Teaching the Social Skills of Academic Interaction, Grades 4-12

The author or coauthor of 18 books for teachers, Harvey Daniels, also known as “Smokey,” has been a professor, researcher, consultant, and teacher coach over his 43-year career. These days, he serves as a conference speaker, school district consultant, and demonstration teacher in schools around the U.S. and Canada. In 2012, Smokey was presented with the NCTE  Exemplary Leader Award. See Smokey reveal his best-kept secret to Ellin Keene. A longtime collaborator with Harvey “Smokey” Daniels as both a coauthor and a co-presenter, Nancy Steineke has been a full-time English teacher for more than three decades, most recently at Victor J. Andrew High School in Illinois. Nancy is the author of six other professional books and classroom collaboration is always a central strategy, whether she’s advising on literature circles, content-area writing, teaching nonfiction and fiction, or assessment. These days, Nancy’s on the road as a consultant, introducing high-engagement literacy strategies to teachers nationwide.

"Collaboration and cooperation do not emerge magically. We must explicitly teach kids the social strategies of collaborative behavior: to listen attentively, ask follow up questions, and disagree agreeably. Teaching the Social Skills of Academic Interaction does exactly that. Through a series of engaging slides, lessons, and activities, kids learn and practice important SEL strategies that will lead to more learning, greater achievement, and an inviting and fun classroom environment where kids work collaboratively, independently and develop a sense of agency. . . . Teachers need it and will love it, but more importantly, so will kids!"

• AcknowledgmentsPart I. Social-Academic Skills: The Missing LinkChapter 1. The Problem and the OpportunitySocial-Emotional Learning and Academic EngagementWhat′s Been Missing in School ReformWhy We Must Teach Social-Academic Skills NowHow to Address These Problems and Seize the OpportunitiesAll Social Skills Programs Are Not AlikeOur Theory of ActionChapter 2. Theory and Research on Social-Academic Skills TrainingResearch BaseRecollectionsStarting With a PartnerBuilding a Community of AcquaintanceBuilding a Community of Respect, Inclusion, and GratefulnessTaking Personal ResponsibilityTeaching Interpersonal Skills ExplicitlyStages of Learning Social SkillsPositive InterdependenceReflection and CelebrationThe Bottom LineChapter 3. How to Use This ResourceOverviewA Guide to the SlidesStructure of the LessonsOrder of the LessonsThe TipsAssessment and GradingTrouble-Shooting QuestionsPart II. Lessons for Building Social-Academic SkillsChapter 4. Getting AcquaintedLesson 1. Forming PartnersLesson 2. Interviewing Your PartnerLesson 3. Home Court AdvantageLesson 4. Friendliness and SupportLesson 5. Classroom Climate PostersChapter 5. Building Collaboration SkillsLesson 6. Quiet SignalLesson 7. Using Quiet VoicesLesson 8. Asking Follow-Up QuestionsLesson 9. Think-Pair-ShareLesson 10. Good Partner TraitsChapter 6. Advanced Partner WorkLesson 11. Active ListeningLesson 12. Extending ConversationLesson 13. Expanding Acquaintance With an Appointment ClockLesson 14. Mingle JigsawChapter 7. Moving Into Small GroupsLesson 15. Group Membership Grid InterviewsLesson 16. Sharing the AirLesson 17. Saving the Last WordLesson 18. Write-AroundsLesson 19. Gallery WalkChapter 8. Ongoing Discussion GroupsLesson 20. Establishing Group Ground RulesLesson 21. Overcoming Off-Task TriggersLesson 22. Goal Setting for Group ImprovementLesson 23. Reinforcing Collaboration With Table CardsLesson 24. Compliment CardsChapter 9. Arguing AgreeablyLesson 25. Text Nuggets: Finding EvidenceLesson 26. Human ContinuumLesson 27. Where Do You Stand?Lesson 28. Hearing Everyone′s Ideas FirstLesson 29. Arguing Both SidesLesson 30. Civilized DisagreementChapter 10. Small-Group ProjectsLesson 31. Developing an Assessment RubricLesson 32. Planning Group ProjectsLesson 33. Keeping Individual Project LogsLesson 34. Midcourse CorrectionsLesson 35. Being an Attentive Audience MemberResourcesAppointment ClockMembership GridGroup Meeting ProceduresThin-Crust Cheese Pizza RubricProject RubricGroup Work Plan FormIndividual Group Member Work Plan FormReferences and Further ReadingsIndexAbout the Artist