Classroom Social Skills Dinosaur Program 1 Running head ...

Classroom Social Skills Dinosaur Program 27
children’s learning because they take the cognitive social and emotional concepts into the actual
behavioral interactions between children.
Enhancing academic skills
Most of the activities described in this program help strengthen pre-writing, writing, prereading,
reading, sequencing, vocabulary, or discrimination skills. Thus, this program enhances
academic as well as social competence. For example, reading is enhanced through use of the
laminated cue cards with words and pictures, Wally problem-solving detective books, and
homework activities books. Other activities promote communication, language, and writing skills
through drawings, written stories, pictures of solutions, and play acting. Laminated cue cards are
provided for all the major concepts being taught. These cards show a picture (e.g., sharing or
quiet hand up) as well as the words that describe the concept. These picture cue cards are very
helpful for children who cannot read and are useful nonverbal cues to remind children of a
particular skill they might be working on. For example, the teacher might point to a picture of
Dina raising her hand or looking at the teacher to remind a child of the desired behavior in the
group. When the children respond to these visual cues, the teacher reinforces their
accomplishment. The problem-solving unit provides an opportunity for a discussion of
sequencing as children learn the steps to solving their problems. All lessons have opportunities to
promote effective learning behaviors, such as verbal and nonverbal communication skills, that
include collaborating, cooperating, listening, attending, speaking up, and asking questions. These
are key foundational skills in order for a child to learn academic skills and be successful in the
classroom environment