Running Head: TEACHING STUDENTS KINDESS THROUGH SOCIAL SKILLS INTERVENTIONS 1

Conference Proposal, Learning Forward Conference 2019

Teaching Students Kindness Through Social Skills Interventions

Submitted by: Heather Muller

hmuller@nebrwesleyan.edu

(402) 380-5074
Running Head: TEACHING STUDENTS KINDESS THROUGH SOCIAL SKILLS INTERVENTIONS 2

ABSTRACT
In this session, a middle school special education teacher will present her research
regarding teaching middle schoolers kindness through social skills interventions. The discussion
will also present informational research to support the interventions and will discuss supportive
literature on the topic of effective kindness interventions.
PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES
I. The implementation of social skills interventions increases student’s social
competence. Participants in this session will be able to understand the linkage
between social competence and academic and emotional benefits.
II. Participants will be able to understand the correlation between peer kindness and
social skills interventions through hearing the various research studies and
literature that support the implementation of social skills interventions within the
general education classroom.
III. Participants will be able to apply the knowledge learned toward their classrooms
by modeling the social skills interventions that were discussed and using the
“School Kindness Scale” questionnaire to measure outcomes.
SESSION FOCUS:
Social & Emotional Learning and Health
Learning Designs and Implementation

SESSION TOPIC:
Engaging/motivating Disenfranchised Learners
Implementation
Social Emotional Learning/Health

SESSION LENGTH:
Roundtable Discussion—1 hour

SESSION PROCESS
There will be three different aspects of my presentation each lasting twenty minutes. The
first will address the problem of practice involving the lack of peer kindness in middle schoolers
which results in feelings of unacceptance, exclusion and disrespect. The problem of practice will
be discussed along with the literature that aligns. This will be followed by a research study
conducted in a 6th grade general education classroom. Methods, populations, and instruments
used in the study will be discussed. The session will conclude with a discussion of the results and
opportunities for further research. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a question
and answer session, view a poster containing more about the study, and view artifacts from the
research study.
Running Head: TEACHING STUDENTS KINDESS THROUGH SOCIAL SKILLS INTERVENTIONS 3

REFERENCES
Binfet, J., Gadermann, A., & Schonert, K. (2016). Measuring kindness at school: Psychometric
properties of a school kindness scale for children and adolescents. Psychology in School, 53(2),
111-126.
Canter, D., Youngs, D., & Yaneva, M. (2017). Personality and individual differences towards a
measure of kindness: An exploration of a neglected interpersonal trait. Elsevier, 15-20.
Cartledge, G. (2005). Learning disabilities and social skills: Reflections. Learning Disability
Quarterly, 28, 179-181.
Ross, A., Shochet, I., & Bellair., R. (2010). The role of social skills and school connectedness in
preadolescent depressive symptoms. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 39(2),
269-275.
EVIDENCE
Evidence for Student Growth
IMPACT
The impact that my presentation will have on its attendees includes, but is not limited to,
future implementation of whole group social skills interventions in hopes to diminish negative
peer interactions, disruptions, and negative emotions among students. Attendees will be able to
use the knowledge acquired from this session to implement their own social skills strategies
based on the needs of their students. This session will give attendees a guideline on how to start
implementation, what the process should consist of, and a study to compare results.
AUDIENCE
Teacher Leaders/Team Leaders
CONTENT LEVEL
Basic