Acting Right: Teaching Social Skills to Build Student Confidence
At Salam School, character education is seamlessly integrated into the fabric of the school and focuses on the fact that moral and performance aspects of character are mutually supportive. Recognizing that students who lack adequate social skills do not perform well and are at a higher risk for academic underachievement, lack of friends, and unsuccessful employment, Salam School instituted the practice of teaching social skills in August 2009 using a structured curriculum. The focus is on sixteen essential social skills: following instructions, asking for help, asking permission, accepting “no” for an answer, disagreeing with others, accepting criticism, staying calm, being honest, introducing yourself, having a conversation, listening to others, getting along with others, apologizing, giving compliments, accepting compliments, and showing sensitivity. Students understand why social skills are important, understand how they must behave in a socially acceptable way, and realize that their behavior and actions are a matter of personal choice. Focused teaching helps students learn appropriate behavior, put that knowledge into practice, and eliminate emotional responses that inhibit appropriate behavior. This intentional, proactive practice and positive discipline has defined “character” comprehensively to include thinking, feeling, and doing. Students are acting right and exhibit tremendous confidence!