The Social Express Interactive Software

Description
The Social Express™ is engaging, educational software for children and young adults with social learning challenges. The online learning program uses individual webisodes to teach users how to think about and manage social situations. Each webisode-lesson covers a specific social skill and helps kids to practice and develop meaningful social relationships and succeed in life.

How does The Social Express help?
Created for pre-K to 6th grade, each interactive, animated webisode (video) targets a specific skill kids need to develop meaningful relationships with their peers in our social world.

Each 2-3 minute webisode lesson allows children to go through it with parents or teachers. Kids can also work through the lessons on their own (self-directed).
Extend the learning for your child or student using our e-books, easy-to-use quizzes and printable worksheets.

How do I access the program?
Our social skills learning program is easy to use on your computer, tablet or iPad. You can also download the free app in iTunes.

How do children and families benefit?
The Social Express provides children with a safe, controlled and familiar learning environment. Kids have the opportunity to become more socially competent by learning and practicing successful social interactions.

Potential benefits include the ability for children to:
• Identify feelings in others
• Understand the importance of "eye contact"
• Read non-verbal social cues
• Identify appropriate coping strategies
• Understand how to be part of a group
• Learn how to start conversations
• Learn to let go of an argument
• Practice staying on topic during a conversation
• Avoid speaking in long monologues
• Not interrupt others during conversations
• Become aware of the ‘hidden’ social rules

How do educators and teachers benefit?
The Social Express online learning program is easy-to-use for teachers too! Teachers have these tools to help during the busy school day:
• Interactive, animated lessons: Each webisode demonstrates a different social skill. Examples include: staying with the group, making eye contact during conversations and talking about what others are talking about.
• The Social Express lessons align with IEP goals.
• The program offers tiered levels so you can choose lessons for each student.
• Aligns with The Common Core Standards
• Pre-Made Lesson Plans-The program can be used with 1:1 learning, small groups and in the classroom.
• Students like using the program! They find that the characters in The Social Express are easy to relate to and they enjoy doing the lessons! Lessons can be self-directed.

References
Some of the core concepts presented are based on the work of Michelle Garcia Winner and her Social Thinking® curriculum. More information can be found on the Social Thinking® website, www.socialthinking.com.

The Social Express is also based on best practices and programs that feature cognitive behavioral techniques and visual strategies including Social Stories (Gray, 2002), Comic Strip Conversations (Gray ,1994), the Alert Program (Williams & Shellenberger, 1996), The Incredible 5 Point Scale (Buron & Curtis, 2003), The Hidden Curriculum (Myles, Trautman and Schelvan, 2004), Thinking about YOU Thinking about ME (Winner, 2007) and other professionals working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The activities presented in the software adhere to California State Board of Education Content Standards and the Common Core Standards.

What do others say about The Social Express?
We’ve had wonderful feedback from parents, teachers and professionals about The Social Express. You’ll find our testimonials here.
http://thesocialexpress.com/what-is-the-social-express/testimonials/

Can I try out The Social Express for my child?
Sure, we have a special 10 free trial. No credit card required. You can sign up here: http://www.thesocialexpresscentralstation.com/trial.aspx