MANNERS FOR THE REAL WORLD:
Basic Social Skills
Manners Video
Quote from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
review by Leigh Ann Rumsey, Penn Yan Academy, NY
Grades 4-12 - An engaging narrator, wry humor, and an abundance of
both positive and negative examples make this refreshingly quirky
live-action film the ideal vehicle for conveying the usually dry
subject matter. Its instructional objectives are clearly outlined and
amusingly met through nine stand-alone segments, each followed by a
captioned review…
***
Quote from
www.bridges4kids.org
review
by Jackie Igafo-Te'o
This video is
phenomenal. I found it easy to follow, interesting and helpful. I
loved the humor that was added in order to to break though the more
difficult social topics.
Once again, Drew shines -
I love this guy!
Content is broken down into 9 main sections, each of which includes a
helpful verbal and visual review. Manners for the Real World: Basic
Social Skills contains useful information and tips for anyone who
needs a primer on good manners. Sections are acted out so that there
is no room for confusion; examples of both good manners and
bad manners are given. While watching this video, I realized that we
all probably need a good reminder on what is considered to be
acceptable social behavior. This video does that perfectly. I plan
to share this with all of my children. Of the three Coulter videos
that I've watched, I must say that this is my favorite - hands down.
Children ages 10 and up will benefit greatly from this video. Great
job and keep them coming!
LINK TO REVIEW ON www.bridges4kids.org
***
Review in
Autism Spectrum Quarterly by Contributing Editor Jennifer
Twachtman-Reilly, M.S., CCC-SLP
Within the
ultimate “me” decade that is adolescence—and in a day and age when the
term etiquette has an archaic ring to it—the subject of manners is
likely to be met with a disapproving roll of the eyes and a quick
change of the subject. Thus, Coulter Video faced a unique challenge
when designing its video Manners for the Real World: Basic Social
Skills. The resulting product has clearly overcome all hurdles as it
rose to every etiquette-challenged occasion. The first daunting
challenge for Coulter Video was to teach its likely skeptical viewers
why manners are important at all. It does this by equating good
manners with the desired goal of being liked and respected, while bad
manners is associated with the adolescents’ worst nightmare—being
ignored and/or avoided. Viewers are clearly shown that good manners
will benefit them—not just others—and they are likely to be empowered
by the video’s message that the responsibility rests with them.
The producers take
a two-pronged approach to teaching the manners, themselves. First,
they give general guidelines by asking viewers to “treat people the
way you want to be treated,” and “think about how people will view
you.” Several examples are used to show how others react to both good
and especially to bad manners. This is effectively done through the
use of different, high-impact facial expressions, presented with the
corresponding verbal explanations of what they mean. This
double-pronged approach is very effective in getting the message
across.
This general
approach to manners is followed by instruction in specific, important
social skills related to personal hygiene, conversation, and table
manners. These segments are skillfully designed to give the viewer the
option of watching each segment separately—an excellent strategy—since
too many manners all at once may be too much to handle. This format
also provides an excellent framework for a more comprehensive social
skills program, whereby a specific content area may be viewed first
and then followed by more extensive discussion and role-plays.
Segmenting the video in this manner helps to alleviate my one concern
about it—that the pace of instruction can be a bit fast, at times. The
merit of this video overall, however, and the fact that the major
points of instruction are reviewed at the end of each video segment,
far outweigh this concern.
One of the most
endearing qualities of Manners for the Real World: Basic Social Skills
is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Humor, lightly sprinkled
throughout, serves to both appeal to its audience and to illustrate in
a motivating manner what is important (and also what is not important)
in the complex world of manners. In addition, strategically placed
factoids about customs in other countries, and stories about the
ravages of manners gone awry, will surely appeal to many viewers. All
in all there is much to be learned and gained by watching Manners for
the Real World: Basic Social Skills, not only on for its own sake, but
also as part of a comprehensive social skills program.
***
Review by GINA BARNHILL PH.D. NCSP Autism
Spectrum Consultant and parent of an adult son with Asperger Syndrome. Gena is the author of
Right Address…Wrong Planet: Children with
Asperger Syndrome Becoming Adults.
Manners for the Real World: Basic Social Skills
(2004) by Coulter Video is an excellent resource to
teach individuals how to act in various social situations. The target
audience is upper elementary school through senior high school
students. However, this video would also be helpful to young adults on
the autism spectrum. The 43-minute video can be reviewed in its
entirety, or each of the nine topics can be viewed separately, as each
topic is self-contained. Each topic ends with a visual and verbal
summary of the key points. The authors include a brief instructional
manual with the video, which expresses their desire that the examples
of good behavior from the video will “leap from the screen and find a
happy home in the hearts and minds of the whoever you bought it for.”
The Coulter’s have definitely succeeded in their mission. The video is
entertaining and educational. The narrator speaks clearly, with
expression, and maintains the attention of the audience. Clear
descriptions of the manners are presented along with appropriate
behaviors and some demonstrations of inappropriate behavior. The
narrator uses humor and provides some historical background regarding
the origin of several manners and customs. Presenting the reasons or
logic for demonstrating particular behaviors is an excellent way to
appeal to individuals with high functioning autism and Asperger
Syndrome. The following nine topics are discussed and behavior
appropriate for each topic is clearly demonstrated: personal hygiene,
conversations, introductions, telephone and Internet use, table
manners, behaviors for ladies and gentlemen, manners in public,
serving as a host, and being a guest. The video concludes with
references for further information. The narrator also cautions that
the manners presented in the video are acceptable for individuals in
the United States and that the customs and manners of different
cultures need to be studied before visiting so that the person
visiting can make others feel welcome and comfortable. Examples of
several interesting manners and customs are offered.
***
Review by Alison Simonelli published in for
ASPEN'S "ASPECTS"
Newsletter and in
"On The Spectrum" from
AHA/AS/PDD
(www.aha-as-pdd.org)
Manners
for the Real World
is an informative video about
appropriate manners and behaviors in various social settings for
upper-elementary, middle, and high-school students. Using a
combination of humor and straightforward instruction, it shows teens
and adults acting out situations while a narrator offers clear,
concise rules pertaining to socially appropriate behaviors. This
40-minute video shows several examples of common social situations and
provides clear rules for appropriate behaviors within these settings.
Topics include: personal hygiene, conversations, introductions,
electronic communication, table manners, and several more. Each
situation is acted out using life-like role-play. In them the actors
use the correct, and at times incorrect, social behaviors and manners.
Natural consequences of using appropriate and inappropriate behaviors
are clearly presented. At the end of each segment, a recap of the
rules is printed at the bottom of the screen. The video is structured
in such a way that viewers can watch the entire video or only certain
segments, if desired, making it ideal for teaching.
This is a must see for
all students, including students
with high functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome for whom social
competence, including manners, are particularly challenging. This
video is appropriate for pre-teens and teens “as-is”; a younger
audience may need more explanation of the material covered.
This is a great teaching tool that can
be used by parents and teachers. In Manners for the Real World,
Coulter Video has created another excellent videotape that is a highly
motivating instructional tool. Similar to all Coulter videos, it is a
very affordable product. $30 plus S&H
Reference
Coulter Video (2004). Manners for the real world: Basic social skills.
Hampton, NJ: Author (www.coultervideo.com).
***
Quote from
www.mylittleaspie.com
&
www.suite101.com
review by Juli B,
If
I could list one significant thing that aspies lack (besides eye
contact), it would have to be manners and basic social skills. These
skills are not intuitive for those with Asperger Syndrome - they have
to be learned. And as parents and educators it is up to us to instill
the basics. But how does one go about doing so? For starters, there’s
a wonderful video guide put out by Dan Coulter, whose asperger son,
Drew is thriving in college right now. The video, Manners For The Real
World – Basic Social Skills, demonstrates how to act during some of
the most common interactions between people. Some of the areas that
are covered are: personal hygiene, conversations, introductions,
telephone/internet use, table manners, etc. This video is very straightforward and is designed
for students from upper elementary school through high school. I
watched it alone first, then I watched it with my 5th grader, Andy.
Initially he balked at having to sit through a manners video, but it
did end up keeping his attention. He even admitted to enjoying many of
the scenarios...of course he mostly got a kick out of the demonstrated
“wrong” way to act, but that was only because he actually recognized
that it wasn’t appropriate so I guess that’s a good thing.
I would
definitely recommend this informative video for anyone wishing to
break the inappropriate cycles that our aspies are so inclined to get
caught up in.
LINK TO REVIEW ON www.suite101.com
***
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