Activities, Games, and Lessons for Social Learning: A Practical Guide

In these games, the prize is success in school--and life.

When students improve their skills of self-regulation, social communication, and perspective-taking they become better prepared to challenge themselves academically, take on tough tasks, and collaborate with teachers and classmates to achieve real, lasting school success. The design of each game keeps kids engaged and motivated, while educators benefit from clear, thorough explanations that unpack the complexities of social learning. Other behind-the-scenes features include:

• Evidence-based, teacher-tested lessons
• Anecdotes and real-world examples
  
• Links to relevant research
  
• Expansion ideas for applying learned skills to broader situations
  
• Templates and reproducibles for easy implementation

About the Author
Stern Center for Language and Learning: -

The Stern Center for Language and Learning is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and adults reach their academic, social, and professional goals. A leader in the field of education and learning, the Stern Center provides comprehensive evaluations and customized instruction for all learners, including those with learning disabilities, language disorders, social learning challenges, autism, attention deficit disorders, communication disorders, giftedness, and learning differences.

Founded in 1983, the Stern Center also provides professional learning for educators. The Stern Center's professional learning programs are offered through the Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence (CKHIE), which was established in 2008 to bring research on evidence-based best practices to educators. It is a hub for structured literacy programs through our Orton Gillingham Institute, partnership with Wilson Language Systems, and our Comprehensive Reading Course for Educators online. CKHIE offers grants for professional learning for teachers and intensive instructional services for students. The Stern Center integrates individual and group social learning as well as communication services within its educational programs.

Blanche Podhajski, Ph.D., founded the Stern Center with a mission to provide direct services for individuals of all ages, to deliver exceptional professional learning programs for educators, and to share research on evidence-based best practices. Dr. Podhajski teaches and consults with educators throughout the country and is a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences. She co-authored the Comprehensive Reading Course for Educators produced by MindPlay as well as MindPlay's Teacher Companion. In addition, she is the co-author of Sounds Abound and Building Blocks for Literacy, a course that provides professionals who work with children from birth to age five strategies to promote robust language development and pre-literacy skills.