• $16.95

How to Talk With Friends

Does your neurodiverse learner struggle to connect with his peers?

As elementary and middle school progresses, navigating the social world can become more challenging for neurodiverse tweens and teens. Conversation becomes a key part of friendships, and learners who struggle with conversation skills will find it difficult to build relationships with their peers.

"How to Talk with Friends" provides a comprehensive, easy-to-follow curriculum designed to help children participate with their peers. 

Purchase PDF here or see the link below to purchase a print copy from Amazon.

Purchase a print copy at Amazon

Amazon Rating

Testimonials

Amazon Reviewer

“Great book! I use it to teach basic group interaction and conversation skills. Helps break down those steps in a relatable way. The children I have used it with are not diagnosed as on the spectrum – but struggle socially.”

Amazon Reviewer

“This is an invaluable resource for teaching children with autism what a conversation is or any child that is struggling to make friends. It gives detailed information for facilitating the groups and also parent handouts and evaluation sheet. I feel that parents and teachers who read this book will be better able to assist children with social skills, even if they do not lead a formal group setting.”

Amazon reviewer

“As a parent, I do not have a group to work with, I did the group by using her father and her as the two having the conversation. I think it has helped the entire family dynamic and increased overall communication.”

Amazon Reviewer

“For SLPs in private practice, this book is a blueprint to facilitate a social language group. For SLPs working in schools, this book provides great ideas to use in therapy–not only for students with Autism, but those with intellectual delays, language disorders, and non-verbal students who rely on augmentative alternative communication devices.”

Amazon Reviewer

“I love the layout of the book, and its content. Each lesson is outlined very clearly, the activities are great, and it even includes data sheets!

The author’s goal was to target the tweens (too advanced for basic social skill curriculums but not quite ready for teen programs). I think she succeeded in this.

Overall, this book is a great tool for teaching and developing conversation skills :)”

Website

“Wow! This is truly an excellent resource! The format is fantastic; very easy to read, great layout with shading and highlighted parts that make it easy to follow and read. This is a very comprehensive guide and very practical. Written in layman’s terms so that anyone, from the most experienced professional to the “newbie” can easily follow along and implement this program. I am truly impressed with this book and I highly recommend it. I would like to see it used in schools and rehab centres everywhere.”

Description

Is your neurodiverse learner struggling with connecting with his peers?

As elementary and middle school progresses, navigating the social world can become more challenging for neurodiverse tweens and teens. Conversation becomes a key part of friendships, and learners who struggle with conversation skills will find it difficult to build relationships with their peers.

"How to Talk with Friends" provides a comprehensive, easy-to-follow curriculum designed to help children participate with their peers. 

Easily adaptable for both group and individual use, students learn how to:

  • Begin a conversation by asking about their friend’s interests.

  • Respond to a friend with appropriate comments, follow-up questions and follow-up comments.

  • Track the movement of a conversation topic.

  • Appropriately change a topic during a conversation 

  • Signal interest with body orientation and also interpret a friend’s face/body messages.

  • Begin and end a conversation smoothly.

Designed as a 12-week social group curriculum, the key features of this hands-on manual include:

  • Weekly social skills lessons that emphasize the entire spectrum of skill acquisition, from structured practice to generalization in the natural environment.  

  • Lessons are scripted for easy delivery

  • All required materials are included, making this resource suitable for both parents and professionals.

  • Children learn and practice these key social skills while playing games, doing crafts and hanging out with their friends or family. The focus is on extended practice to ensure mastery. 

  • Part 1 provides the background information you need to run a successful social skills group or teach an individual learner. Individual chapters cover the course content and structure, preparation, and course delivery and assessment.

  • Part 2 contains weekly lessons.  Each lesson provides step-by-step instructions for pre-session preparation, session delivery and assessment, and parent communication.

This extensive manual is perfect for parents, educators, and professionals seeking effective tools to support their learners in understanding and engaging with their peers.

Empower your learner with the skills they need to make lasting friendships. Get your copy of "How to Talk with Friends" today.

Get the PDF here, or purchase print/Kindle on Amazon.

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