We Have Skills! (WHS): Teaching Social Skills to Early Elementary Students

We Have Skills! (WHS) is a supplemental, video-based social skills program for early elementary students that targets the development of social skills, including guidance on how to listen, ask for help, follow directions, do the best you can, follow the rules, work out strong feelings, and get along. WHS consists of three components: instructional materials (including lesson plans, instructional videos, and supplemental activities), teacher professional development, and student assessment. Lessons include two main segments: a 5-to 10-minute discussion using questions from the lesson plan, and a 5-minute video lesson. Instruction is delivered over eight weekly sessions, and teachers are encouraged to implement activities such as guided practice through songs, role play, and learning materials. The program incorporates a reinforcement system where students receive skill tickets, student-managed tally sheets, parent notes of skill achievement, and student certificates of mastery.