Teaching Social Skills

You’re absolutely right. People who don’t understand learning disabilities — and those disabilities’ consequences for students’ interaction with their peers — often criticize teachers who try to teach appropriate social interaction.

What they don’t seem to realize is that our students’ lack of knowledge about what constitutes appropriate social interaction with other kids actually hampers their academic performance, too. If a student with learning disabilities is socially awkward, you can pretty much count on that student not being willing to volunteer to answer questions in class, or do anything to stand out academically.

It is important to improve our students’ performance in core academic subjects. But it seems to me that all this emphasis on standardized tests of the core academic subjects has made it tough for any teacher who tries to devote time to helping students who struggle with social skills problems. Even though the student’s scores would probably benefit in the end, it’s seen as “soft” material, unworthy of academic instruction time.

[quote=”TADM”]Do you think that teachers do not spend enough time understanding why there is a problem with social interaction ?

Yes. I also think teachers are given too many students to watch over and are not encouraged to understand problems. Schools are under great pressure these days and they like to try to solve things quickly.

Do you think the problems are substantially ignored by society as a condition of LD ?

I don’t understand that question.

Do you think that teacher receive enough training to help the child learn correct social behavior ? :?:[/quote]

Teacher training is not a standardized process. In my state, the courses vary from college to college.