Social skills : a literature review and unit plan : an honors creative project (HONRS 499)

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Authors
Walden, Lori G.
Advisor
Williams, Donna C.
Issue Date
2008
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B.?.)
Department
Honors College
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Social skills are a person's knowledge of and aptitude for interactions with other people, and many children lack these vital skills. There are three main domains for discussing specific social skills: assertion, self-control, and cooperation. Social skills are important because they enable children to develop socially and to maintain healthy relationships, as well as do better in school.It is only reasonable for teachers to give children the tools needed to complete a job; a child's job is to be a good student. Schools offer a great place to teach social skills, as children spend plenty of time there. We should change the curriculum from the 3 'R's to the 4 'R's, "reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic, and relationships" (Katz viii), because there is a correlation between social skills and academic success of children. An improvement in behavior is also a positive outcome from knowing and using social skills.The three main interventions to teach social skills are modeling, shaping, and coaching (Ladd 115). When explicitly teaching any social skill, it is important to remember to teach the knowledge, actions, and application of each skill.After the literature review, there is a second grade unit, titled "Communities". This is to show ways to integrate teaching social skills with content.