Writing Collaboratively: Using Social Stories to Build Literacy and Social Skills Across Grade Levels

Imagine a classroom where teachers use collaboratively developed student social narratives to address meaningful social situations. Social stories are short, didactic narratives that communicate behaviors, expectations, or skills, helping students make sense of social norms. Unlike traditional children’s literature, which often addresses emotional development on a broader level, collaboratively written social stories are personalized and grounded in a class's shared values and lived experiences. For example, after reading a story about teamwork, students may work together to write a social story that defines what teamwork looks like in their own classroom, supporting a deeper understanding of the concept.

Collaborative writing of social stories serves as a practical tool for developing both social-emotional and practical skills. Students learn targeted social skills while also practicing narrative writing, patience, and flexibility. These stories engage students across grade levels in socially relevant topics, from following recess rules in kindergarten to respecting differences and identities in fourth grade or advocating for recycling initiatives in seventh grade. This approach promotes student-centered learning that integrates social justice themes, encourages students to support their communities, and uses writing to engage with each other.

During this session, participants will reflect on social challenges they face in their classrooms and collaboratively create a social story addressing one such issue. Participants will leave with practical practices for incorporating student-centered narrative writing into their literacy curriculum, along with adaptable approaches that can be applied across multiple developmental levels.