Super Skills: A Social Skills Group Program for Children with Asperger Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism and Related Challenges [Paperback]

Judith Coucouvanis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1931282676 | ISBN-13: 978-1931282673 | Publication Date: March 18, 2005 | Edition: 1

To many children on the autism spectrum, social skills pose greater challenges than academics! This series of social skills activities are designed to help elementary-aged students with autism spectrum and other social cognitive deficits succeed in the social realm. Group lessons are organized under four types of skills necessary for social success: fundamental skills, social initiation skills, getting along with others, and social response skills. Each lesson is highly structured and organized, making it easy for teachers and other group leaders to implement successfully. A series of practical checklists and other instruments provide a solid foundation for assessing students social skills levels and subsequent program planning.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Coucouvanis provides valuable information to create and run social skills groups and delineates all the steps for students to succeed. -- Melissa L. Trautman, special education teacher<br /><br />Coucouvanis provides valuable information to create and run social skills groups and delineates all the steps for students to succeed. --Melissa L. Trautman, special education teacher<br /><br />The easy to read and apply format makes this a ‘must have’ book for anyone working with students with ASD. -- Ronda Schelvan, M.S.Ed., autism consultant, special education teacher<br /><br />The easy to read and apply format makes this a ‘must have’ book for anyone working with students with ASD. --Ronda Schelvan, M.S.Ed., autism consultant, special education teacher<br /><br />This book is an invaluable guide to parents and professionals who help improve the social skills of children with ASD. -- Luke Y. Tsai, M.D., professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School<br /><br />This book is an invaluable guide to parents and professionals who help improve the social skills of children with ASD. --Luke Y. Tsai, M.D., professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School

Coucouvanis provides valuable information to create and run social skills groups and delineates all the steps for students to succeed. --Melissa L. Trautman, special education teacher

The easy to read and apply format makes this a ‘must have’ book for anyone working with students with ASD. --Ronda Schelvan, M.S.Ed., autism consultant, special education teacher

About the Author

Judith Coucouvanis, MA, APRN, BC, is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and behavior specialist at the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She specializes in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and is a behavior consultant to several schools. She speaks regularly on the topics of social skills training, behavior support, and ASD, offering practical tips for parents and teachers. She serves on the board of directors of the Autism Society of Michigan and as an editorial board member of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Autism Asperger Publishing Company; 1 edition (March 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931282676
• ISBN-13: 978-1931282673
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #204,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars super social skills, May 18, 2005

By 

Dorothy Peacor (michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Super Skills: A Social Skills Group Program for Children with Asperger Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism and Related Challenges (Paperback)

The social skills program in this outstanding book will be a positive resource for all professionals and parents. The goal is to give an opportunity for success to children and teens with autism spectrum disorders. Children with other impairments could also greatly benefit.
The lessons are presented in a clear, helpful, easy to follow manner with strategies for teaching and reinforcing important, useful social skills. The thirty lessons help children develop competence and confidence in themselves and in each other. Appropriate behaviors are targeted and children practice in a supportive, positive atmosphere.

As a former special education teacher, I think students with an emotional impairment or learning disability, as well as those with ASD, would learn and benefit from these social skills. These skills include following directions, dealing with anger, being a good sport and so many others. One chapter describes disruptive behavior, helps understand why it occurs and gives strategies to reduce the behavior.
The author's steps for the child in the chapter dealing with anger are reasonable and practical. The first two steps are to stop and to take a deep breath. An analogy is made to handle anger by blowing up a balloon. Keep blowing and the balloon will burst or let some air out and release the anger. Children will remember this.
Every chapter clearly presents ideas and activities for success. I strongly recommend this book for special education teachers and professionals who work with young people.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for more than just kids with autism, June 19, 2008

By 

Lisa Hewitt "gusanita de libros" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Super Skills: A Social Skills Group Program for Children with Asperger Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism and Related Challenges (Paperback)

This book was recommended to me as a resource for counseling a group of 3rd-5th grade boys in a self-contained behavior management class. None of the boys in the group had autism or Asperger's, but they displayed immature and impulsive behavior typical of many children with behavior problems. This book was a great help--most of the activities were appropriate for their ages and ability levels, and targeted their behavior goals. The format of the book is easy and helpful, with outlines, specific lesson plans, and multple activities for every lesson. The activities were what I appreciated the most--kids NEED to do more than just talk, and the games were varied and specific to the skills being taught so it was easy to apply them to the lesson. Very good book--don't think it can only be used with kids with autism!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I finally found the ONE book!, October 30, 2008

By 

M. J. Olson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Super Skills: A Social Skills Group Program for Children with Asperger Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism and Related Challenges (Paperback)

I am a School Social Worker and use this book weekly in my special education student groups. I primarily use it with students with Aspergers, but have also used it with emotionally impaired students. I LOVE this book. There is a wonderful social skills checklist that I utilize to help write the IEP goals, too. I finally found the one book I constantly use.