Strengthening communication skills: How Bob Callies Elementary School uses #WinAtSocial to foster meaningful student interactions
While social media fosters creativity and connection, constant digital engagement can make face-to-face communication more challenging. One study from the Pew Research Center shows that about two-thirds (69%) of teens say social media makes it easier to discover new hobbies and interests, yet only 30% say it helps them learn good social skills. Social media has changed how students communicate, leading to more frequent digital interactions.
By encouraging students to balance online and offline conversations, educators can help them build essential skills such as understanding social cues, active listening, and meaningful conversation.
Bob Callies Elementary School in Garrison Public School District recognized these challenges. They looked for a positive approach to social media and tech education that would empower students to positively navigate online interactions and landed on #WinAtSocial, a comprehensive suite of solutions proven to increase student participation, strengthen communication skills, and foster open conversations.
By partnering with The Social Institute, educators at Bob Callies equip students with essential communication skills through meaningful huddles and turnkey lessons, all without adding to teachers’ plates.
How Bob Callies is creating future-ready students by strengthening communication skills
Garrison Public Schools’ mission is to inspire and empower students to lifelong excellence. They support students in their strategic goals by building positive relationships, strengthening communication, and enhancing critical thinking in STEAM. However, the school struggled to find a program that promotes critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills until they discovered #WinAtSocial.
“We’re always looking for how to prepare our kids for the next level, whether that is moving on to high school in a couple of years, or looking ahead to careers,” said Katie Hanson, Elementary School Counselor. “The topics that #WinAtSocial Lessons cover let us do that really easily.”
According to the Pew Research Center, most teens use social media, and nearly half say they’re online almost constantly. As students continue to spend more time online and opportunities for face-to-face communication decline, Bob Callies Elementary School recognizes the importance of strong communication skills and meaningful face-to-face interactions.
Through #WinAtSocial, Bob Callies Elementary School helps prepare students to navigate social media and online interactions positively, helping support their strategic goal of strengthening students’ communication skills.
“We have three strategic goals — to foster and promote a climate and culture of positive relationships, to enhance and improve multiple forms of communication skills, and to develop and enhance critical thinking skills in STEAM areas… Thankfully, we’re able to use #WinAtSocial to help us meet our strategic goals.”
#WinAtSocial provides a suite of solutions to today’s tech and social media challenges by equipping students with life skills for the modern day, such as communication, critical thinking, and A.I. ethics. Through this turnkey approach, Bob Callies Elementary School empowers students to strike a balance with their device use and encourages them to prioritize face-to-face interactions whenever possible.
How #WinAtSocial teaches modern life skills without adding to teachers’ plates
Bob Callies Elementary School integrates #WinAtSocial Lessons into its curriculum, with educators running lessons once a week. Because #WinAtSocial is co-created with students and updated regularly, the lessons resonate with current student trends and stay relevant to the evolving trends affecting their experiences. Lessons help students navigate social media positively while enhancing their communication and decision-making skills.
“What has been really important is that #WinAtSocial keeps up with current events and the challenges and opportunities related to technology that seem to be ever-changing and arriving at a rapid pace.”
With #WinAtSocial, Bob Callies Elementary School provides students the skills to navigate an evolving online world. Educators stay updated on the latest trends and challenges through #WinAtSocial, working with students to strengthen their communication and responsible decision-making skills. The Social Institute’s program fits easily into the school’s existing schedule, engaging students through interactive, easy-to-implement lessons that don’t add to educators’ plates.
#WinAtSocial Lessons also engage students through interactive voting and in-class huddles, amplifying every student’s voice. This approach encourages meaningful conversations and classroom engagement from students who may not typically speak up.
“[#WinAtSocial] is so user-friendly for the facilitator, but also for the students. I really like that there are questions that let students vote so that they have input, and the discussion questions let them be heard. The discussion questions are written in a way that makes it easy for them to share. And that’s important. They should be heard.”
Supporting Your School
With #WinAtSocial, Bob Callies Elementary provides students and families with the tools to navigate their social worlds – online and offline – fostering communication, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. Interested in evidence-based #WinAtSocial Lessons with year-round updates evolving alongside student experiences and trends? Request a demo for some of our most popular lessons:
- Year-Round Lesson for Grade 5:
- Trending Lesson for Grades 3-4:
- Trending Lesson for Grades 3-4:
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.