Perspective Taking ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIAL AND

Perspective Taking ITS IMPACT ON THE SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF STUDENTS 1

Today’s Learning Outcomes To understand the complexities of perspective taking and the implications it has on a student’s ability to thrive both socially and academically To gather practical ideas and resources for supporting the growth and development of perspective taking skills 2

Overview Of The Day 3 Introductions/ice breaker/initial thoughts Define perspective taking qualities What is the social and academic impact on students who lack the ability to take perspective? Break (15 minutes) How do we support growth and development of perspective taking skills? Closing thoughts and questions

Introductions Introduce yourself to a partner and tell them three things about yourself You and your partner will take turns introducing each other to the class 4

Ice Breaker 5 Ocean What words come to mind when you think of the ocean? Think of what you might see, hear, smell or feel Write your thoughts on the cards provided

What is perspective taking? “Perspective taking refers to our ability to relate to others. It is our ability to perceive someone else’s thoughts, feelings, and motivations. In other words it refers to our ability to empathize with someone else and see things from their perspective. ” 6

Continued… “Most people can intuitively tell how someone else feels in a conversation. When they speak to someone who’s looking around and not paying attention, they perceive the person is not interested in the conversation or is distracted for some reason. They know if they see tears in the person’s eyes that the person is upset (Isa Marrs, 2014). ” 7

What is Theory of Mind? 8 “Theory of Mind is the ability to not only understand that people have different beliefs, motivations, knowledge and moods but also understand how that effects their actions and behavior as well as our own. Theory of Mind is a necessary component of perspective taking. (Isa Marrs, 2014). ”

Is it possible to teach perspective taking? 9

Three Steps to Perspective Taking Step 1 When you come into my space I have a thought about you and you have a thought about me Step 2 I understand you have thoughts and feelings different from mine 10

Continued… 11 Step Three I can adjust my thinking and actions based on others thoughts and feelings. To keep you thinking about me the way I would like you to think about me

What makes us good perspective takers? 12 Recognizing each person as an individual Recognizing each person has his or her own feelings and emotions Understanding each person has their own motives desires and intentions Adapted from Michelle Garcia Winner, 2007

Continued… 13 Recognizing social conventions in specific social environments Understanding social conventions are specific to setting Using eye contact to remain aware Knowing how to inquire about another person’s interests Realizing individuals have their own personality

Continued… 14 Having an innate desire to learn about others interests and history Remembering a person to help build and maintain relationships, as well as develop an understanding of a person’s possible actions the persons different possible feelings/emotions through out an interaction Considering prior knowledge and experience of the person you may talk to

Selman’s Five Stages of Perspective Taking 15 Stages and Ages Description Undifferentiated Perspective Taking Age 3 -6 Recognize that self and others have different thoughts and feelings Frequently confuses the two Recognize different perspectives may be due to people accessing different information Able to step into another person’s shoes and view thoughts and feelings from another perspective Aware that others can do the same Able to step out of a two person interaction and imagine how they are being viewed by a third party Able to understand that third party perspective can be influenced by larger societal values. Social-informational Perspective Taking Age 5 -9 Self –reflective Perspective Taking Age 7 -12 Third-party Perspective Taking Age 10 -15 Societal Perspective Taking Age 15 -Adult

Perspective Taking According to Sheldon 16

Consequences for Lack of Perspective Taking 17 Social Academic • Social isolation • Being considered insensitive • Maybe considered a bully or self centered • Difficulty maintaining friendships • Difficulty working in groups • Lack of understanding of assignments • Difficulty accepting teacher feedback leading to challenging relationships • Lack of comprehension

Break Time! 18

How do we facilitate the development of perspective taking? 19 Find a target area to work on. Consider the list of qualities and stages of perspective taking to help target an area. Consider the cognitive ability of your student. Does he/she need visuals, physical acting out, video taping? What will work best to get the message to them? Create an environment that is safe and comfortable for the student. ie: If they work best with another student in a quiet place, consider removing them for a quick daily lesson with a carefully chosen classmate.

Continued… Be realistic, this is a work in progress Try things for a period of time. It’s rare for change to happen overnight Do not reinvent the wheel. There is a tremendous amount of activities and worksheets already to be used both online and in resource books 20

Activities to Support Perspective Taking The following is a very small sample of activities to support perspective taking. Please participate and enjoy the process! 21

Activity #1 Social Behaviour Mapping Social Behaviour Map Behaviours that are EXPECTED! Place: Lunchroom Social Behaviour Map Behaviours that are UNEXPECTED! Place: Lunchroom Unexpected behaviours How they make others feel Negative consequences you experience How you feel about yourself 1. Refusing to share the lunch table 2. Refusing to clean up after you eat Rejected Confused Sad Afraid Lunch monitors are frustrated Stressed out Lack trust Unhappy Classmates don’t want to sit with you or get to know you People hovering Conflict Privileges revoked Rejected Confused Lonely Frustrated Embarrassed Frustrated Angry Expected behaviours 1. Sharing the lunch table 2. Putting your lunch and dishes away after lunch How they make others feel Welcomed Included Interested in you Lunch monitors are relieved More relaxed Happy to see you Trusting Positive consequences you experience Classmates want to sit with you and get to know you Independence Privileges in the lunch room Becoming a monitor Opportunity to be a leader How you feel about yourself Included Happy Proud Motivated Excited 22

Practice Social Behaviour Mapping 23

Activity #2 Look Inside My Head! The thoughts in my head show you about my experiences, beliefs and interests. This influences what I say and how I respond to things during social interaction. This is my perspective. What’s yours? 24

Activity #3: What is everybody thinking? 25

Resources to Check Out Michelle Garcia Winner and Pam Crooke, Social Thinking website and many resource books with activities and worksheets Jill Kuzma: http: //jillkuzma. wordpress. com/perspective-takingskills/teaching-ideas/ Pintrest has endless ideas for quick perspective taking activities http: //www. pinterest. com/kcssw/social-thinking-perspectivetaking/ Youtube has many excellent videos that demonstrate perspective taking 26

27 QUIZ TIME! 10 minutes

For Next Time 28 Choose one activity you tried today and use it with a student. Bring feedback… Did you alter anything to make it more suitable for your student? Was the student receptive? Will it be helpful to build long term perspective taking skills? Remember, many activities need to be repeated several or many times in order to experience growth and development of a skill.

References Slides 7 & 8 M. Garcia Winner & P. Crooke. (2014). Zooming 29 In. Workshop, Richmond, BC. Slides 12, 13 & 14 M. Garcia Winner. (2007). Thinking About You, Thinking About Me. San Jose, CA. Think Social Publishing Inc. Slide 16 Selman’s Five Stages of Perspective Taking. (2002). Retrieved September 3, 2014. from http: //everything 2. com/title/Selman%2527 s+Five+Stages+of+Perspective+Taking