My self contained students get along great in the classroom but have many problems with other children when not in a controlled setting such as at lunch, gym and recess. We talk weekly about appropriate ways to handle situations and the children seem to know what the appropriate responces should be, but don’t use what they have been taught. When someone bumps into them in line they shove the person back even though they know to discuss the problem or tell a teacher. Positive reinforcement doesn’t seem to work, not does punishment. Any ideas?
Re: social skills & LD
Unfortunately children with LD/ADHD are often impulsive and have difficulty calling forth what they’ve learned when in new situations. I’d suggest role playing in situations that are as close as possible to the situations that they encounter. For example, maybe they could practice walking in the hall and having someone bump into them or being in the cafeteria and having someone do the kind of thing that might create a problem. (This could be done when other students are not present or perhaps some volunteers who the students know and feel comfortable with could be enlisted to participate with them.) Having the experience of behaving appropriately (maybe a number of times) may help to develop new habits of behavior.
Since the students behave well in class, I wonder how you were able to teach the behaviors to them? Are they internalized or controlled because you or other staff are present? Perhaps learning to practice these behaviors with less monitoring in the classroom will help them to take greater responsibility for their behaviors when in other situations?
Re: social skills & LD
I sgree with Arlene about role playing. We do a variety of role playing in my class — from answering the door to going to a fast food place.
Re: social skills & LD
I agree with this… Carry over is very big with LD students. So, if this is only being reenforced in the classroom, but no where else, it just isn’t consistent enough! Maybe you could send a quick memo to all teachers &/or adults at school, so that the student will have stability in the “lesson”.
I do, however, find that role play is very difficult for LD kids. In my classroom, I have found that empathy does not run deep and the ability to put themselves in “someone else’s shoes” is also difficult and silly to them. I teach Interpersonal Psychology at a private school for teenagers who specifically live with LD or ADD/ADHD.
These are through my own experiences…
Try using social stories. Carol Gray has written two books on social stories. You can order them from SuperDuper Publications.