Social Stories for School Behavior

Try using a social story to teach your student about classroom behaviors and how to act appropriately when at school!

Educators strive to create a supportive, respectful and structured classroom, and students are an important part of that learning environment! Some students, particularly those with disabilities, may struggle to understand how to act in class and school. 

Social stories, which provide a narrative-based approach, can be a versatile tool to teach expected behaviors, transitions and social norms.

Social stories can be used to help students understand and adopt appropriate classroom behaviors such as raising their hand, working quietly, listening while others are speaking and more. 

Incorporating a student’s special interest area (SIA), such as a favorite cartoon character or superhero, may also help to reinforce the lesson in each story and encourage the student to practice appropriate behaviors.

Ready to try using a social story? Our team of consultants have compiled customizable social stories in both Powerpoint and narrated formats for you to adapt for your use. We even offer tips for tailoring the social stories to your student’s interests to make them more engaging and effective. Whether you’re an educator looking for fresh strategies or a parent searching for additional resources, you’ll want to bookmark this compilation of social stories!

These behavior social stories may benefit your students.  They can be downloaded, saved and edited to suit your needs.  The * notation indicates the story is  formatted in a Power Point presentation and the ** notation indicates a Power Point with sound narration.  Each Power Point has animation included on each slide.  Some occur automatically – some occur on a “click”.  Feel free to send comments or questions to [email protected].

Beethoven Social Story (behaviors of concern: hitting, language, and pushing)

What is a Teacher’s Job

Psychologist and Her Job

My Principals -Their Job and How We Talk Together

When I’m not First in Line

Using Glue

Some Students Learn Fast and Some Learn Slow

Math at School

Ignoring Unacceptable Behavior

Complete My Work Quickly – Do it All by Myself

How to Start Work by Myself

Keep Working and Stay Focused

Appropriate Work Behavior

Listening While Others are Reading

Waiting

Good Sitting

Staying Where the Teacher Tell Me

Moving Fast

MOVING FAST UH OH TOO FAST*

MOVING FAST UH OH TOO FAST**

Work Like the Steelers

In Dinosaur Land (Being Calm and Relaxed)

Dinosaur Land*

Dinosaur Land**

Showing Respect at School

Working Quietly

Working quietly**

Working quietly*

Singing in the Classroom

Work Time and Choice Time

A Time for Videos

Fidget Rules

When Do We Use Contractions?

Can Do

Can Do**

Let’s All Work Together

Completing Assignments

Completing School Work

Getting Sick and Missing Work

What Can I Do When…

When I Raise My Hand

Summer Solstice

Sometimes Teachers HAVE to Correct or Help Other Students

Superflex and Spider Man Can Help Me (Topic-talk nice and hands to self) (Interest Area Spider Man) (Characters based on Madrigal & Garcia Winner)

Following the Rules (behavior of concern: talking out; Special Interest Area: George Lucas)

Taking the MAP Test

Getting Help Can Be Easy and Great (Special Interest Area: Spongebob)

A Story About Barbie and Going to Classes (Behavior of concern: staying in restrooms, leaving areas, unexpected verbalizations, transition delays. Special Interest Area: Barbie)

This resource was authored by Watson Institute Special Education Consultant, Kara Parsons, M.Ed.

If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.