Jennifer Penzenik

Social Stories™ Special Education District of Lake County

What are Social Stories™?

“A Social Story ™ describes a situation, skill, or concept according to ten defining criteria. These criteria guide story development to ensure an

overall patient and supportive quality, and a format, “voice,” and relevant content that is descriptive, meaningful, and physically, socially, and

emotionally safe for the Audience. The criteria define what a Social Story ™ is, and the process that researches, writes, and illustrates it.”

Video from Carol Gray

Social Story™ Vocabulary

The Author is you, or any person!who develops the Social Story™! The Author !

follows the ten criteria to create the story for the Audience.

The Audience is the person that the Social Story™ !is written for based on their age, gender, ability, !

personality, preferences and interests.

Author:

Audience:

Social Story™ 10.1 Criteria

1. One Goal!2. Two Part Discovery!3. Three Parts and a Title!4. FOURmat!5. Five Factors Define Voice and Vocabulary!6. Six Questions Guide Story Development !7. Seven Types of Sentences!8. A Gr-eight Formula!9. Nine Makes it Mine!10. Ten Guides to Editing and Implementation

1.One Goal

“The goal of developing Social Stories ™ is to improve understanding and expectations. It is not meant to merely tell a child what to do, as you have

probably already done so. The focus is on the underlying cause of frustration and misinformation.” !

!

“The purpose is to share accurate information with a process, format, voice, and content that is descriptive, meaningful and physically, socially, and emotionally safe. Social Stories ™ always have a patient and reassuring

tone.”

2.Two-Step Discovery

The Author gathers information: !!1. To Improve their understanding of the Audience regarding a situation,

skill, concept. !!2. Identify the specific topic(s) and type(s) of information to share in the

Story. ✤ Eliminates the desire to prematurely chose a topic!✤ Gets the classroom team’s perspective !✤ Conducting two observations is required: !✤ “Fly on the wall” and middle of the action!✤ Is the main step in developing a Social Story™!✤ Topic Discovery Vs. Invented Topic

Three Types of Social Stories™

The News!“The News is objective information that describes the targeted situation,

concept, or skill.”

Ways to Think about the News!“Information that describes how to effectively process The News, including

cognitive processing, problem solving, and/or conflict resolution strategies.”

Connections and Implications!“Information that describes the relationship between past, present, and !

future experiences and learning.”

Retrieved from: The New Social Story™ Book by Carol Gray

3.Three Parts and a Title

“ A Social Story™ has a title and introduction that clearly identifies the topic, a body that adds detail, and a conclusion that reinforces and

summarizes the information.” !!!!

✤ A Social Story™ has a minimum of three sentences. !!✤ The format helps to:!

✤ Identify (introduction)!✤ Describe (body)!✤ Reinforce (conclusion)

What to Do When I’m Done with My Gum

When chewing gum is done, the bestplan is to wrap it in a small piece of paperbefore throwing it away.

Sometimes, people save the gum wrapperin a pocket while they are chewing thegum. Then, when the gum is done, theyuse it to wrap the gum before throwing itaway. This is a good plan.

If a person doesn’t have a small piece of paper, its okay to throw gum into a waste basketwithout it.

When I am done with my gum, I will try to wrap it and throw it away in a waste basket. ■

Story #69

The New Social Story Book, 10th Anniversary Edition© by Carol Gray, Future Horizons, Inc.

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

4.FOURmat

“A Social Story ™ has a format that clarifies content and enhances !meaning for the Audience.” !

✤ Format development is selected based on the needs of the Audience and how they will best understand the content. !

!✤ Audience needs (and age) will determine length, sentence structure, vocabulary, font

size/color/style, and illustrations.!!✤ For a younger child a story should be approximately three to twelve sentences. If a topic

cannot be completed in that short amount, a Social Story™ Set can be developed. !!✤ Consider repetition, rhythm, and rhyme. !!✤ Illustrations can include ANY visual that summarizes the content, highlights important

information, increases comprehension, and elicits engagement.

Group Activity

5.Five Factors Define Voice/Vocabulary

“A Social Story™ has a patient and supportive “voice” and vocabulary !that is defined by five factors. These factors are:” !

1. First-or Third- Person Perspective!!2. Positive and Patient Tone!!3. Past, Present, and/or Future Tense!!4. Literal Accuracy!!5. Accurate Vocabulary

115. Learning about Directions at School!!Sometimes teachers, or other school staff, tell students what to do. They give students directions.!!Directions help students work, learn, and play together. Directions help to keep students safe, too.!!There are two parts to a direction. The first is giving the direction. Teachers often do that. Teachers give directions to me and everyone else in my class. The second is following the direction. That’s the students’ job.!!I am learning about directions at school. Directions help a class work, learn, and play safely together.

1. First-or Third- Person Perspective!!2. Positive and Patient Tone!!3. Past, Present, and/or Future Tense!!4. Literal Accuracy!!5. Accurate Vocabulary

Find the Five Factors

6. Six Questions Guide Story Development

“A Social Story™ answers relevant “wh” questions, describing the context (where); time-related information (when); relevant people (who);

important cues (what); basic activities, behaviors, or statements (how); and the reasons and/or rationale behind them (why).” !

Not all “wh” questions are required to be answered, however, they should be considered.

Group Activity

7. Seven Types of Social Story™ Sentences !!

1. Descriptive Sentences: Objective statements of fact and/or the information that “everyone knows.”!

!2. Perspective Sentences: Describe the thoughts, feelings, and/or beliefs of other people. !!3. Sentences that Coach the Audience: Gently guide the behavior e.g., I will try, I may choose,

etc,.!!4. Sentences that Coach the Team: Define the role of another person, e.g., My mom will ______. !!5. Sentences for Self-Coaching: Audience can take control of the situation and use a personal

strategy. !!6. Affirmative Sentences: Used to stress the important point, refer to rules and laws, or to

reassure. !!7. Partial Sentences: Fill-in-the-blank that allow for Audience participation.

Group Activity

8. A GR-EIGHT Formula !

“One formula type and seven sentence types ensures that every Social Story™ describes more than directs.”

DESCRIBE

Descriptive

Perspective

Affirmative

COACH

Coach the Team

Coach the Audience

Self-Coaching

>

Retrieved from: The New Social Story™ Book by Carol Gray

9.Nine Makes it Mine !

“Whenever possible, a Social Story™ is tailored to the individual’s preferences, talents, and interests of its Audience.”

✤ Consider the Audience’s:!!

✤ Experiences!!

✤ Relationships!!

✤ Interests!!

✤ Preferences

10.Ten Guides to Editing and Implementation

1. Edit: Include the team, review the 10 Criteria, make revisions. !!2. Plan For Comprehension: Check text and illustrations for understanding.!!3. Plan Story Support: How to present the Story to increase comprehension (ppt, poster, etc,.). !!4. Plan Story Review: When it will be read. Never read a Story for punishment.!!5. Plan a Positive Instruction: Introduce in a calm and comforting way.!!6. Monitor: Observe Audience’s response. Is it going as planned? Why or why not?!!7. Organize Stories: Keep them organized!!!8. Mix & Match Stories to Build Concepts: Combine to make a series (e.g., a party).!!9. Story Re-Runs and Sequels: They never ‘retire’. Keep for future use.!!10. Recycle Instruction into Applause: Use to applause the mastered skill.

References

Gray, Carol. 2010. The New Social Story Book. Arlington, Texas: !! Future Horizons.