Social Stories

1. Social Stories

2. What is Respect? • Respect is being careful and thoughtful with other people. Teachers and students show respect with kind words and actions. Respect helps everyone feel welcome, comfortable, and safe. Here are a few ways that teachers and students show respect at school. • Respect is carefully helping another student. • Respect is sharing. Saying, “Thank you,” shows respect, too! • Respect is working quietly when others are trying to think and finish their assignments. • Respect is using kind words with a gentle voice, often with a smile, too! • Respect is being careful and thoughtful with other people. • Teachers and students show respect with kind words and actions. Respect helps everyone feel welcome, comfortable, and safe.

3. It’s the Teacher’s Decision • Teachers make many decisions for their class. A decision is a firm –and usually final –choice. Teachers make a lot of decisions, like who collects the lunch money and how to care for classroom pets. It’s their job. Teachers often make decisions about ideas from students. • 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, my teacher may make a yes decision. Other times my teacher may make a no decision. Making decisions is part of my teacher’s job.

4. Learning to Share Ideas • Sharing ideas is one way students learn. Learning how to share ideas makes it easier to work together. • Every student has ideas. Sharing ideas means giving everyone in the group a chance to talk. Sharing ideas also means listening to what others say. • Sometimes one student may have a lot to say! Remembering to pause occasionally gives others a chance to talk, too! • It’s smart to occasionally use student names when working with a group. That way, it’s easier for students to take turns as they talk or listen. • Many times, helping each other is a good way to share ideas, too! • Sometimes when students share ideas, they may not agree. There may be a conflict. Conflicts are okay. 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 problem. She 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.