Why don't most schools offer social skills sessions?

[Anonymous]

^ sorry, meant to explain that this wonderful social skills group happened when he was in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The general teacher doesn't have time, OP. Please understand this. They're worked off their feet.

My kid is now in college, and what he had was a group conversation pull-out that was billed as "speech therapy" on his IEP, but was actually a social skills class for kids with autism and ADHD. It was led by the the smartest, most experienced, SLP I have ever known. She was a treasure. She taught all the basics of autistic-friendly communication, with imagery to help them be less inflexible in their thinking. My kid could not tell me much about his day, but he did tell me about her group and what they did there.

She retired some years ago. I am sure she bettered the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of students in her long career.

We tried private social skills groups, and none were helpful. I think it really comes down to the individual person and how good they are at their job.

Social skills groups in FCPS elementary are done with special education teachers. Maybe 30 minutes 1-3 times/week depending on need and schedules. They have a program or curriculum they follow, and it’s within their scope. Then they can also help with carryover in the general education setting.

[Anonymous]

I wish they could do more facilitated recess games. We had a “play team” at one school and it made such a huge difference in the younger grades for all of the kids.

It was an outside vendor who trained staff just to facilitate games at recess. The PE teacher took the lead on maintaining the program.

[Anonymous]

Because people constantly vote for Republicans who cut school budgets. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because people constantly vote for Republicans who cut school budgets. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thank you for saying this. I’m sick of the people who want EVERYTHING done in schools, get mad when teacher doesn’t want to give up the 30 minutes they may have “free” to pee, run to the far away fridge to get their lunch, heat it up after waiting for the person in front of them to use the microwave, walk back to their classroom, and then leave 2 minutes early to make sure to pick up their kids from recess on time. Same people complaining are probably the ones who run an errand and cook dinner during work hours while working from home and whine about having to go into the office twice a week. Sick of it.

You want more in education, don’t vote republican, volunteer in schools or for pta, ask teachers what they need, and teach your kids to respect adults so they can at least do their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Our school asks for lunchroom volunteers all the time. They are short staffed and work overload for special educators & specialists. There are no resources and our school do not have lunch bunch as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, OP. It's infuriating. In my experience, teachers are super reluctant to give up their downtime.

Following for thoughts, suggestions, support.

I mean, I wouldn’t be eager to give up one of the few minutes in the work day I had to pee and gobble down some lunch. We need more professionals in the schools to do this sort of intervention, not expect that teachers should give up their bathroom breaks.

+1 op, start an after school club.

[Anonymous]

I'm a newbie to public school (kid is about to start K) so sorry for the dumb question but could this not be integrated into the general ed curriculum? I have heard from an educator friend in a very low income community that by middle school the kids in general ed with ASD diagnoses do the best with social skills because they have received explicit instruction (maybe outside of school?) in this area, whereas those without diagnoses have a lot of social skills gaps. I think more kids need this than are identified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish they could do more facilitated recess games. We had a “play team” at one school and it made such a huge difference in the younger grades for all of the kids.

It was an outside vendor who trained staff just to facilitate games at recess. The PE teacher took the lead on maintaining the program.

totally! I actually don’t think that fighting for schools to provide manualized social skills programs would be a good thing. much better to have a more naturalistic approach to encouraging kids to play and relate to each other. small group pull outs for related services ane lunch bunches too. our kids don’t need everything to be medicalized.

[Anonymous]

Because teaching social skills and manners is your job as the parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish they could do more facilitated recess games. We had a “play team” at one school and it made such a huge difference in the younger grades for all of the kids.

It was an outside vendor who trained staff just to facilitate games at recess. The PE teacher took the lead on maintaining the program.

I would love this. What does it take to make it happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, OP. It's infuriating. In my experience, teachers are super reluctant to give up their downtime.

Following for thoughts, suggestions, support.

Why on earth would you ask a teacher to give up their small window of time for lunch?

This was handled by the counselors at my kids’ school. And they included all kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because people constantly vote for Republicans who cut school budgets. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thank you for saying this. I’m sick of the people who want EVERYTHING done in schools, get mad when teacher doesn’t want to give up the 30 minutes they may have “free” to pee, run to the far away fridge to get their lunch, heat it up after waiting for the person in front of them to use the microwave, walk back to their classroom, and then leave 2 minutes early to make sure to pick up their kids from recess on time. Same people complaining are probably the ones who run an errand and cook dinner during work hours while working from home and whine about having to go into the office twice a week. Sick of it.

You want more in education, don’t vote republican, volunteer in schools or for pta, ask teachers what they need, and teach your kids to respect adults so they can at least do their jobs.

x1 million

They cut budgets and then complain about the schools. MFers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because teaching social skills and manners is your job as the parent.

ma’am this is the SN board

[Anonymous]

Regular classroom teachers are not the correct person to lead a social skills group. This is not their area. It is guidance counselors or special ed teachers.