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App review by Adirondack AccessAbility Inc., Common Sense Education | Updated February 2014
Social Stories

Social Stories

Quick and simple behavior-reinforcement tool for kids with autism

Learning rating
Editorial review by Common Sense Education
Community rating
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Privacy rating
Not yet rated Expert evaluation by Common Sense
Grades
Pre-K–5 This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.
Subjects & Skills
Communication & Collaboration, Character & SEL, Critical Thinking
Great for
SEL, Special Needs
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
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Take a look inside

4 images
Help students create a library of relevant social narratives.
Photos can help students connect the stories to everyday experiences.
The user-friendly design makes it fairly easy to figure out.
The settings allow for different font sizes.

Pros: It's an easy way for kids to author and share social stories.

Cons: More integrated support and suggestions could help new users get started.

Bottom Line: Teachers will find this an efficient way to engage their students in understanding and creating social stories.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

For successful use, teachers will often play a key role in the social stories kids choose to interpret and create. Kids can improve their ability to learn from the stories by becoming more familiar and comfortable with the app.

The first step in helping kids get set up is to assist them in developing a library of pertinent photos and images. As necessary (or appropriate), work with students to develop stories that are relevant and meaningful to their social learning. As kids progress, guide them towards more independence, both within the app and in the real-world social situations they're likely to encounter.

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Standards:

Social Stories is a basic tool for creating and sharing multiple-page social stories. Each page can contain an image, text, and audio clip. Audio clips are recorded directly through the device; images can be one of 11 included samples, taken directly using the device's camera, or anything imported from the device library. The app doesn't have any instructions, but the interface is mostly easy to use.

Social Stories serves as a quick and simple way for kids to create social narratives that they might encounter in real life; it's intended for kids on the autism spectrum, or for any others who might benefit from a structured, predictable, story-based behavior reinforcement. The app is authored by Carol Gray, the Director of The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding and a recognized expert in the area of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Social Stories is a basic tool that fulfills an important need for kids on the autism spectrum. While the platform for creating and telling social stories is relatively basic, the stories themselves -- and their relation to kids' lives -- are where the app's learning potential really lies. The value kids get out of it will depend heavily on what teachers put into it. Used strategically, Social Stories can be a great tool for helping kids understand and appropriately handle different social situations.

Overall Rating
Engagement Would it motivate students and hold their interest? Is it visually appealing? Would it inspire teachers to try something new or change their instruction?

The combination of pictures, text, and audio will help engage most kids. The consistent, predictable learning design will help keep their attention.

Pedagogy Does the tool help teachers promote a more student-centered experience? Will students gain conceptual understanding or think critically? Does it deepen teachers’ pedagogical thinking?

Kids can learn how to navigate social situations before they happen -- they'll be able to transfer what they've learned to their real lives.

Support Can students and teachers get assistance when they need it? Is it created with people of different abilities and backgrounds in mind? Is learning reinforced and extended beyond the digital experience?

While the built-in supports are pretty basic, the app's user-friendly design makes it fairly easy to figure out.

Common Sense reviewer
Adirondack AccessAbility Inc. Assistive Technology Consultants & Trainers
See how we rate and review

Key Standards Supported

Speaking & Listening

  • SL.K.1

    Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

  • SL.1.1

    Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

  • SL.2.1

    Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

  • SL.3.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.4.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

  • SL.5.1

    Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

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