Teaching Social Competence

Overview
Inadequate social skills not only make for unhappy and lonely students, they have a measurable impact on academic achievement. Conversely, academic achievement improves (as do behaviors) when social skills improve. This is one of the findings of 30 years of research by Professor Dennis Knapczyk and Instructor Paul Rodes of Indiana University. In this video, authors Knapczyk and Rodes profile three challenging kids who struggle in class because of social skill deficits. Maria is withdrawn and refuses to get involved. Alfred is smart, but prefers to use his status as class clown to get attention. Granville's bullying behaviors leave him alienated from classmates. Knapczyk and Rodes make suggestions for how to improve their grades and their lives.

The workbook corresponds to the video and provides numerous reproducible forms allowing you to construct interventions based on its assessment tools and to weld the students' social skill training to IEPs. For all staff, but especially relevant grades 1-6. Video, 20 min., CC, 2001. Book, spiral bound, 2001.