Why start a social skills program? The question is not why, but why not? With inclusive education becoming the norm in schools nationwide, teachers often struggle to address students' non-academic needs-but teachers need ready-to-use lessons that won't interfere with their curriculum. QUEST (Questioning, Understanding, and Exploring Social Skills and Pragmatic Language Together) is a social skills program created to help middle school students with ASD who struggle with pragmatic language and social skills. Developed by a school social worker and speech language pathologist, the program uses an intensive, proactive approach to teaching social skills, combining written instruction with games, activities, and student interaction.
Six helpful units-School Survival Basics, Understanding and Managing Emotion, Communication Skills, Making Friends and Interacting with Peers, Personal Safety, Vocational Readiness-can be implemented either chronologically or on their own. Evidence-based research supports the methods used and students have a great time learning-by-doing, through role-play and real-world experience. Parents are kept in the loop with email updates and evaluations. Everyone wins with this program!
Best of all, the book includes a CD of printable worksheets, letters, forms, and more!
QUEST covers: Greetings, Paying Attention, Daily Hygiene, Asking for Help, Understanding Feelings, Getting Angry/Calming Down, Managing Stress, Starting a Conversation, Making and Keeping Friends, Gossip, Bullying, and Teasing, Resisting Peer Pressure, Dating, Internet and E-mail Safety, and many more!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Unit 1 -School Survival Basics
Greetings
Paying Attention
Daily Hygiene
Asking for Help
Creating a Workspace and Completing Work
Unit 2 - Understanding and Managing Emotion
Understanding Feelings
Uncomfortable Feelings
Getting Angry/Calming Down
Managing Stress
Negotiating with Others
Problem Solving
Unit 3 - Communication Skills
Nonverbal Communication
Starting a Conversation
Keeping a Conversation Going
Ending a Conversation
Joining a Group Conversation
Exiting an Uncomfortable Conversation
Unit 4 - Making Friends and Interacting with Peers
Friends are Important
Making and Keeping Friends
Making Plans with Friends
Using the Telephone
Modesty
Recognizing and Dealing with Gossip, Bullying and Teasing
Resisting Peer Pressure
Participating in After-School Activities
Dating
Unit 5 - Personal Safety
Being Home Alone
Using the Telephone in an Emergency
Smoke and Fire Alarm Safety
Being Separated from My Group
Internet and E-Mail Safety
Driving with Friends
Drugs, Alcohol and Dangerous Behavior
Unit 6 - Vocational Readiness
My Skills and Interests
Working for Others
Creating a Flier and Applying for a Summer Job
Accepting Suggestions and Compliments from My Employer
Sample Correspondence, Reports and Forms
Form 1 - Teacher Introductory Flier - to present program to teachers and other administrative and support staff.
Form 2 - Parent Introductory Letter - to inform parents when their child has been identified as a possible candidate for QUEST.
Form 3 - Parent Introductory Flier (two samples provided) - to present program to parents of students who may be eligible for participation in the program or for students already enrolled.
Form 4 - QUEST Parent/Teacher Evaluation - to inform parents and teachers of skills recently learned and gain feedback on generalization of skills.
Form 5 - QUEST Rules and Procedures - visual reminder to display in the classroom.
Form 6 - Daily Reminder Cards - visual reminders to display in the classroom.
Form 7 - Student Group Report - weekly report form completed by students
Form 8 - Pre/Post Assessment - given to students prior to program and again upon completion. Note: pre/post test is designed for use with all six QUEST units.
