Digital version must be purchased separately—only the Kids' Guidebook is available on Apple Books and Google Play (not printable).

Help your students get back to school with a new related free webinar on Sept 14th that explores the world of social observation & academic learning.

Social Thinking and Me is a powerhouse of social information for students in upper elementary and middle school. Lessons are structured to build knowledge about socially complex situations for building stronger social problem solving strategies. Whether thinking about hidden expectations in social situations, developing a deeper understanding of one’s emotions and the influence on others, or learning to figure out the size of the problem and reaction, this award-winning two-book set breaks larger and more complicated social concepts down into smaller chunks to make it easier for adults to teach and kids to learn. It gives teachers, administrators, students, and parents a common language to discuss social strengths and challenges more easily – and therefore is a natural fit for the classroom (mainstream and special needs), clinic, and home environment!

Who should use Social Thinking and Me?

No prior knowledge of Social Thinking is needed to use Social Thinking and Me. Whether you and your students are familiar with the Social Thinking Methodology or are just getting started, you will find this curriculum easy to use and educational! Social Thinking and Me is designed for adults (teachers, clinicians, parents, etc.) to learn from while they’re teaching the two books so that kids and adults can engage in the thinking process together. This is a curriculum to be used by all stakeholders on the child’s team to ensure that everyone is on the same page with the concepts taught and learning is carried over into all environments.

Social Thinking and Me is a multifaceted curriculum that can be used by teachers in classrooms and by therapists in individual or small groups. Though the curriculum is designed for students with social learning differences and/or challenges, all individuals with social thinking needs can benefit from learning these concepts. Social Thinking and Me fits well into schools that are working to develop a culture of caring and kindness through social emotional learning (SEL) and/or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

Social Thinking and Me is an invaluable tool for parents too, either to supplement what the child is learning at school or in small groups, or by itself as a resource to strengthen a child’s social competencies as a way to meet their personal social goals. Parents who homeschool their children will find Social Thinking and Me integral to teaching children about their social selves and essential skills such as perspective taking, self-awareness, self-regulation, and understanding the “big picture.”

What's in the multiple award-winning two-book set?

Book 1: Kids’ Guidebook

The Social Thinking and Me Kids’ Guidebook for Social Emotional Learning introduces Social Thinking Vocabulary and concepts to support students as they figure out social contexts. Additionally, strategies are taught to give kids the tools needed to solve social problems. Concepts are explained using age-relevant social situations, cool illustrated pictures, and lots of group discussions that can supplement small or large group instruction. At the end of each chapter in book 1, expand and personalize the lesson by using the related thinksheets found in book 2!

The Kids’ Guidebook is not meant to be read all at once, as many of the concepts/units take time to learn. And even though the language is kid-friendly, adults should initially help to introduce the concepts. Once students are familiar with the vocabulary, you can revisit chapters or students can read them on their own.

Chapters cover essential Social Thinking concepts including:

• What is Social Thinking
• Social Thinking = Flexible Thinking
• We All Have Feelings
• Thinking With Your Eyes
• Thinking About the Hidden Rules and Expected Behavior
• Keeping my Body, Eyes, Ears, and Brain in the Group
• Thinking of Others vs Just Me
• How Big is My Problem?
• Thinking About My Reaction Size
• Doing An Activity or Just Hanging Out

The Digital version must be purchased separately—only the Kids' Guidebook is available on Apple Books and Google Play (not printable).

Book 2: Thinksheets

The second book in Social Thinking and Me, Thinksheets for Social Emotional Learning, offers 54 fun and instructive "thinksheets" (or mini-lesson plans) that expand on the concepts taught in the Kids’ Guidebook. Each thinksheet supports a specific chapter from the Guidebook and helps kids learn how the concepts relate to their own experiences. There are between three to nine thinksheets per chapter to encourage conversation and provide practice opportunities. Thinksheets for Social Emotional Learning also provides comprehensive instructions to adults on how to effectively use the two books as a curriculum.

Topics include:

• An introduction to Social Thinking
• Why it’s important in helping children learn to think about and navigate social situations
• The social-academic connection
• How to teach the concepts and chapters
• A glossary of the Social Thinking Vocabulary
• Letter to parents/caregivers that educators can use
• Thinksheets supporting each chapter of the Kids’ Guidebook

Teaching pathways: How Social Thinking and Me pairs with other products

This two-book set can stand on its own to teach the Social Thinking Methodology to all students ages 9-13 as part of a school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) initiative. It also pairs well with other Social Thinking books and games for that age range.

Using our Superflex™ Curriculum with your 3rd – 5th graders? Social Thinking and Me is the natural “next step” as kids age up. Jump right in to keep students learning about Social Thinking concepts and deepen their understanding of working in a group, hanging out with friends, figuring social situations, and social problem solving.

If kids are older, start with Social Thinking and Me and then move into books and products for the middle school population, including Social Fortune or Social Fate and our fun educational game that builds perspective-taking skills, Should I? or Shouldn’t I? What Would Others Think? Revised Edition for Teens.

How is “Social Emotional Learning” different than the Social Thinking Methodology?

The two books that comprise Social Thinking and Me contain “Social Emotional Learning” in their titles. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines SEL as “the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.” Learn more about SEL at www.casel.org.