Indirect Instructional Procedure for Teaching Social Skills

1. Select a social skill
2. Ask the students what they know about the skill
3. Write all of the students' ideas
4. Ask questions to help clarify what the students have suggested. Be careful of giving students too much too soon. They can role play some and add detail as they practice.
5. Have the students role play in small groups with an observer.
6. Have the groups list what was good, what could be improved, and what questions they have about the skill.
7. Have the groups report their findings to the class.
8. Discuss and write a procedure for the skill.
9. A chart with what it looks like, what it sounds like, and what it feels like can be made completed.

Some possible variations:

• You could have specific situations for students to role play for practice.
• Students could role play the opposite of the social skill so they would have ideas of what it is not appropriate and therefore avoid those actions. This can also create empathy for students to cooperate with others and care about how they act.