Let’s Get Social Series

Let’s Get Social Series: Building Social Understanding One Story at a Time

DTA Schools’ Let’s Get Social Series is a growing collection of short, accessible social stories designed specifically for students with complex learning and communication needs. These visual supports help students understand expectations, build emotional regulation strategies, and practice positive social behaviors in school settings.

Why Social Stories Matter

Students in special education classrooms often benefit from direct instruction and repeated exposure to social and emotional skills. These books:

  • Use clear, concrete language and simple illustrations to support comprehension.
  • Reinforce positive behavior and self-regulation through repetition and visual modeling.
  • Help reduce anxiety by preparing students for common classroom events and social situations.

Each story promotes independence, emotional safety, and participation—critical outcomes for students learning to navigate a complex social world.

Featured Titles

🧠 When I Am Frustrated

Helps students identify feelings of frustration and learn calming strategies such as deep breathing, counting to 10, and focusing attention.

🚪 Classroom Visitors

Prepares students for the sometimes unpredictable presence of guests in the classroom. Offers calming techniques and expected behaviors during interruptions.

🤝 Being a Good Friend

Models both helpful and unhelpful social behaviors, helping students recognize and practice respectful friendship skills like sharing, giving space, and kind communication.

What’s Included in Each Book

  • Real-life visuals tailored to adapted classrooms.
  • Short, predictable sentences for emergent readers or students using AAC.
  • Opportunities for modeling and role-play during group lessons.
  • Prompts for interactive practice, such as identifying behaviors or rehearsing responses.
  • Each book is printable and compatible with AAC and symbol-supported classrooms.

Ideas for Implementation

These stories are versatile and easy to embed into your daily routine:

💬 Morning Meeting or Circle Time

Use a social story as your “story of the day” to introduce or reinforce classroom expectations.

🔄 Behavior Regulation Breaks

Offer the story when a student is upset or needs a reset. Pair with sensory tools or calming strategies.

🧩 Small Group SEL Instruction

Use during social skills groups or speech therapy sessions to build understanding through repetition and discussion.

🧠 AAC Modeling Opportunities

Model core and fringe vocabulary (e.g., "stop," "feel," "friend," "calm") while reading the story on the student’s device.

📌 Visual Schedule Integration

Link the books to specific activities (e.g., “Visitors” before assemblies or evaluations) so students can review expectations ahead of time.

Designed with Your Students in Mind

Whether you’re teaching social skills, introducing classroom expectations, or supporting emotional regulation, the Let’s Get Social Series provides developmentally appropriate tools for learners who thrive on clarity, structure, and visual support.

📚 Explore the full series and download your own