What Are Social Stories and Why They Matter in Special Education

LeCha Brown
Aug 27
4 min read

Social stories, a term coined by Carol Gray in the early 1990s, are short, descriptive narratives designed to fill in gaps in social understanding with clear, reassuring information. Their goal isn’t to correct behavior directly, but to explain expectations in a gentle, predictable way. These stories break down social situations - answering the who, what, when, where, and why, through both text and visuals. They model social norms and contextual cues in a way that’s easy for learners to grasp.

The Benefits: Concrete Tools Supporting Real Learners

Social stories serve as concrete scaffolds for learners who benefit from clear structure and visual context.

Benefits include:

Reduced anxiety and stress by setting clear expectations for upcoming events
Improved social understanding by helping learners recognize social cues and perspectives
Enhanced social communication and behavior by modeling expected interactions and routines
Provides support for learners with ASD, ADHD, anxiety, language delays, and more
Development of theory of mind and empathy by including others’ perspectives and emotional responses
Concrete support for transitions and new routines like first days or going to the doctor

Peer-reviewed research indicates improved prosocial behavior, on-task behavior, self-regulation, and reductions in inappropriate behaviors in children with autism when social stories are used. While results vary, consistent use often strengthens their impact.

Writing Effective Social Stories: Best Practices

Pick a specific topic like starting school, making new friends, going to the doctor or navigating transitions
Use the child’s perspective preferably in first person (“I…”) or third (“Sam…”). Avoid “you” sentences
Balance sentence types:
- Descriptive (“I am going to school.”)
- Perspective (“I feel nervous when it's loud.”)
- Directive (“I can take a deep breath if I feel upset.”)
- Affirmative (“It's okay to feel nervous.”)
- Cooperative & control sentences can also boost clarity
Add visuals: real photos or meaningful clip art should directly illustrate the text above as much as posisble
Personalize whenever possible: use the child’s own photo or environment for maximum relevance
Print, laminate, and bind for durability. You can use a binding machine, binder rings, ribbon, staple or use clips to keep holes aligned
Introduce and reread: choose calm moments to read the story before the situation and afterward
Practice in context: role-play or refer back to scenarios as they come up
Involve the child: empower them to contribute to creating or discussing the story

Prepping and Protecting: Laminate & Binding Tips

Print full pages, then laminate, cutting afterward preserves integrity and alignments
Use binder clips when punching, to ensure holes line up perfectly
Ring‑binding (e.g., 3‑ring or binder rings) works well for flipping pages easily
Or simply insert into a durable clear page protector binder
This prep ensures your stories are portable, long‑lasting, and re‑readable. That makes them perfect for both the classroom and home.
Here are the items that I use (pictured above:

Visual Choices: Real Photos, Clip Art, or Both?

Real photos: Have the highest relevance as children see someone that looks like themselves and familiar contexts, enhancing connection
Meaningful clip art: Can work when photos aren’t available. As long as they clearly represent the concept
Line Drawing: Can be great when you can't print in color, need multipl copies, can't laminate and prep
Avoid decorative or meaningless images as they can distract or confuse rather than support comprehension
Consistent visuals and layout help build predictability. Place images above or below the associated text

Social Story Roundup

I am in the process of creating a large library of social stories with relevant themes. These resources are terrific examples of how social stories bring real-world social scenarios to life for learners with special needs:

First Day of School: A comforting introduction to routines, new settings, and social expectations. This one is ideal for easing first-day anxiety. Check it out here!
Making New Friends: Guides behavior around starting conversations, greeting peers, and navigating social interactions. Check it out here!

To further boost their value:

Pair them with a buddy system, where a peer or sibling reviews them with the learner—strengthening social modeling and engagement
Use video modeling or role‑play alongside the stories, especially for younger learners or those who respond well to varied formats

Wrap-Up: Making Social Stories Work for Your Special Education Setting

For Teachers & Homeschoolers:

Choose meaningful topics.
Write with balance, clarity, and empathy.
Use authentic visuals and personalize.
Prepare durable copies through lamination and binding.
Read regularly, practice in context, and involve the learner in creation.

As you can see, social stories are more than just teaching tools. They’re bridges that connect learners to the world around them in meaningful, concrete ways. Whether you’re preparing a student for the first day of school, guiding them through the steps of making new friends, or addressing any other social or emotional challenge, these simple yet powerful stories provide clarity, reassurance, and confidence. By taking the time to personalize, laminate, and bind them, you create lasting resources that your learners can revisit whenever they need support. For both special education teachers and homeschool parents, social stories are not just strategies, they’re opportunities to nurture independence, build social understanding, and celebrate every step of growth along the way.

If you have a need for a social story topic, just email me at reachingexceptionallearners.com so we can work together to create what your learner(s) need!

LeCha