function in the general education class with their peers. Teaching rote social skills was not effective in meeting the social needs of my students; therefore I researched alternative social curriculums and found many teachers in my district exploring the effectiveness of a social thinking curriculum. Although social thinking is a relatively new concept in the world of special education with limited evidence of its effectiveness, it is at its core a type of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT has been heavily researched and found effective. Both components of CBT, cognitive and behavioral, contribute to successful social functioning in students. Behaviorally, students require a model of appropriate interactions, opportunities to practice skills and feedback to improve those skills. Cognitively, students need to learn how to interpret social cues and events. (Mennuti, R.B., Christner, R.W., & Freeman, A., 2006). Because of these components, the CBT model is often used in programs that target teaching social skills, social problem solving, and social thinking (Bauminger, 2002; Sze & Wood, 2007). The goal of Social Thinking is to teach students with ASD to develop a deeper understanding of social relations and social communication while also learning to interpret and execute related social skills. Students with ASD have not acquired these skills intuitively like their typical peers; therefore these students need to be taught how the social world works and why specific social skills are important in different situations. The results of this study may assist special education teachers while making decision about appropriate curriculum to address the social needs of their students with ASD.

Examining the Effectiveness of a Social Thinking Curriculum for Improving Social Skills in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Examining the Effectiveness of a Social Thinking Curriculum for Improving Social Skills in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders PDF Author: Kathryn Banting
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Autism spectrum disorders
Languages : en
Pages : 37

Get Book Here

Book Description
The purpose of my research was to investigate the effectiveness of a social thinking curriculum from Think Social! A Social Thinking Curriculum for School-Age Students by Michelle Garcia Winner (2005) with a group of two elementary school students identified with high-functioning autism and autism spectrum disorder. The problem I was facing with my students with ASD, was that their deficits in social adaptability and interpretation of others' thoughts and feelings was directly affecting not only their interactions during social situations but also their ability to function in the general education class with their peers. Teaching rote social skills was not effective in meeting the social needs of my students; therefore I researched alternative social curriculums and found many teachers in my district exploring the effectiveness of a social thinking curriculum. Although social thinking is a relatively new concept in the world of special education with limited evidence of its effectiveness, it is at its core a type of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT has been heavily researched and found effective. Both components of CBT, cognitive and behavioral, contribute to successful social functioning in students. Behaviorally, students require a model of appropriate interactions, opportunities to practice skills and feedback to improve those skills. Cognitively, students need to learn how to interpret social cues and events. (Mennuti, R.B., Christner, R.W., & Freeman, A., 2006). Because of these components, the CBT model is often used in programs that target teaching social skills, social problem solving, and social thinking (Bauminger, 2002; Sze & Wood, 2007). The goal of Social Thinking is to teach students with ASD to develop a deeper understanding of social relations and social communication while also learning to interpret and execute related social skills. Students with ASD have not acquired these skills intuitively like their typical peers; therefore these students need to be taught how the social world works and why specific social skills are important in different situations. The results of this study may assist special education teachers while making decision about appropriate curriculum to address the social needs of their students with ASD.

Think Social!

Think Social! PDF Author: Michelle Garcia Winner
Publisher: Teaching Social Skills
ISBN: 9780970132048
Category : Autistic children
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Includes detailed lessons, worksheets and vocabulary for a social skills curriculum for children.

Examining the Effectiveness of a Social Learning Curriculum for Improving Social Skills and Self-regulation Behaviors in Middle School Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder Or Social Skill Deficits

Examining the Effectiveness of a Social Learning Curriculum for Improving Social Skills and Self-regulation Behaviors in Middle School Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder Or Social Skill Deficits PDF Author: Jessica Beth Bolton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description


Social Skills Teaching for Individuals with Autism

Social Skills Teaching for Individuals with Autism PDF Author: Keith C Radley
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030916650
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
This book examines current trends and practices in social skills instruction for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on empirical support of current practices and for which populations such practices have been most frequently evaluated (e.g., ages, levels of functioning). It details key practices that may be implemented as social skills teaching strategies as well as the theoretical underpinnings of the teaching strategies, relevant empirical support, and a guide to utilization supported by the empirical evaluations. These guides to utilization are a practical tool for implementation of commonly evaluated social skills teaching strategies. In addition, the book describes limitations of social skills teaching and offers recommendations for future research and intervention strategies that may overcome its current limitations. Key topics featured include: Video modeling and social skills training for individuals with ASD. Behavioral skills training for ASD. Peer-mediated teaching of persons with autism. Social narratives of individuals with ASD. Social Skills Teaching for Individuals with Autism is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, and graduate students as well as clinicians, therapists, and other professionals in clinical child and school psychology, behavioral therapy/rehabilitation, social work, public health, and all interrelated disciplines.

Why Teach Social Thinking?

Why Teach Social Thinking? PDF Author: Michelle Garcia Winner
Publisher: Think Social Publishing
ISBN: 1936943891
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 310

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Book Description
As you read this book, further your learning with the free study guide! (See the publisher's webpage for the print book to download.) Today's children (both neurotypically developing and those with social thinking needs or social emotional learning differences and/or challenges) are entering school with struggles to learn in a group, attend to a lesson, consider one another’s perspectives, or self-regulate their own behavior. Teachers are increasingly finding themselves ill-equipped with the know-how, tools, and strategies to teach students about social awareness, emotional intelligence, and self-regulation of behavior. Why Teach Social Thinking? emphasizes the importance of social emotional learning to a student's academic success and later well-being and success in life. This book uses core questions to explore the complex and interrelated issues that are at the heart of teaching social learning including, “What are social skills?” 1. What are the origins of social development? Is there an age when our social development stops? 2. What areas do students with social cognitive differences and social learning needs find most difficult? Includes a review of the ILAUGH model which breaks down the components of social cognition to help assess and build social competencies. 3. When a person struggles with social metacognition, how does that impact academics? 4. When do we use social thinking and how do we teach it? 5. How can social-metacognitively based teaching help to teach social thinking concepts? 6. Are social learners all the same? 7. Who is responsible for teaching social thinking and related social concepts and strategies? 8. What is a framework for teaching concepts and strategies from the Social Thinking Methodology? 9. What are guidelines for teaching concepts and strategies from the Social Thinking Methodology? 10. How does social teaching fit into what we typically call "education?" 11. What are evidence-based practices? How do they apply to teaching social thinking concepts? Special Features · Why Teach Social Thinking? includes an introduction to the Social Thinking Vocabulary, terms that establish a common language for adults and students of all ages to talk about and explore social concepts. · The book outlines the Social Thinking-Social Communication/Characteristics Summary (ST-SCS), a system that helps parents and educators define and better understand different social learning styles. · School educators who are interested in promoting concepts from the Social Thinking Methodology can use it to reinforce the idea that social thinking is something we all do. It is not just for students with social or emotional learning needs. · At the college/university level, the questions in the book can be a springboard for graduate and post-graduate level classroom discussions. The free Study Guide further enhances learning and discussion. · Policy makers/program planners can use the questions and Study Guide for round-table discussions about teaching social skills within an education and/or treatment setting. · Chapter 11 discusses 14 best-practice guidelines for teaching Social Thinking. This is a great foundational book for parents, teachers, service providers, and administrators. Foreword by Dr. Patricia Prelock, 2013 President, American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA).

Social Skills Success for Students with Autism / Asperger's

Social Skills Success for Students with Autism / Asperger's PDF Author: Fred Frankel
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118108612
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 258

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Book Description
The only evidence-based program available for teaching social skills to adolescents with autism spectrum disorders Two nationally known experts in friendship formation and anxiety management address the social challenges faced by adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The book helps educators instruct youth on conversing with others, displaying appropriate body language, managing anxiety, initiating and participating in get-togethers, and more. The book is filled with helpful information on ASD to aid teachers who have received little training on the topic. Extremely practical, the book includes lesson plans, checklists, and sidebars with helpful advice. Based on UCLA's acclaimed PEERS program, the only evidence-based approach to teaching social skills to adolescents with ASD Contains best practices for working with parents, which is the key to helping kids learn social skills The authors discuss the pros and cons of teaching students with ASD in educational settings like full inclusion (good for academics but bad for social skills) and pull-out special day classes (where the reverse is true) Provides a much-needed book for teachers at all levels for helping students develop the skills they need to be successful.

S.O.S. Social Skills in Our Schools

S.O.S. Social Skills in Our Schools PDF Author: Michelle A. Dunn
Publisher: AAPC Publishing
ISBN: 9781931282789
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
Forming healthy, solid relationships with their typical peers is a major challenge for most children with autism spectrum disorders. This comprehensive social skills curriculum has the dual purpose of helping educators develop appropriate social skills in children with pervasive developmental disorders while also fostering understanding and tolerance among typical peers and school staff. The curriculum includes built-in booster lessons, so the child receives multiple presentations of the material, thus reinforcing the lesson for better understanding and generalization.

Social Skills Instruction for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Social Skills Instruction for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders PDF Author: Tiffany Lynn Born
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Although there is a push to include students with autism spectrum disorders in the general academic context, students with autism are often not fully included in the social environment of schools. Even when students with autism are in the same settings as their typically developing peers, they often have few social interactions with their peers (e.g., Carter, Hughes, Guth, & Copeland, 2005). One reason for the dearth of social interactions that students with autism have during the school day may be related to deficits in social skills which can interfere with interactions with peers. Peer networks, a type of peer-mediated intervention, have been shown to be effective in increasing the social contacts and relationships of students with disabilities. In peer networks, gains in social interactions are accomplished by providing training to general education peers who compromise a social network for the student with a disability (SWD) outside of the classroom setting. However, the literature on peer networks varies as to if specific social skills training for the SWD is included and often does not fully examine specific or even general social skills deficits of the SWD. This study examined the effectiveness of a peer network plus intervention which incorporated an explicit social skills training component within a peer network framework. Four participants with an educational diagnosis of autism participated in a 10 week peer network intervention. A social skills training component was added to the peer network systematically. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the peer network plus intervention for (a) enhancing targeted social skills of the students with autism, (b) enhancing broader social skills as measured by multiple social skill and adaptive questionnaires, and (c) increasing the number of social contacts, friendships, and interactions students with autism have in high schools. In addition, the social validity of this intervention was measured in order to determine the feasibility and acceptability for use in schools and by school personnel. Finally, the study examined the sensitivity of the Autism Social Skills Profile (ASSP, Bellini & Hopf, 2007) for use as a progress monitoring tool with these interventions. Using a multiple baseline across participants design, this study demonstrated that the social skills component of the peer network plus intervention was effective at improving the targeted social skills of all four participants. Two independent coders found Strong Overall Evidence for improvements in social skills when the social skills component was added for each participant. There was Moderate Overall Evidence for the impact of the social skills training component on the number of interactions students with autism had with their peers during the network meetings. Students with autism, peers without disabilities, and school staff interventionists all rated the intervention favorably. The ASSP was not consistently sensitive enough to detect improvements in social skills for all participants. Implications of the study, as well as limitations and directions for future research, are discussed.

A Study of the Effectiveness of a Social Skills Group

A Study of the Effectiveness of a Social Skills Group PDF Author: Amanda Noble (MWSU student)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Autism spectrum disorders
Languages : en
Pages : 41

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Book Description


Building Social Relationships

Building Social Relationships PDF Author: Scott Bellini
Publisher: AAPC Publishing
ISBN: 9781934575055
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 336

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Book Description
Building Social Relationships addresses the need for social skills programming for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and other social difficulties by providing a comprehensive model that incorporates the following five steps: assess social functioning, distinguish between skill acquisition and performance deficits, select intervention strategies, implement intervention, and evaluate and monitor progress. The model describes how to organize and make sense of the myriad social skills strategies and resources available to parents and professionals. It is not meant to replace other resources or strategies, but to synthesize them into one comprehensive program.