Practice makes perfect with interactions
Print Edition
At The Western International School of Shanghai, the learning support team believes that a fun, interactive, and play-based social skills environment creates a base for learning. Within the Primary Years Program at WISS, learning through social skills is part of the curriculum.
Should we feel a student’s needs are greater and not being met through the opportunities they get in class, then we offer classes in small groups to improve social skills. Just like additional learning support, social skills can be a learned activity. The class is designed to improve social and communication skills amongst students. Topics include making friends, cooperating with others, sharing, confidence building as well as problem solving. Practicing these skills will help students build up their self-esteem and find success throughout social experiences. Students benefit greatly from this positive experience by learning, playing, and growing together. At WISS, we believe that children who grow emotionally can increase their academic achievements.
John, a young boy, struggled with reading and has struggled with peer interactions throughout his entire life. He avoided social situations and preferred to work and play on his own. He was referred to learning support with academic concerns in the beginning of Grade 1. His social behavior had begun to seriously affect his classwork, especially his participation in group projects and pair work and it was limiting his opportunities to learn from others and share his own knowledge and skills. Out of concern for his current situation, the members of John’s team met to discuss ways to better support him. After careful consideration, they decided that he would benefit from a focused approach to improving his social skills. He joined a small focus group and after the social skills and problem-solving skills were in place, his academic results showed improvement.
John’s team understood that social skills form a strong foundation for personal and professional success. Social skills help us navigate everyday interactions such as conversations, asking for help and instructing others. They allow children to speak up, become more comfortable in a foreign language and solve difficult problems. It was always going to be a challenge for John to connect to others, but by learning about and practicing the skills necessary he can communicate his needs and successfully deal with his academic needs.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
