Life Success
For Students With Learning Disabilities:
A Teacher Guide

Use of Social Support Systems: Elementary

Introductory Activity 

As you introduce the use of social support systems, add it to the chart entitled “Keys to Success.”  (You will be adding more attributes to the chart later.)  Have class define “use of social support systems” in their own words.  Post word cards, posters, and lists brainstormed and created through classroom activities.  Review at the beginning of each day or class period and infuse through the curriculum.  Reinforce and refer to each attribute using “teachable moments” throughout the school day.  Have students find examples of success attributes in current events, news stories, TV programs, peer experiences, and their own experiences, and create a bulletin board with the appropriate attribute as a label.

General Activities

• Have students research and report on federal laws related to individuals with learning disabilities in educational and employment settings.
• Share stories (e.g., tell, read, movies) about individuals who needed help from others, how they got it, and the value of having received it.
• Present case examples of individuals in need of help and discuss possible sources and means of accessing support/assistance, and possible outcomes with and without support.
• Have students research technology that will be helpful in compensating for their difficulties.

Extension Activities

Who' You Gonna Call?

(Use the “Who You Gonna Call?” handout available in the Activities Worksheets section)

• Distribute the “Who' You Gonna Call?” handout and explain that we all experience times when we feel cut, hurt, and scraped. Just as we use real bandages to help when we are physically hurt, we all have people bandages in our lives to whom we go when we are emotionally hurt.
• Have students complete the handout.

Recognizing Helpers

• Introduce this activity by asking the question “When do we need help? Who helps us?  Where do we get help from?”  Keep the discussion as broad as possible; all answers are acceptable.
• Make a list and ask the class to categorize it under home, school, community.
• With the results, fill in a graphic organizer consisting of interlocking circles that are labeled with the categories chosen by the class.  Choose a title (example: Our Support Systems).
• Pass out a similar graphic organizer for students to fill in to identify who helps or supports them in the various areas of their lives.
• Engage students in an activity focused on “How do you get help in each area?” (family, school, community).  For example, have students develop an interview schedule for accessing different kinds of help at school.  Include questions such as “What kind of help do you give?”  “How can a student access your help?”  “Where do students go if you’re not available?”.  Have students share results of surveys with class.  
• Invite high school graduates and other adults with disabilities to talk to the class about their experiences in this area.

Next: Use of Social Support Systems Activities for Secondary Grades