Socially Speaking

What is Socially Speaking?

Socially speaking is a realistic and effective social skills program for primary aged pupils. This program supports pupils to acquire effective social skills then supports them with strategies of how to carry these social skills over into everyday life situations. It not only encourages effective social interaction but also improves self esteem, listening skills, receptive language, expressive language and problem solving. The program supports pupils to acquire skills in the 4 main components when using language which are:

• Phonology (speech sounds)

• Grammar (order words in sentences)

• Semantics (Understanding of language, vocabulary and meaning used)

• Pragmatics (How we use language in certain situations e.g turn taking, asking questions, listening.

Key Area of Need

To develop pragmatic social skills required for pupils to communicate in a range of everyday situations.

Age Group

This intervention can be used with Primary age pupils from 6 years old upwards. Pre unit and post unit assessments take place with the pupil to identify areas of strength and areas for further development.

Outline of the scheme

The program covers a full academic year and is divided into 3 units.

1 - Let’s communicate

2 - Let’s be friends

3 - Let’s practise

The units should be taught in order and a post unit and end of unit assessment should take place to allow both teacher and pupil to discuss together the progress of their learning after completing a unit, identifying any further areas of development before moving on.

Each session has a similar format:

1 - Greetings

2 - Game

3 - Review, discussion, questioning

4 - Role play

5 - Worksheet

6 - Compliments

Clear lessons plans are provided to follow and photocopiable resources are within the book, therefore lesson set up is relatively easy.

Reviews from people who have used this intervention:

“Each child benefited from the scheme developing eye contact, listening skills, awareness of others, social conversational techniques and appropriate models of behaviour” Lou Harvey - Class teacher

“Socially speaking is a programme that children have enjoyed and the learning has been fun” Judy Marshall - Class teacher

Where to access this resource:

You can access this book, which has been split into three parts, from our intervention drive:

Electronic versions

You can purchase the book directly from Amazon for around £20 - 25

Socially Speaking book