Do you use social stories or social narratives in your classroom? If not, you need to start! Social stories are a fantastic tool for teaching and reinforcing social skills, boosting student confidence and independence, and reinforcing expectations and routines.
So, what is a social narrative?
A social narrative is a simple story that describes a specific situation, what to expect, and how to navigate it. It pairs simple text with visuals or illustrations depicting the situation.
For example, separating from parents to go to school, ride the bus, nap time, get a haircut, or take turns. It helps them practice the skill before the scenario happens.
By using social narratives, we help make these scenarios less anxiety-inducing by allowing the student to feel more prepared. This is especially true for students who have difficulty with transitions and change. Truly, any student, neurotypical or neurodivergent, can benefit from implementing a social story.
So, when should you use a social narrative? It is best practice to start reading and reviewing the social narrative up to two weeks before the event or transition. If it is something that you may need more time to prepare in advance, for example, sharing on the first day of school, you can start implementing that day.
It is essential to read and review the social story multiple times. This helps reinforce the concept and gives the student more opportunities to practice the skill. Consider role-playing the scenario with the students for additional reinforcement when reading a social narrative.
So that you know all about social narratives, you may ask yourself, where can I find them? Don’t worry! I have a ton of social narratives already made for you, linked HERE! You can also find FREE ones in my Free Resource Libray, which you can join by clicking HERE.
As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss this topic further, you can send me an email at thealternativewaytoprek@gmail.com