Title: Improving the Social Skills of Elementary School Children.
Abstract: This report describes a program for improving social skills while incorporating cooperative learning in the curriculum. The targeted population consisted of third grade students in a regular classroom and fifth grade students in physical education classes at two different elementary schools in the same district. The schools were located in a predominately upper class Jewish and Roman Catholic community in the Midwest. The lack of social skills was documented with student and teacher surveys, behavior checklists, and anecdotal records. Analysis of probable cause indicated that there was a considerable lack of social skills among elementary students. This lack of social skills adversely affected student achievement and development of positive relationships among peers. Review of the research indicated that social skills, were not part of the classroom curriculum. After analysis of the problem setting, the following solution strategies were implemented: teaching of social skills, creating a cooperative classroom through the use of cooperative learning activities, teaching of conflict resolution techniques, instituting open meetings, and implementing classroom expectations that foster a caring classroom. The program included community building activities, social skills T-charts, and role playing. Post intervention data indicated that the intervention had a positive impact on peer relationships and the students' ability to work cooperatively in groups. However, it is recommended that a social skills program be implemented school wide. (Contains 37 references and 10 tables of data. Appendixes contain staff and student surveys, a teacher checklist, student social skills goals, instructions for negotiating, and a worksheet for student social skill reflection.) (Author/RS) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. IMPROVING THE SOCIAL SKILLS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN Elizabeth Androjna Mary Ellen Barr Jennifer Judkins CS An Action Research Project Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the School of Education in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Teaching and Leadership Saint Xavier University & SkyLight Professional Development Field-Based Masters Program
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 4
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