Asking for Help Task Box: Self-Advocacy Social Skills, Ages 14 to 21

This asking for help task box teaches who can help, when to try first, and the right words to use.

Why I made this: Some of students never ask for help, and some ask before they try anything. Both make school and work harder. This box teaches who can help, when to try first and when to ask right away, and the exact words to use. The "ask now" cards always include safety, because when someone is hurt or in danger, nobody should wait.

What’s included (21 pages):

• Level A ●: 12 picture cards to match a problem to the right helper

• Level B ■: 24 cards to sort "try it on my own first" or "ask for help now"

• Level C ▲: 24 cards to pick the best words for asking at school, in the community, and at work

• A helpers mat, a "try first or ask now" mat, a 4 step "how to ask" page, and 6 cue cards

• 3 practice pages, one for each level

• Answer key for every card

• Data sheet and a 10 session accuracy graph

• A try it for real page with an adult check

• Ideas for practicing at home and around school, and blank cards

How I use it: I teach the helpers mat and the 4 steps, then students work on their level in the task box. I set up real reasons to ask during the day and take data on the data sheet and the adult check.

Who it is for: Special education teachers in structured, self contained, and life skills classrooms, resource rooms, counselors, and paras, for students in grades 5 to 8 and older students who need the same skills.

What you download: Asking for Help Task Box Social Emotional.pdf (21 pages, US Letter, print ready).

How this is different: The social narrative is a story about asking for help at work. This is a structured task box with levels and data for school, community, and work. No text is shared.

Part of the Social Emotional Task Box series.

Made by Jeremy D. Gooch, special education teacher and transition coordinator. Drafting and layout had AI assistance; every page was checked by me.