Social Language Resources For Upper Elementary Through High School

So, about social skills... 

I haven't worked with many social language students. Well, until recently, that is! Now, I have quite a few upper elementary and middle school students who desperately need direct instruction with social language skills.

Unfortunately, I wasn't sure where to start... so I started digging. 

Here are some of my favorite social language resources that I've come across recently and have used with my students. Oh yeah, did I mention they're functional and evidence-based? Because that's important, too.

• Video Learning Squad (Paid; $79/year)

  My, oh my, do you get a wealth of resources with this site! You get access to tons of video modeling activities, as well as supplementary worksheets and points of discussion. Each video segment gives you a guided "script" to help you guide your lessons. The videos feature children, and some have options for "younger" and "older" students, so you can truly differentiate your lessons. The best part? It's still growing. This site is young and has a lot of good things coming soon. $79/year and worth every penny.

• UCLA PEERS® Clinic (Free)

  The cool thing about this site is that it really gets into the nuances of conversation. The videos are relevant to challenges upper elementary and teenagers may face in their day-to-day lives. The site provides role-play videos on topics that are hard to find in other places, such as electronic communication, good sportsmanship, handling rumors, and even dating etiquette. The site also provides examples and non-examples of situations! This makes it easy to talk about "what went right" and "what went wrong.

• The Josh Speaks on YouTube (Free)

  Here's the thing about this guy. He is relatable. He says things that give me middle and high school flashbacks. Trust me when I say that I would have been subscribed to his channel in my teens. And that's what makes all the difference. Your students will like listening to this guy because he has lived what our students experience. The awkwardness, the shyness. The lack of friends before finding where he fits in. The Josh Speaks walks students through how to navigate these tough situations. He gives ideas for how to make friends, knowing how to start a conversation (and when to end one), and even talking to your crush. I mean really, where was this guy when we were younger?!

Are there more fabulous resources out there? Absolutely. But I'm here to recommend the resources that I have personally used and loved. As I come across more, I'll share those, too.