Warning this video contains footage of actual staff pretending to be pupils and shouting at each other - please keep scrolling.
Social goals should be an intrinsic part of our teaching. The reality is that teachers have an opportunity to make a difference in how our pupils interact socially. This opportunity exists because social interaction can be taught...and teaching is what we do. I would argue we also have a professional responsibility. In developing skills for learning, life and work, teachers have a responsibility to prepare pupils to succeed. When we consider success the emphasis is often placed on the academic or hard skills required and whilst these may be key for many pupils to enter the next stage after school, they are often not enough to keep them there.
If we look at the literacy benchmarks for BGE in Scotland, teachers have been given a framework for what learners need to know and be able to do. This includes pupils being able to - Respond appropriately to the views of others developing or adapting own thinking. Build on the contributions of others, for example, by asking or answering questions, clarifying or summarising points, supporting or challenging opinions or ideas. Applying verbal and non-verbal techniques appropriately to enhance communication, for example, eye contact, body language, emphasis, pace, tone, and/or some rhetorical devices.
Incorporating and embedding social skills can help us achieve these benchmarks.
Sharing a social goal alongside a learning intention and success criteria is also an excellent form of 'assertive' behaviour management. It allows a point of focus for the teacher to revisit if pupils start to disengage during the lesson. Rather than classroom management that is reactionary, giving social goals sets the scene for how you 'and the pupils' think behaviour should be inside the classroom. One thing you will have to make sure, is that at least one of the tasks that you incorporate into your lesson, allows for the social goal you have chosen to be practiced. Here is a list of social skills that you can easily turn into goals, big thanks to Laura Candler
Have a look at the technique in practice with the video below. Why not give it a go this week, send me an e-mail (email@example.com) if it works and more importantly let me know if it doesn't. Big shout out to Mrs McMahon, Mr Consitt and his wonderful Higher modern studies class (apart from Cara Ballantine who wouldn't be in the video because she said she would have a minter).