Madrigal, Stephanie. Superflex: Superflex Takes on Rock Brain and the Team of Unthinkables. (2008).
Appropriate for: Elementary school children on the spectrum
From Michelle Garcia Winner's Think Social group comes this first book in the Superflex series. This comic book-style story features Aiden, a boy who has a host of social skills issues that our kids can relate to. But with a Superflex Brain Sensor giving him direction, he becomes Superflex, a superhero who can ward off a team of Unthinkables like Rock Brain, who can make people get stuck on their ideas. The Unthinkables are great characters who make talking about abstract ideas much easier. Everyone can choose at least a few who give them trouble and this book is a fun way to children to learn about their behavior and problem-solve some of the more common social skills issues.
Madrigal, Stephanie, and Michelle Garcia Winner. Superflex Takes on Glassman and the Team of Unthinkables. (2009).
Appropriate for: Elementary school children on the spectrum
Done in the same style as Superflex, this is another book in the Superflex series that focus on the Unthinkable Glassman, who makes people have huge reactions. Although this is not the first book in the series, it has a more complete approach to how to integrate using the idea of Superflex as a teaching tool. There are also "Superflex Quizzes" that asks the reader to relate what's happening with Aiden to themselves and problem-solve the issues that come up in the story. Also particularly helpful is a Tip Sheet to Defeat the Team of Unthinkables at the back of the book (for example, "Topic Twistermeister: Listen to what people are talking about and ask questions about what they are saying even if I really want to talk about my own interests.") And don't let the cartoons fool you. This book is packed with all the strategies one would need to put big and little problems in perspective.
Winner, Michelle Garcia. Social Thinking Worksheets for Tweens and Teens: Learning to Read in Between the Social
Lines. (2011).
Appropriate for: Parents and teachers of 10-14-year olds on the spectrum with strong language skills
If you are familiar with Michelle Garcia Winner’s social thinking approach, there aren’t any surprises here. The curriculum
presented in these worksheets is similar to what’s presented in her other books, using the same language and approach. However, the audience is tweens and teens so the focus is on some of the more subtle social skills (like “I Don’t Want to But I Will Anyhow,” “Friendly Is Not Friendship, Yet,” “Are Your Intentions Honorable?”) and the examples used are aimed at this audience too (“Do Video
Game Characters Have to Be Social Thinkers?” and “What’s Cool at School”). It’s a very easy to use book; the worksheets are not intended to be used in order but are grouped eight general categories. The worksheets also come on the enclosed CD; a handy feature that I’ve used. I immediately printed out the “Don’t Wake Up Your Inner Jerk” and“The Art of Eating with Others.” Wish me
luck!
Winner, Michelle Garcia, and Pamela Crooke. You Are a Social Detective: Explaining Social Thinking to Kids. (2008).
Appropriate for: Elementary school children on the spectrum and those who teach and care for them
This is the blueprint for Michelle Garcia Winner's Social Thinking philosophy--in comic book form. This book covers all the basics like school smarts and social smarts, expected and unexpected behavior, good and weird thoughts, and then it introduces the idea of a Social Detective. A Social Detective can use a smart guess toolbox full of things like seeing, hearing, knowing, and feeling to figure out social situations like whether or not someone wants to play or talk. This is a great way to introduce these valuable social thinking tools in a clear, fun format.
Appropriate for: Elementary school children on the spectrum
From Michelle Garcia Winner's Think Social group comes this first book in the Superflex series. This comic book-style story features Aiden, a boy who has a host of social skills issues that our kids can relate to. But with a Superflex Brain Sensor giving him direction, he becomes Superflex, a superhero who can ward off a team of Unthinkables like Rock Brain, who can make people get stuck on their ideas. The Unthinkables are great characters who make talking about abstract ideas much easier. Everyone can choose at least a few who give them trouble and this book is a fun way to children to learn about their behavior and problem-solve some of the more common social skills issues.
Madrigal, Stephanie, and Michelle Garcia Winner. Superflex Takes on Glassman and the Team of Unthinkables. (2009).
Appropriate for: Elementary school children on the spectrum
Done in the same style as Superflex, this is another book in the Superflex series that focus on the Unthinkable Glassman, who makes people have huge reactions. Although this is not the first book in the series, it has a more complete approach to how to integrate using the idea of Superflex as a teaching tool. There are also "Superflex Quizzes" that asks the reader to relate what's happening with Aiden to themselves and problem-solve the issues that come up in the story. Also particularly helpful is a Tip Sheet to Defeat the Team of Unthinkables at the back of the book (for example, "Topic Twistermeister: Listen to what people are talking about and ask questions about what they are saying even if I really want to talk about my own interests.") And don't let the cartoons fool you. This book is packed with all the strategies one would need to put big and little problems in perspective.
Winner, Michelle Garcia. Social Thinking Worksheets for Tweens and Teens: Learning to Read in Between the Social
Lines. (2011).
Appropriate for: Parents and teachers of 10-14-year olds on the spectrum with strong language skills
If you are familiar with Michelle Garcia Winner’s social thinking approach, there aren’t any surprises here. The curriculum
presented in these worksheets is similar to what’s presented in her other books, using the same language and approach. However, the audience is tweens and teens so the focus is on some of the more subtle social skills (like “I Don’t Want to But I Will Anyhow,” “Friendly Is Not Friendship, Yet,” “Are Your Intentions Honorable?”) and the examples used are aimed at this audience too (“Do Video
Game Characters Have to Be Social Thinkers?” and “What’s Cool at School”). It’s a very easy to use book; the worksheets are not intended to be used in order but are grouped eight general categories. The worksheets also come on the enclosed CD; a handy feature that I’ve used. I immediately printed out the “Don’t Wake Up Your Inner Jerk” and“The Art of Eating with Others.” Wish me
luck!
Winner, Michelle Garcia, and Pamela Crooke. You Are a Social Detective: Explaining Social Thinking to Kids. (2008).
Appropriate for: Elementary school children on the spectrum and those who teach and care for them
This is the blueprint for Michelle Garcia Winner's Social Thinking philosophy--in comic book form. This book covers all the basics like school smarts and social smarts, expected and unexpected behavior, good and weird thoughts, and then it introduces the idea of a Social Detective. A Social Detective can use a smart guess toolbox full of things like seeing, hearing, knowing, and feeling to figure out social situations like whether or not someone wants to play or talk. This is a great way to introduce these valuable social thinking tools in a clear, fun format.
