Pupils with specific learning disabilities (LD) represent a group with a higher risk for slower developing social and emotional maturity in psyhophisical and social activities due to some characteristics like difficulties in concentration, remembering, thinking, and communication.
These pupils don't have difficulties only in specific areas of learning but often in understanding social situations and reacting to them, they are often lonely, depressive, anxious, they can have a poor self-image, they are not accepted well by their peers, we can recognize poorly developed social skills and numerous difficulties in maintaining social relations.
The letter signals that many pupils with LD don't need just help in specific learning areas but also in areas of developing social skills. In this master's degree work we wanted to show how to qualify pupils with LD to surmount difficulties in areas of social activities by means of intentionally developing social activities.
Our aim of research was to find out whether we can influence by training of social skills on self-image of pupils with LD, on their social acceptance and on their mutual relations in the class, and also on better communication among pupils with LD and their classmates. On the basis of different data training of social skills was designed on purpose for three pupils with LD and their classmates. It was performed for an hour once a week, from February to May 2013. Researching social skills training (SST) we used the method of action research, and then we compared the results in researching areas before and after applying SST. We used three different ways of research (such as interview with pupils with LD, interview with their classteacher, and professional documentation), and the method of research (action research, sociomethrical test, questionarries, and observation). Considering the reports of pupils with LD and their classteachers the results showed positive effects of SST on self-image of the pupils with PPPU. After SST the pupils with LD were accepted and supported by their classmates better than before, and their interpersonal relations were improved.
This master's degree work can be the starting point for planning and observing the effects of SST with other groups of persons with LD and persons, who have difficulties in interpersonal relations and understanding them.
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