Why homework for social skills?

updated 9/2024

I’m not a fan of homework for homework’s sake, especially with middle and high school students.  Sometimes, there is a need to reinforce certain social skills or social communication concepts with students outside of our speech therapy sessions and sometimes homework can serve as a way to get through more content. Also, some speech therapists provide a hybrid (in-person and online) of services and  need materials we can assign as printables and on digital platforms. I’ve struggled with finding relevant social skills homework in the past, especially for middle and high school students.  It wasn’t always easy to find homework applicable to student needs, compared to articulation homework!

Components of Homework Materials

When assigning homework, I look for the following:

• if it’s a printable, it has to be black and white, or low ink,
• it should be short and doable for the student without adult help,
• clear instructions for students, and
• assist in task understanding or generalization.

Relevant social skills materials for middle and high school?

It can be a challenge to find social skills homework materials that a student can do alone but still work on aspects of social skills outside of speech therapy!  So, I’ve created some social communication and SEL materials and bundled them!  This series for middle and high school students contains black and white, no prep activities that work on social communication skills.  Three of the products contain one-page graphic organizer-type activities can be printed out, assigned in google classroom from TPT’s EASEL or used during distance learning.

How do I work on Social Skills without Social Interaction?

How can you work on social skills, individually using pen and paper, or via a computer keyboard? Doesn’t that negate the social piece?   Certainly, social communication is best practiced in a setting with peers.  However, there are ways to teach and enhance generalization of valuable social skills through paper-pencil and digital activities.  These activities help students understand the language involved in the skill and promote understanding of the skills at a deeper level.   The conversation scripts product has photographs of older students that are black and white!  Students read/roleplay a flawed conversation.  Then, they analyze them and fix them! You can introduce, roleplay and discuss the conversation in one session. Then, assign the “analysis” page for homework.  The following session, review the homework and do the “fix the conversation” activity. 

One product, lots of content, and less planning.

Social Communication Graphic Organizers

I love using one-page graphic organizers for homework and for early finishers.  If I think the student can’t complete the whole page on their own, I tell them to complete 1 or 2 boxes and then we finish next session.  The social skills packet includes one-page black and white, multiple skills activity sheets that target relevant social skills topics including:

• tone of voice,
• sarcasm,
• giving and receiving a compliment,
• dating,
• conversational reciprocity,
• conversational turn-taking,
• perspective-taking
• and more! 

There are two other graphic organizer products in the bundle that target emotions and character traits.

Assigning BOOM Cards!

 

Boom Learning makes it easy to use BOOM cards for homework.  You didn’t finish the deck during your session? 

Assign it for homework using 3 options:

Fastpins or Fastplay links, (my mode of choice: links last 14 days and do not require student log-in),

Hyperplay links (do not expire so work well for assigning summer homework),

From a Boom classroom, (if you have them set up).  No link required but requires the student to log in so not my favorite method.

Many SLPs use google classroom so it’s worth noting that you can assign BOOM cards via GOOGLE classroom.

Assigning BOOM decks through Google Classroom.

I have many decks of BOOM cards on social communication topics.  Many of them are comprehensive lessons.  I typically assign a social communication deck of mine once it is nearly completed and I tell the students to complete certain slides or only do the review portions of the deck. 

You can shop my BOOM store here!   Use the “TOPICS” tab on the left as your menu!

You might find this post on BOOM cards for social skills helpful too.

 

TPT’s EASEL Platform!

Many publishers (including me) design products that can be used as printables and digitally on EASEL, TPT’s free digital platform.  It’s pretty easy to assign homework from EASEL.  You can either share it through Google classroom or anywhere with a link that EASEL generates for you.  The great thing about EASEL that you won’t find with BOOM learning is that you can individualize activities on EASEL by adding layers of text and images.  Or, insert pages of another pdf you own!  BONUS!! You can assign SELECT  pages.  I love this about EASEL!  However, you can’t print from EASEL which is why all of my EASEL compatible products also contain a printable pdf.  

You’ll get alot of mileage from products that are EASEL compatible.  My best-selling “Let’s Talk” bundle is a great example.  All products in the bundle contain an EASEL version and a printable PDF.  You can assign a youtube link and accompanying activity.  Or, watch the clip in therapy and assign the accompanying activity.  So many options!  Assign the social narrative (all are narrated) and then complete an activity that supports your goals in the next session!  Remember, homework is one way to get through more content with your students!

In summary, don’t restrict yourself to only printable homework!  It can save you some time at the printer to assign a link through Google classroom or via email.

            Thanks for reading and good luck with your social skills interventions! 

You’ll find FREE homework ideas in my subscriber’s library too!