Social Communication & Emotional Literacy Skills

Developing Social Communication Skills Through Autism Awareness & Emotional Literacy:

Everything that we do to support our students in their understanding of neurodiversity, especially in terms of understanding themselves as unique learners, will support the development of Social Communication Skills. Embedded into this understanding is the idea of supporting and nurturing the Emotional Literacy capacity of students, regardless of their age.

Skill development can happen with explicit teaching, as well as through the sharing of knowledge, thoughts, experiences, strategies and tasks. Ideally, the use of authentic, student interest and real world experiences should be facilitated.

For the purposes of the ASSDPs, specific skills development and acquisition must be identified and tracked throughout the duration of the program. All involved parties will be included in this process, so that every voice is heard and respected.

What Can Emotional Literacy & Social Communication Skills Building Look Like in My Classroom?

Structured programs like "The Zones of Regulation" can explicitly teach students emotions through the linking of emotions to colours. This program was originally designed to support students with autism, but many schools have now begun to embed this program into mainstream classes with great success.

Exploring the "Learning Skills" in greater detail, helping students make connections to their own learning patterns, strengths and needs. Daily reflections as part of Agendas that connect these skills to the actions and thoughts of students, will over time, help to nurture the positive emotions that students feel when they experience success.

Embrace and unpack real-life learning opportunities that involve empathy and making connections to others a priority. Help students understand that their thoughts, feelings and ideas count, in a "world sense."

Establish safe spaces for making connections. Take advantage of our virtual learning environments and help foster the development of connections outside of the walls of your classroom.

Give students the language....

The most important aspect in teaching students "emotional literacy" is the importance of giving them the language and the permission to express themselves. There are no "wrong" emotions, how we deal with certain emotions may be more appropriate than others. Supporting students to identify and manage "big" emotions is a long but necessary process.

Suggestions for implementing strategies and/or supports in the classroom (and homes) are:

create a structured routine that involves supporting the developing of emotional literacy, (i.e., Begin each day with a visual "Zones" check in and encourage students to use this visual strategy whenever emotions change.)

explore and co-create strategies to help students learn to regulate their emotions; encourage the creation of a "Strategy Backpack" (there are many teaching resources out on the internet to support this)

explore and embed Mindfulness practices into your daily schedule (i.e., to support morning or afternoon transitions, complete whole group meditations using an app like "Headspace" or "Calm" -- give time to reflect and discuss how this helps them feel afterwards)

design special whole class research projects to include learning about emotions in greater detail -- encourage making connections and sharing of personal experiences (see sample below)

PLEASE NOTE that it is very important to be a CO-LEARNER with your students on this learning journey so that they can learn to identify, discuss and connect to emotions, thus developing their authentic emotional literacy skills.

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