SEL & Social Skills

​Social Skills & SEL

By Crista Thomas

What is SEL?

Social Emotional Learning

• Communication & socialization behaviors

• Self management, problem solving and adaptability

• Social Skills is often a category within the larger umbrella of SEL

Open Ended

Why is SEL important to teach in schools (in your opinion)?

SEL within PBIS

• Tier 1: Schoolwide implemented curriculum or programs

• Tier 2: Small group instruction

• Tier 3: Individualized instruction and interventions

Open Ended

What is on observable & measurable impact you might see as a result of effective SEL instruction? You an give an example for any level (individual, classwide, or schoolwide)

Impact of SEL

Higher level of competency with SEL-->higher likelihood of academic and social success for that student

Why do students struggle with SEL?

Three possible deficits:

• Acquisition

• Performance

• Fluency

Fill in the Blank

Acquisition deficits refers to skills the student has _____ learned to use

Fill in the Blank

Performance deficits means there is _______ motivation to demonstrate the skill

Multiple Choice

Fluency deficits means the student is exhibiting the skill

• inconsistently

• consistently

So what will help?

• Dedicated SEL lessons

• Class and schoolwide practices to support SEL

• Embed practice throughout the day and connect to academics and other areas

• A school climate & admin that support SEL

How do we assess SEL skills?

Multiple Choice

Step 1 to assessing SEL skills is identifying what kind of _____ the student has.

• deficit

• strength

• preference

• motivation

Ask yourself...

Has the student ever been observed using the skill effectively under appropriate conditions?

Multiple Choice

If they have NOT been observed to exhibit the skill, the deficit is likely in.....

• acquisition

• performance

• fluency

If they HAVE...

It could be a PERFORMANCE or FLUENCY deficit

• Address opportunities to practice and supports available

Fluency

• Address motivation

Performance

What to do?

Multiple Select

Social skills or SEL deficits can be assessed through which of the following methods? (Choose all that apply)

• FBAs

• Rating scales or checklists

• Observation

• Standardized assessments

Open Ended

What are some goals of social skills interventions?

Goals of Intervention

1. Teach new skills

2. Reduce challenging behaviors and replace with appropriate ones

3. Enhance fluency of a skill

4. Generalize the skill across settings and time

How do I teach new SEL skills?

• The same way we teach anything else!

• Explicit instruction (I Do, We Do, You Do)

  • Coaching (direct instruction/I Do)

  • Modeling (I Do)

  • Behavioral Practice (We Do/You Do)

Open Ended

What curriculums have you used or know of for SEL or social skills?

Curriculums I Have Used

• Zones of Regulation (been at every school I have been in)

• A Little Spot of Emotion (a common one staff & students at my current school like that I implemented for a year)

• Kimochis (did not implement myself, was used by the counselor when I taught CE)

How to find other curriculums

CASEL's Program Guide
They also have a tool on this page that guides you/your school through selecting an evidence-based SEL program. It's a little buried so I added it to the Canvas files!

What about fluency deficits?

• Address similarly to any other behavior that is not consistently being demonstrated

• Practice in natural contexts as much as possible

• Reinforce!!

  • Ideally a desirable social consequence for the behavior would be the natural reinforcement but some students may need other reinforcers first until they are fluent in the skill

Open Ended

How would you address a student who has learned a skill but is not demonstrating it across settings or time?

Addressing Generalization

• Assess if the student actually needs the skill

• Mirror natural environment when role playing and modeling

• Provide structured opportunities for them to try it on their own

• Go back to the reinforcement philosophies & strategies we've learned in class

• Teach the teachers and peers how to engage with your student and how to respond!

Open Ended

Final thoughts or reflections on SEL?