Social Stories

1. Social Stories AT SCHOOL

2. What is Respect? • Respect is being careful and thoughtful with other people. • Teachers and students show respect toward each other by using kind words and actions. • Being respectful helps everyone feel welcome, comfortable, and safe. Here are a few ways that teachers and students show respect at school. • Carefully help another student. • Share. • Say, “Thank you!” • Work quietly when others are trying to think and finish their assignments. • Use kind words with a gentle voice. • Smile when visiting with or asking questions of others. • Be careful and thoughtful with other people’s property and emotions. Teachers and students can show respect to each other at school with kind words and actions so that everyone feel welcome, comfortable, and safe.

3. It’s the Teacher’s Decision • Teachers make many decisions for their class and students. A decision is a firm–and usually final–choice. Teachers make a lot of decisions, like where each student will sit in the classroom and how to care for classroom materials. It’s their job. • Teachers also make decisions about their students’ ideas. A student might have an idea–and a question–for his or her teacher. • When the teacher says, “That would be fine,” it is a yes decision. This yes decision means that the student who is asking the teacher a question may do what he or she wants to do. • When the teacher says, “Not right now,” it is a no decision. The student who asked the question may not do what he or she wanted to do. • Teachers make many decisions each day. My teacher makes decisions, too; sometimes it may be a yes decision, and other times, it may be a no decision. Making decisions is part of my teacher’s job.

4. Learning to Share Ideas Sharing ideas is one way students learn at school. Every student has ideas they want to share. Learning how to share ideas makes it easier to work together. • Sharing ideas means giving everyone in the group a chance to talk without being interrupted. Sharing ideas also means listening to what others say. Helping each other is a good way to share ideas too. • Sometimes one student may have a lot to say! If a student has a lot to say, he or she can remember to pause occasionally and give others a chance to talk too! • It’s smart to occasionally use other students’ names when working with a group. That way, it’s easier for students to take turns as they talk and listen. • Sometimes when students share ideas they may not agree and there may be a conflict. Conflicts are okay, but it is important to stay calm. Staying calm helps students work things out. Sometimes, help from an adult may be needed to find a solution. Sharing ideas means giving everyone in the group a chance to talk and listening to what they say. Learning how to share ideas makes it easier to work together.

5. Telling Teachers About a Problem • Teachers and students talk about many things. They often talk about good news. They can also solve problems together. • Sometimes, a student may have a problem, or feel frustrated or angry. Telling the teacher can help. That way, the teacher will know there is a problemand can help to solve it. • If I have a problem at school, telling the teacher may help. If I feel frustrated or angry, telling the teacher may help too. Teachers can help students solve problems and feel more comfortable again.