Activities, Games, and Lessons for Social Learning: A Practical Guide - Paperback

by Stern Center for Language and Learning (Author)

In these games, the prize is success in school--and life.

Having good social skills doesn't just affect classroom behavior--it's the key to making learning stick. When students improve their self-regulation, social communication, and perspective-taking competencies, they are better prepared to challenge themselves academically, take on tough tasks, and collaborate with teachers and classmates to achieve real, lasting school success. And since these skills also improve life outside school, the benefits come full circle.

Designed for both explicit instruction and "learning by doing," this practical guide provides hands-on activities that are easily adapted into any curriculum and can be used in general education, special education, after-school settings, and in the home. The design of each game keeps kids engaged and motivated, while educators benefit from clear, thorough explanations that unpack the complexities of social learning. Other behind-the-scenes features include:

• Evidence-based, teacher-tested lessons
• Anecdotes and real-world examples
  
• Links to relevant research
  
• Expansion ideas for applying learned skills to broader situations
  
• Templates and reproducibles for easy implementation

This curated collection of activities puts social-learning theory into practice, helping even the most challenging children develop the social skills necessary for real success in school--and beyond.

Author Biography

The Stern Center for Language and Learning is a nonprofit learning center in Williston, Vermont dedicated to helping children and adults reach their academic, social, and professional goals. They provide research-based learning evaluations, customized instruction, and school consultations for students in PreK through college, including children with dyslexia, language disorders, and social learning challenges. The Stern Center designs and delivers customized professional learning programs and system development using current research and trends in education. Through the Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence, they work with schools and individual educators in early literacy, oral language, reading, written language, social cognition, executive functioning, and math.