What is a justified reason to incorporate social skills into lessons for at-risk students?

• A. It helps address their inability to maintain appropriate social connections that can impact learning.
• B. It increases the time spent on math problems.
• C. It reduces the need for professional development.
• D. It guarantees higher test scores immediately.

Answer: (A)

Social-emotional and social skills development directly influences a student’s ability to learn. For at-risk students, difficulties in forming and maintaining appropriate social connections can disrupt behavior, participation, and access to instruction. Incorporating social skills into lessons is justified because it directly addresses these social barriers, helping students engage more effectively with peers and teachers and participate in classroom activities. This tends to create a more supportive environment, reduce disruptions, and make instruction easier to follow. The other options miss the heart of why social skills matter: simply increasing time on math doesn’t tackle the social barriers; cutting professional development doesn’t support teachers or students; and promising immediate, guaranteed score gains isn’t realistic.