Promoting Social Skills in the Inclusive Classroom by Wilkerson, Kimber L.; Perzigian, Aaron B. T.; Schurr, Jill K.;

This indispensable book presents evidence-based tools and strategies for improving the social skills of all members of the inclusive classroom (K-6), especially students experiencing difficulties in this area. The authors explain why social competence is critical to school success and describe interventions, curricula, and instructional approaches that have been shown to be effective at the schoolwide, classroom, and individual levels. Procedures for conducting assessments and developing individualized intervention plans are detailed. Reproducible forms can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

This indispensable book presents evidence-based tools and strategies for improving the social skills of all members of the inclusive classroom (K-6), especially students experiencing difficulties in this area. The authors explain why social competence is critical to school success and describe interventions, curricula, and instructional approaches that have been shown to be effective at the schoolwide, classroom, and individual levels. Procedures for conducting assessments and developing individualized intervention plans are detailed. Reproducible forms can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

I found this book to have great potential for use in schools. Accessible and well organized, it provides essential content to help educators and school psychologists promote students' social skills. Strong ideas are presented for conceptualizing and addressing social competence with the majority of students, small groups, and the few students who need individualized attention. This book will serve as an ideal required text for my yearly graduate course in social skills instruction.--Douglas Cheney, PhD, College of Education, University of Washington

This timely book addresses the often-overlooked importance of social competence in the inclusive classroom, and includes a comprehensive review of relevant research. A highlight of the work is an excellent chapter about capitalizing on the power of peers. The authors show how creating a socially rich classroom environment can improve achievement for all students. The book artfully moves from the classroom level to the level of the individual student, and carefully ties in strategies for individual skills assessment and progress monitoring.--Julie Causton, PhD, Inclusive and Special Education Program, Syracuse University

An excellent resource. Based on a strong theoretical foundation that explains how and why social competence matters in the classroom, this book provides practical, evidence-based guidelines for helping students with and without disabilities to develop social skills and competencies. The authors present a broad range of assessment techniques, along with strategies for schoolwide, classroom-level, and individualized prevention, intervention, and instruction. This is an invaluable book for elementary educators who work in inclusive classrooms, as well as preservice teachers and practitioners who wish to do so.--Kathryn Wentzel, PhD, Department of Human Development, University of Maryland, College Park

1. The Importance of Social Skills
2. The Wide and Varied Definitions of Social Competence
3. Schoolwide Approaches to Social Skills Development, with Catherine R. Lark
4. Classroom Approaches to Social Skills Development
5. Capitalizing on the Power of Peers
6. Assessment of Individual Skills and Progress, with Jennifer L. Schroeder
7. Developing and Implementing Individual Intervention Plans