Book in the Bag: An Integrated Approach to Social Skills Instruction

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Dr. Michelle Marchant, Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Evaluation of How Well Proposal Objectives Were Met

The following are the objectives we proposed to evaluate for this grant. Overall, each of the objectives were evaluated successfully. The majority of teachers at Lakeview chose to participate, but not all. The social studies and literacy component of the bags was used considerably less than the social skills. The perceptions of the teachers regarding the social skills component of Book in a Bag were favorable.

  • What is the nature of the teachers’ implementation of the newly developed lesson plans and materials in their classrooms (e.g., length of lesson, quality of instruction)? How is this influenced by non-invasive professional development?
  • How do the educators assess, analyze and evaluate the newly developed instructional materials for teaching social skills, social studies, and literacy? How is this influenced by professional development?
  • How effectively do teachers create an environment that promotes students’ acquisition using the integrated curriculum? How effectively do teachers create an environment that promotes students’ spontaneous demonstration of the skill under natural, maintaining contingencies?
  • What is the effect of the teachers’ implementation of the integrated lessons and the professional development activities on student acquisition of social skills and student spontaneous demonstration of the skills under natural maintaining contingencies?
  • What are the educators’ perceptions about the process of participating in the various phases of the curriculum development project? (Process defined as: implementation of existing lesson plans and materials, evaluation of existing materials and their implementation process, professional development activities and approach, development of new lesson plans and materials).

Evaluation of Mentoring Environment

Over the past two years we met as a BIB team weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Dr. Marchant also met individually with graduate students on a monthly or biweekly basis to support research efforts and to guide their leadership responsibilities with the undergraduate students. Students were involved in the development of the research questions, methods, and data collection procedures. They also assisted with the literature review process, data collection and analysis. Many students presented at conferences and accessed data for theses and ORCA grant. Students were also invited to co-author manuscripts. Our team’s collaboration was, and continues to be, meaningful, united experience. Students contribute significantly to our team efforts.

List of Students and Academic Deliverables Produced

Graduate Students

  • Sue Womack, Buddy Alger, and Angelina Krieger

Undergraduate Students

  • Naomi Phillips, Maile Scholar, Katrina Anderson, Rebecca Dombroski, Maren Hyatt, and Chelsea Akin

Publication

  • Krieger, A., Marchant, M., Caldarella, P., & Prater, M. (under review). Generalization of social skills using bibliotherapy and positive peer reporting. Psychology in the Schools

Presentations

  • Alger, B., Womack, S., Anderson, K., Phillips, N., Scholer, M., & Marchant, M. (2010). I’ve told you a hundred times! Social skills generalization with book-in-a bag. Paper presented at the 33rd Annual Teacher Educators for Children with Behavior Disorders Conference, Tempe, AZ.
  • Thomas, J., Anderson, K. Phillips, N., Halbert, A., Marchant, M., Womack, S., Erickson, L., & Young, J. (2010, Februrary). Book in a Bag: An integrated approach to social skills instruction. Paper presented at the Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research, St. George, UT.

ORCA Grant

  • Anderson, K., Phillips, N., & Marchant, M. (2010). Book in the bag: An integrated approach to social skills instruction. Brigham Young University, Office of Research and Creative Activities. Funded to Katrina Anderson, (& Naomi Phillips) for research conducted jointly for Book in a Bag. $1,500.

Theses

Angelina Krieger
Buddy Alger (still in process)

Findings

Preliminary data suggest that teachers prefer the use of Book in a Bag for social skills over literacy and social studies. Some valued the opportunity to develop the lessons; whereas others did not. Generalization of the students’ use of the social skills to settings and contexts beyond the initial instructional context were also noted in the preliminary data. The social validity of the BIB is also favorable among teachers.

Budget Spent

The majority of the funds were used to hire students so that they could participate in a mentoring experience. Additionally, three students were funded to attend and present at a national conference, Teacher Educators for Children with Behavioral Disorders, in October 2010. Supply money was used for materials associated with the project, including bag development, data collection, and other various materials.