6 of the most widely used programs in special education!
You don't get a second chance to make a good first expression - teach your students how to do just that with this guide.
Every program carrying the James Stanfield Co signature comes with a valuable teacher’s guide to help educators incorporate the program into their teaching methods.
Based on humor, our courses are carefully developed to captivate the audience’s interest and help students retain even difficult-to-understand concepts.
Our well-thought-out SEL programs are based on science and research to help students make the most of the educational content.
Our programs cover a broad spectrum of topics. We rely on experienced field specialists to write the content based on their extensive knowledge and expertise in Special Education, Instructional Design, Sexual Health, SEL, and Transition Skills.
Our programs are writers by nationally recognized authorities in Special Education, Instructional Design, Transition Skills, Sexual Health, and SEL. For more than 40 years now, we have continued to honor this promise, aiming to help as many students as we can excel in their personal and professional lives.
Founder and President
The Stanfield Library currently includes over 60 RESEARCH-BASED video programs to teach social skills, work-related social skills, conflict management skills, relationship skills, and transitional skills necessary for Independent Living.
We teach social skills with humor and VideoModeling – vicarious social skills learning.
Happy Students worldwide
Transition Rate
Overall Satisfaction
For the last 40 years, James Stanfield Co has been producing high-performing educational content using Video Modeling to help students possess the necessary skills to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and build balanced relationships. Our award-winning courses promote Social Competence and Transition Readiness to support students with cognitive, learning, and/or behavioral disabilities and help them carve a successful life path.
Humor plays the first role in our educational programs, making the learning experience more engaging and enjoyable. Instead of strict and dull content, we focus on funny alternatives that captivate the audience and set the stage for more efficient learning.
Stanfield has founded Video Modeling and pays great attention to incorporating this engaging format in the programs. We believe that learning social skills doesn’t have to rely on trial and error only. That is why we invest in Video Modeling, which provides visual and auditory stimulation and helps students gain insights into appropriate social behaviors.
James Stanfield was a classroom teacher, learning firsthand the challenges educators face in Special Education. Using all this knowledge and experience, he created the Stanfield programs to facilitate the learning process and support students and teachers.
“Perfect for our clients; have been using LifeSmart for years now; it helps our clients to get a hold on their own life; and it has given workers the tools to work with them on these ‘subjects’.”
"I'm very impressed with the program. The characters are so much more relatable. I love the new content about peer acquaintances, bullying and cyber issues."
"So far I love it. Sofia is so much warmer. I'm impressed with the actors and how you added the peer relationships and teachers. The dialogue is similar to the old one, but much more appropriate."
“We have used Circles for many years and we can easily adapt it to the different functioning levels of our clients”
“I love the First Impressions series. It is very appropriate for DCD students and incorporates a level of humor to keep them interested.”
"I really love the new Circles program. The dialogue is straightforward and contemporary. Sofia is very relatable. The vignettes were done really well."
“He’s finally out of the house! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“I also the chairperson of the board of the Federation Clubhouse of Opportunities. We’ve used the First Job Survival Skills program with clients. The program is wonderful!!”
"I always have the best customer service when I call your company!"
“The BeCool series is a vital component of our daily instruction. We integrate the videos in our morning warm ups for middle school aged children. The series has provided strategies for our students to incorporate into individual action plans. BeCool is a wonderful tool that supports and encourages middle school students.”
"This product works beautifully with our students with autism and our students with multiple disabilities. We were so happy to update our old chunky DVD's to videos, especially at 1/2 price."
“For many years CIRCLES has provided the children and adolescents we serve a straightforward and concrete manner for understanding the abstract concepts associated with relationships and relationship safety.”
“I really enjoy the Circles Program and like how the students were able to relate to the color system”
“I taught the circles program in another school district and found it to be very successful”
“Worked well with students”
“The Circles curriculum was fantastic. I saw real improvements in the students I worked with learning how to interact appropriately with others.”
“It was very helpful to complete trainings with”.
"All the body noises, the gasses. Somebody Help me!"
“The Manners series was awesome!”
"Students really enjoy this curriculum, it encourages a lot of dialogue and it is easy to follow- able to pick up and stop without regular interruptions to the lesson plan as a whole"
“Your Transitions Curriculum provides our special needs students of all levels with ‘real life’ school-to-work information. We refer to your program as ‘Life 101’!!! Thanks!!!”
“I really like the Transitions Curriculum; it is easy to use and hits many of the goals in my student IEP’s”
“Your Transitions Curriculum is wonderful. It is well written and easy for our students to relate to. The suggestions and ideas in the teacher’s manual are an invaluable source of information and help the quality outcome in our life-skills class has produced a much clearer approach for the students with respect to “’life in the real world’.”
“I have had the opportunity to review the Transitions Curriculum and found it to be extremely useful”.
“Very helpful and informative.”
"Students love the videos. Very relatable to students and highly engaging. Students love the humor and strong personalities which draw them in. I love that the skills presented are very specific!"
"I highly recommend FJSS 1. Too often new employees don't realize how important their first weeks on the job are; that if they don't show promise during the probationary period the boss is going to assume they never will."
“We love Circles! The program has been an indispensable teaching tool for our Autism and Developmental Disabilities Programs.”
"With Valentine's Day and Prom just around the corner, the Date Smart 1 (and life horizons 1&2) were just what my high school students needed. The actors make everything seems so real! This enhances student feedback by encouraging them to talk openly about topics they would normal be embarrassed to discuss."
“LifeSmart is a virtual encyclopedia of life skills.”
“Very positive. The students loved the videos."
“Very good, the individuals I worked with loved the videos. These products worked when others did not”
“Think of the LifeSmart Curriculum as a crash course on how to live with other people on planet Earth…a Life 101.”
“Your materials have been a lifesaver for us. Because our students are strong visual learners, the video components [of LifeSmart] work out great. We watch on scenario and then go out in the community and roleplay what we just learned. The language, too, is right on target-easy to understand yet no letting the students feel they’re being talked down to.”
“This program [JobSmart] has greatly increased client-job readiness skills.”
“[JobSmart] was wonderful for my adult transition students age 18-26. We start each day with one segment. They are just the right length-hold the interest very well and get the point across very well.”
“Perfect for our clients; have been using LifeSmart for years now; it helps our clients to get a hold on their own life; and it has given workers the tools to work with them on these ‘subjects’.”
“The LifeFacts: Sexual Abuse prevention pictures helped me train children to identify sexual abuse, talk about past abuse, and make a safety plan”
"Your video makes a positive difference in children's lives. I've seen that firsthand."
“We didn’t anticipate how much we would be relying on these three programs. There are not enough female staff members in our agency (we are a day treatment program) to meet with each new client that comes in and provide this sort of education. Instead, we show the video to small groups and then we meet with the girls for one-to-one counseling sessions if necessary.”
“Peggy Siegel makes a great contribution to the critically important topic of sexuality education for young, special learners. I highly recommend the package [Changes In You].”
"Very pleased with your curriculum and have used it for many pears. However it would be great if additional topics and concerns could be added based on today's issues. Our agency is very thankful for your discounts as well"
"Excellent Curriculum."
"I really like the program. The students are very involved with the pics and are having great discussions."
"Our clinical staff enjoyed how informative and detailed the materials are. We were very impressed."
"I found them to be very good. I liked the fact that you could train with part, or all of the slides depending on the need of the individual, whether they were male of female, etc."
“I am currently using the LifeHorizon slides for socio-sexual skills education. It is very effective educational tool”
“I used Life Horizons I & II at the high school level for years with success. Now I am trying to incorporate it into my lessons with middle level CD students. I like the versatility of the slides. They allow me to choose which topics are appropriate and meet the needs of student goals.”
“Life Horizons I and II were very effective tools in instructing my clients, who are adults with mental retardation”
"One tool we use to provide quality services is by using your products. The Working Series curriculum is something I use quite often. Thank you so much for providing such wonderful resources!"
"We have used Working 1&2 with great success in our program. It provides a diversity of problem solving skills for our clients"
"The video materials are relevant and informative. The short scenarios are perfect for the adult learner class"
“Our consumers love watching your videos. They find them to be relevant, educational and entertaining.”
"The programs from Stanfield are, for want of a better word or words-AWESOME, FANTASTIC and just plain wonderful, comprehensive and [again], for want of a better word or words, just plain user friendly. The subject matter is right on target.”
“I’ve check out other products from other companies, but nothing works with our students like the Stanfield products. The exaggerated humor of [LifeSmart] really keeps the students’ attention and we’ve found that the products consistently work. That’s why we keep buying these products over years-and why we’ll continue to do so.”
“This is a great company. I just switched schools, so I am recommending your company to my new school. Thank you for the great work!”
"I really like the LifeFacts curriculum, easy to use and follow."
"Excellent product, very user friendly!"
“LifeFacts is very teacher-friendly… Having the lesson plan on the back of the teaching illustrations is very convenient!”
"Thank you for creating such a quality product. The content, placing, and built in review show a true understanding of the components needed to be present in an excellent lesson to students with special needs."
"FJS 3 is a great introduction to workplace reality. The humor really makes a difference"
"You know why I believe so many new employees have trouble on their first job? I think it's because they assume I'm going to relate to them like a parent or caretaker… like they're someone deserving of special treatment and infinite tolerance! That's an unfortunate workplace delusion and exactly what FJSS 3 addresses."
"With Valentine's Day and Prom just around the corner, the Date Smart 1 (and life horizons 1&2) were just what my high school students needed. The actors make everything seems so real! This enhances student feedback by encouraging them to talk openly about topics they would normal be embarrassed to discuss."
“LifeSmart is a virtual encyclopedia of life skills.”
“At first we thought our students wouldn’t understand the DateSmart approach... However, before returning the product, we showed it to them and they loved it…and learned from it! Enclosed, please find out purchase order.”
“LifeSmart is one of most comprehensive training tools we have encountered.”
“Very positive. The students loved the videos."
“The videos are great.”
“Wonderful information."
“I’m the school nurse and I use DateSmart for High School family life education. It meets abstinence criteria for NC and is concrete enough for TMD students to relate to and apply. They find it entertaining as well”
“Our first class utilizing the curriculum loved it. Great discussion points. Thank you for working with us to replacing damaged DVDs. I look forward to new curriculum”
“Enjoyed it as a teaching tool.”
"Your customer service and willingness to help us reach our goals is like none other. Thank you for being so understanding and accommodating"
"It was done very well."
"I felt the video was terrific for them. Told them exactly what to do"
"I use First Impressions with high school students enrolled in my work study program. The kids love it and do learn from the examples regarding the do's and don'ts of interviewing."
"The First Impressions Video was well received by a student needing support for personal Hygiene. In fact, he was ready immediately after viewing to go home and practice the shower routine"
"Students love the videos. Very relatable to students and highly engaging. Students love the humor and strong personalities which draw them in. I love that the skills presented are very specific!"
"Great videos!"
“I felt the video was terrific for them. Told them exactly what to do.”
“Our students are challenged by many things they can’t control. Fortunately, they can control the impression they make on others. How they groom, dress and comport themselves can powerfully influence how others evaluate them and how they evaluate themselves. Because making a good impression is so important to social acceptance, job placement and self-esteem, I predict First Impressions will become one of the most widely used products in special education. I highly recommend it.”
“Wonderful Program. Never before have I presented an instructional video with so much immediate impact. My students really go the concepts. The lessons in First Impressions will help them win acceptance throughout their lives.“
“Excellent! It gave me many ideas on discussions; using the videos first to initiate the conversations and proper learning when teaching. Especially when teaching proper personal hygiene. It was very detailed and easy to understand as well as easy to show to others. It didn’t make anyone uncomfortable, instead it gave self realization to errors and helped the people learn effectively on how to do it properly”
“We’ve used the First Impressions those tapes display excellent scenarios for the clients”
“The videos were entertaining while being very educational. They really got the point across and opened up the discussion”.
“Relating dental hygiene to kissable breath really jump-started my students use of a toothbrush. Thanks.”
"I was privileged to have the "Be Cool" series in another school district that I worked at and was extremely impressed by the program. I can honestly say it was the best video program I have worked with in my career."
"Thank you so much! This program has given Thomas the confidence and competence to negotiate the social challenges that are inherent to starting school and compounded by a neurodevelopmental disorder."
"I've worked with this series in another district. I loved it so much and believe in its worth. I found outside funding for this school to have the program. Thank you so much!"
"Perfect for the classroom with students"
"We are hoping to have BeCool Fridays. So each child will wear their sunglasses on Fridays during recess to pledge to follow the steps of the program and BE COOL! We are excited!"
"Dear Dr. Stanfield, I am the parent of a 7-year-old boy with autism. His school adopted your BeCOOL Lower Elementary and he has learned so much about managing his emotions from it. Just last week, he used what he learned to safely and effectively stop a child from bullying him! Thank you! For Christmas, he asked if he could have a set of these DVDs to watch at home. "
"We have used the “Cool Cat” program here at our elementary school for a long time with our second graders. They respond well to the program and have the chance to be selected as “Cool Cat” from their class if they have been observed employing the Cool Cat strategies. This designation is akin to sock-star status at our school. The Cool Cats have a stuffed cat and sunglasses that are theirs to wear for the week, and each month we have a Cool Cat party! We are looking to carry the program forward to 3rd grade as well. Your program helps create an environment for our students that hold them responsible and accountable for their own actions and behaviors. It is empowering to them. And to be empowered at age 7 and 8 is a wonderful thing."
"Terrific experience. My kids can relate to the characters therefore keeping their interest and getting the point of the lesson"
"Great. Found them very useful and teacher friendly."
"Love it. Really addresses topics my kids deal with."
"I love the BeCool Curriculum! It gives children the personal power they need to deal with conflicts and does so in a very child-friendly and entertaining way."
"The material is presented so cleanly and in a very interesting manner. I carried out the 'hot, cold, cool' terminology in my individual counseling sessions as well."
"Very real situations that our kids encounter!"
"Couldn’t find a better program out there, and believe me I've looked everywhere. BeCool is fantastic."
"This is an excellent resource/curriculum for the issues we meet each day! Practical, relevant, and teachable skills help all ages and stages."
"BeCool made a visible impact on our students. Giving award certificates at assemblies increased kids' resolve to ignore and walk away from fights."
"What a positive difference we're seeing already!"
"The message hot, cold, and cool is so clear and relevant for people of all ages!! The earlier one can learn this technique, the better!! Never too late!"
"Excellent program! It has helped a lot. The children repeat the techniques verbatim, even when they're not listening."
"I and children love the peer dialogue an demonstration, as well as being able to stop the program and talk about the scene."
" I love BeCool; I use it at every school I go to. Colleagues call me the 'Cool Counselor'."
"The program is easily adapted to the constraints of a public school environment. The students seem to enjoy the format and are able to understand the content that is presented"
"It has been a very long time since I used the product. However I remember the curriculum to be very helpful tool for enriching the lives of people with disabilities."
"Excellent! I have not found a program that could ever top your BeCool program. Kids love it and respond to it!"
"I absolutely love your products. I use them every year with my students. All curriculums are informative, easy for my students to understand, while also being age appropriate."
"I love the BeCool Curriculum! I was introduced to it when I was a Social Work Long Term Sub at an elementary school and now I have a full time position in a different elementary school and I want to order it for here. It's hard to find curriculum that fits the k-2 level when it comes to anger management and this not only taught them the skills but did so in a way where i would here the kids talking about it outside of my room!"
"I found the videos very user friendly and relevant. The kids enjoyed watching the videos"
"My students in several schools have always responded well to your products. The format and content are appropriate for the students I teach"
"I and the children love the peer dialogue and demonstrations, as well as being able to stop the program and talk about the scene"
"I was extremely pleased with all of the "Be Cool" and "Losing it" products. They opened up and engaged special education students who had previously been hostile and resistive to therapy. At the same time, it was very effective in the general education classroom. If I were queen of the world, I would require all schools to use it regularly!"
“LOVED THEM! They’re just too expensive for us to own all of it”
“I highly enjoyed the BeCool curriculum because the videos were exciting and informative”
“The Kids All loved them. Very profitable”
“I have had other schools tell me how great “BeCool” is and I would like to try it!”
“Students can relate to the video scenarios”.
“The material is easy for my clients to understand without being to childish.”
“This will be my first experience and I am thrilled to have the chance to implement such a successful program”
“I even had them choose between a bullying video I was showing prior to having the BeCool series. I showed them both and BeCool won hands down! The length is perfect for 8th graders and they really want to know how others handle these kinds of situations. So BeCool never leaves them hanging. I’ll be using it from now on.”
“Just a quick note to let you know how thrilled I am with the Losing It! Program. Your teacher guide is excellent. I have a 6th grade teacher anxious for me to begin using the series in his room. I also plan to give it a try in one of the special education classrooms when they come back on track in July.”
“I especially like the way anger is approached from 3 angles: fair, unfair, and dangerous. I have never before come across material that covers it in this way- especially teaching children what to do if anger directed at them is fair.”
“In 30 years of teaching, I’ve never seen anything that deals as effectively with teaching the skills of coping with everyday conflict situations as the BeCool series.”
“This series combines captivating graphics, impactful mnemonic devices, and the proven effectiveness of Assertion Theory. Kids teaching kids is a powerful concept that James Stanfield employs to great effect in the BeCool videos. I am pleased to be able to endorse them.”
“Teacher Feedback: 1st grade teacher overheard a student tell another classmate to ‘BeCool’ as he was about to be disciplined; 2nd grade teacher overheard students referring to the videos on anger when trying to resolve a playground dispute; another 2nd grade teacher discovered a couple of students practicing the 4-step plan during recess. Quite a testimony to the value of this series.”
“Kids teaching kids is a powerful concept that James Stanfield employs to great effect in the BeCool videos. I am please to be able to endorse them.”
“I have been using the BeCool program for six years. Parents, children, and teachers all think it is superb. I am in a K-1 building with 700 students. The children all come back and rave about learning how to “BeCool.”
“Fantastic!”
“The students responded well to the videos and discussion.”
“These are great! The kids just love Chester and can relate to him. They love to cuddle out stuffed Chester. I work with 3rd-5th grade high functioning autism students. Looking forward to having the DVDs instead of Videos!”
“BeCool is an excellent program!”
“I found this program to be very good...well laid out, easy to use, and effective.”
“I use the BeCool series to teach conflict resolution skills to second graders. The feedback I have received from teachers, students and parents has been overwhelmingly positive. The curriculum is instructor friendly, informative and fun for the students. I have also had great success with the BeCool video series in small guidance groups.”
“Excellent resources!”
“The BeCool series is wonderful! Not only are the video segments a good example of how to use the curriculum, but the lessons are already planned out which saves an incredible amount of time.”
“Our elementary school counselors highly recommend your program. We need James Stanfield to be listed on our state approved list of bullying programs that are research-based.”
“The BeCool program was extremely effective with my constituents who have intellectual disabilities. I repeated the series three times and by the end they had a thorough grasp of the concepts.“
“Found BeCool to be very good with younger students”
“BeCool is the best series I’ve ever used in any class! This program generates more discussion than any other teaching material.”
“I used your program while working on a very high behavioral unit. I found that your program worked really well. I also gave individuals a choice that equaled the same thing so they would feel like they had control. In 2 years I saw quite a few people become ready to live in group homes, Now that I work within an inner city structure I hope to have similar results”
“Chester is a cartoon cat that is happy most of the time. Your kids will learn to be cool and not to be cold or hot. I liked it a lot.”
“The BeCool series is an exciting program that gives children skills to manage relationships with their peers. These are lifetime skills necessary for our children to become responsible adults.”
“The heart of violence prevention is teaching alternatives to the use of demands and threats as a means of getting what we want. This program does just that!”
“I have viewed the product from another counselor in the district. It appears to be a great program!”
“Excellent! WE LOVE CHESTER! I am trying to implement the lower elementary Be Cool program to my whole school population (k-3). Unfortunately, the special Ed teachers several years ago were provided the curriculum and I am trying to locate bits and pieces enough to use with my 500 plus kids. The program is very appealing! Our Central Office bought kits for every elementary school (3 schools) and maybe the two middle schools.”
“The BeCool series is a vital component of our daily instruction. We integrate the videos in our morning warm ups for middle school aged children. The series has provided strategies for our students to incorporate into individual action plans. BeCool is a wonderful tool that supports and encourages middle school students.”
“I love them!’
“The videos are a great tool for our clientele - it is difficult to find situations to model issues that happen in your videos so it gives opportunities to talk and learn about issues relating to our clients deficits.”
“It’s great, our students love it! The Losing It, especially the skateboard tape is great. I have taught it from grades 1-High school and have had kids who have graduated call and tell me to keep teaching it because ‘I was the only one who knew how to solve problems.”
"Students really seem to enjoy and grasp the concepts being taught."
"I really like the video series. It touches on the needed topics in an appropriate manner."
“The kids love Chester! A unanimous “thumbs up” from all age levels”
“My kids love it… They Love Being Cool!”
“Having used BeCool for over 8 years, I’ve liked how it employs a cognitive-behavioral tool for teaching assertiveness as a mode of anger management for developmentally disabled adults in my state forensic setting”
“I used the BeCool product with severely emotionally challenged children in elementary school and I felt it was very beneficial to the children”.
“I have used “BeCool” in another school, and it is fantastic for student interest and results. It is one of the best conflict resolution/bullying tools I have seen in the last 25 years of my work in public schools. All grade levels benefit!”
“I have used the BeCool series and have been very pleased with the results”
“I found both the Circles curriculum and the BeCool curriculum fun to teach. I used the BeCool curriculum at middle school level. I worked with special education students. The students created their own BeCool skits. I felt this was a very effective program for teaching alternatives to reacting to anger. I look forward to using your products at the elementary level.”
"I am currently using all of the Transitions Curriculum job and community assessments as well as job survival DVDs at North Penn High School. I would high recommend them to others for students with autism"
Helen Wright Work Study Coordinator Lansdale, PA
I am a big fan of the Transitions Curriculum - user friendly for the teacher with excellent teaching strategies and very applicable information for the students.
“On the whole, the Transitions Curriculum was valuable to use with seniors in High School”
“Fabulous! Excellent materials! Made my students really enjoy learning social skills”
“The Curriculum was excellent, it was well organized & would work well with students”
“I really like the Transitions Curriculum; it is easy to use and hits many of the goals in my student IEP’s”
“I enjoy using the “Transitions Curriculum”. I can pick and choose the lessons I feel are appropriate for my students.”
"The Transitions Curriculum is so complete and well organized, I have more time to spend on my teaching.”
“The Transitions Curriculum has increased my interest and enthusiasm for teaching exponentially. This curriculum put the fun back into teaching.”
"The value and impact of this curriculum is immeasurable. What could be more important than supplying students with the skills and knowledge to make the transition from being a student to being a responsible working citizen!”
“Super comprehensive curriculum”
"I think that the sex ed course is very good. It explains everything In great detail and reviews things many times. I think that it is really good to have the slides to go along with the information for the special needs students, as they need to see it and be able to understand it"
“This program is the best we’ve found for our low functioning, hard to teach residents. The happy and unhappy faces are a nice touch that we’ve adapted for teaching a variety of behaviors.”
"I really liked the video. It provided useful info that was relevant to the population I work with."
"Easy to follow and teach, well organized, seemed to touch on important points and issues"
“The mind your manners video program was a great way to teach manners. The kids enjoyed the comedy and the videos helped them to generalize skills and see what tit looked like to have important skills.”
“The students really enjoyed the videos! The program made learning fun!”
“The Manners series was awesome!”
“The programs have contemporary settings and cover all of the not acceptable attitudes. Used a sense of humor which took the bite out of some sharp issues!”
“Manners for persons with developmental disabilities are not routinely acquired; they have to be explicitly taught… The Mind Your Manners series is an excellent step in that direction!”
“I think this was an ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL product.”
"Great DVD's, I can't say enough on how much your product has opened the doors to our training classes. The consumers are getting some great information to use in their job search and on the job"
"My son, Tyler McMahon, is 29 years old and was born with Down Syndrome. During ages 21 to 26, he attended Visions Unlimited, a post-high school special education program within Farmington Public Schools. At Visions, he was introduced to your videos on personal grooming and community involvement. He continues to talk about Community Man and patterns his morning/evening routines on one of your programs. About once per week, he will come to me and say "I want to see YOU in the community". This Christmas, at the top of his wish list is a copy of a Community Man video. He has very clearly told me that the video should include Community Man at the 1) Fire Station; 2) Police Station; 3) Emergency Room; 4) Pharmacy. I just wanted to let you know how impactful your program has been on my son and our family. Thank you for producing something that has clearly assisted my son in his day to day functioning."
"First Job Survival Skills captured the students attention. Info was relevant yet engaging."
"I love that you will allow the trial period- I wish I would have just viewed 1 set at a time- info was too good to view all in one month. The topics of the videos are great."
"This module was very informative and helped me teach my class to the maximum"
"I have enjoyed using LifeSmart, BeCool, First Impressions, etc.. They were helpful in teaching classes on manners and social skills."
"Great DVD’s, I can’t say enough on how much your product has opened the doors to our training classes. The consumers are getting some great information to use in their job search and on the job."
"My students love the DVD's - they really capture their attention. The format of the modules is great for new or busy teachers. I use these products in conjunction with another curriculum and our students' success rate has soared!"
"Positive, easy to use and follow."
"These videos were outstanding! I especially liked the multi-cultural approach used in each one. Well done!!!"
“I love the videos- I have modules one and two”
“Students learned a lot from watching and role playing the videos. They learned “scripts” and skills to handle difficult social situations”
"I used your curriculum at Ephrata High School and liked it.... The curriculum was interesting and up-to-date for my high school students. It helped them to stop and think about their present behaviors as they related to future employment, which was huge for them"
"Very easy to use and well received by students. The humor helps students have fun while learning"
“Very good. Our students like the humor in your films”
“First Job Survival 3 is a great introduction to workplace reality. The humor really makes a difference.”
“Don’t let your students transition without seeing these programs.”
"I highly recommend First Job Survival Skills 1: Surviving the First 90 Days to anyone preparing students for the REAL world of work. Too often new employees don’t realize how important their first weeks on the job are; that if they don’t show promise during the probationary period the boss going to assume they never will!"
“Finally, someone has addressed this issue. The First Job Survival Series is a unique and highly innovative approach to preparing students for the shock of an environment where what they need, feel or desire does not come first and often doesn’t matter.”
“The students responded well to First Job Survival Skill 2: (Job Permanence and Moving Up)... and the humor helped them “digest” the material more readily.”
"The program is interesting and relevant to our curriculum."
"I would highly recommend them to others for students with autism."
"Really enjoyed being able to incorporate the videos into our curriculum. It helps our customers see in action the things the we discussed in class."
Excellent teaching aids, I couldn't do without them! I have used them for years and the students love them!"
"With our budget we have been able to purchase First Job Survival Skills 1, 2, & 3. These videos provide social skills that are truly needed for this population, including the correct way to interact in the world of work. These videos also make it easy for students to understand needed work ethics. Please keep producing these great videos. James Stanfield understands kids and the world of work!"
"Very pleased, thank you. I work with the women in this community of ours and I find it very important to address issues pertaining to boundaries & hygiene but also women on feminine hygiene."
"Great! Used the hygiene videos often. They really helped the staff when words were not enough."
"The Stanfield Company produces high-quality…an agency could develop a comprehensive training program just from their materials. The curriculum that corresponds with the video [Job Smart] is excellent. The curriculum also provides several detailed activities, including role-playing. This package would provide most of the necessary training for a person to be prepared for a job."
"Using your products made training highly effective"
"Love using your products!"
"They were funny and very good for our people"
"Loved them! They are perfect for all my students. It keeps their attention and opens the door for wonderful communication"
"I used them when I was a youth worker. Loved them and would like to introduce them to the adult providers that I now work with"
"Very good! Wonderful modeling opportunities"
"Extremely helpful!"
"Excellent tools!"
"I believe that every organization that works in supported employment in a vocational program should have your videos and lesson plans. Every person with a disability deserves to learn the valuable life lessons your videos provide!"
"Excellent, very pleased with the quality of your materials. Students relate to these realistic, life-oriented resources and find them very helpful."
"Great experience! My students really took to the videos and the lessons that were included in the manuals really helped me to stir up interesting discussions and work groups"
"Your videos are wonderful! They are right on track with our goals for our students and fit their needs to be successful in life. Our students enjoy them as much as we do. We are delighted!"
"Your company is in a class of its own! I have not seen any other educational products that are as good and interesting as yours! I have purchased many of your videos for my program and have been very pleased."
"Thanks for all the great products! They are very helpful"
“Your newsletter is one of the tools I would like to use when I meet with my staff in our “brainstorming” sessions, but I find I cannot copy your newsletter due to the enlarged field you use. I find your newsletters stimulate discussion during our meetings and being able to download copies for my staff will help in our efforts to enlarge and enhance our present program. Any solution to this? Thank you for producing such a superior product and I appreciate the ongoing support from Melanie Chavez who is always professional, knowledgeable and most importantly a very friendly person to deal with.”
"Very easy to use and well received by students. The humor helps students have fun while learning"
“Very good product. The use of Humor really makes these tapes enjoyable for all of our clients”
“I have enjoyed using LifeSmart, BeCool, First Impressions, etc.. They were helpful in teaching classes on manners and social skills.”
"I love your products!"
"Absolutely wonderful. I used the material for a vocational training program for those psychiatric patients who have limited literacy skills. They loved it"
"I loved them. They were awesome tools in modification"
"Excellent resource enjoyed by the participating students"
"I absolutely love your products, I use them every year with my students. All Curriculums are informative, easy for my students to understand, while also being age appropriate"
"Great! The videos intrigue and motivate my students!"
“The Stanfield products are thoughtfully created to meet the needs of students who are transitioning from high school to independent living. I appreciate the message with humor approach to learning.”
“Fabulous! Excellent materials! Made my students really enjoy learning social skills”
“Excellent for struggling readers. Skits model and show behaviors clearly, rather than “talk about” them. Language is simple and consistent; humor holds students attention”
“Circles with developmentally disabled adults. Very informative and useful. Wonderful experience using your products”
“Your videos present life as it is and help individuals with disabilities to understand the chaotic social pathway”
“Those video’s are amazing. They really explain step by step. Can’t ask for better explanations”
“Your products are very educational and excellent resource for life dynamics”
“Wonderful, they are high quality, great information that was presented very well and user friendly”
“Excellent! None better!”
“Wonderful… Wish we could afford more!”
“Great- Programs have been really helpful and appropriate for my population”
“Extremely Helpful”
“Your material is so helpful as I lead groups for about 40 of our clients here at the Woodward resource center. It is so helpful to have the visuals of the videos and the other material in the manuals to augment learning in so many areas. I am speaking at a conference in a couple of weeks on the subject of sex education. I would like to have some of your catalogs to pass out so other people have this wonderful resource at their fingerprints. I do not think the catalogs would necessarily have to be current just give them a flavor of your resources. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.”
“Great, my students love the videos. They really remain engaged.”
“We can’t keep the Stanfield materials on the shelf they’re that popular.”
“Since becoming director in 1992, I have purchased programs from James Stanfield Company to offer the best in classroom resource material for community living, vocational, advocacy, safety, and supported employment training. I feel our students/work trainees deserve the best; that’s why I choose materials from the James Stanfield Company.”
“We purchased eight videos from your company and found them all to be helpful and beneficial. These videos make it easy for our clients to understand and grasp concepts that are true to life and which can be applied to their own lives. Our clients have really learned from and enjoyed these useful videos. I am please with your entire selection and welcome new products in the future!”
“Excellent resource, we go back to it frequently.”
“The content of the products are very informative, easy to understand for my students who have intellectual disability.”
“Excellent teaching materials!”
“They are easy for students with disabilities to understand and focus on. We in our district think your products are great!”
“Great. The kids really enjoyed the videos and the message came across loud and clear”
“Great! Our consumers loved them and benefited from them greatly.”
“I have purchased the curriculum for special education teachers and they love them”
“I have heard that the programs are excellent.”
“I believe your products will be of vital help to my students as they move into the work world."
“I love your products and managed to purchase several. My students really enjoy them and seem to learn a lot. I particularly like the fact that you use regular young actors and not only Special Education students."
“Very effective, great visuals, examples of correct/incorrect behavior. I have loved what I have used.”
“Super, great. Awesome!!! Thanks for putting together such great stuff!”
“It was excellent and very helpful.”
“My agency has purchased several of your products. We find them to be of extremely high quality and very relevant to those we serve. The videos are in almost constant use.”
“Our students were very receptive to the tapes. We found them informative and down to earth.”
“There are no other products out there that compare to what your company has to offer.”
“I have been a special education teacher for 18 years. Your programs are my favorite. They are excellent. I am the ‘informal’ consultant/librarian for our school pyramid and teachers come to me constantly for ideas and programs. Yours are the best. I can’t wait for new programs to be designed because I will find funds to order. When I design materials for my class, I always consult your catalogs. Thanks!”
“Great! Up to date material – Relevant to the youth of 21st Century.”
“I thought the videos were great.”
"Your videos are very entertaining and at the same time very educational. My students love your material! It rocks!”
“The videos are fun but go to the point. They make the concept memorable!”
"Although we tailored your program for our adult consumers we had an extremely good experience with your curriculums”
"The programs from Stanfield are, for want of a better word or words-AWESOME, FANTASTIC and just plain wonderful, comprehensive and [again], for want of a better word or words, just plain user friendly. The subject matter is right on target.”
“This is a great company. I just switched schools, so I am recommending your company to my new school. Thank you for the great work!”
"The Circles program has helped us to teach the importance of self, advocacy, boundaries and how they can change over time. The program is easy to use with great opportunities for movement, song, roleplaying and creativity. It teaches that not every person is a friend and not every stranger is bad. We use the program once a week with a group of students from various classes that we feel would benefit from learning more about boundaries and who are friends. The text and colorful videos are great for starting conversations with the students."
"We have been using Circles Level 1 and 2 as a part of our Social Skills Curriculum since 2015. We have seen a vast improvement in the individuals, through significant changes in their behavior. We would like to thank you for doing the amazing work you are for people with special needs."
"My experience using Circles was good. I have developmentally disabled clients and students. It is a good visual and experimental way to discuss personal boundaries and relationships."
"I liked the characters, I liked the longer vignettes"
“The Circles: Intimacy Training curriculum, developed by the James Stanfield Company, is a powerful tool for providing students a context for practicing trained social skills. Nebulous concepts such as social boundaries and appropriate physical proximity have been broken into concrete domains with associated discrete behavioral responses for touching, talking, and trusting. The content has become an essential component in my practice when teaching social skills to clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.“
“We love Circles! The program has been an indispensable teaching tool for our Autism and Developmental Disabilities Programs.”
"My High school students with moderate intellectual disabilities are loving Circles – and it is so necessary for them! We love it!"
"This product works beautifully with our students with autism and our students with multiple disabilities. We were so happy to update our old VHS tapes to DVD’s – especially at half the price!"
"Excellent! It is very age appropriate and has the soft skills approach that sets the students environment for learning. It is engaging and interesting and really relates to the special needs of the individuals I work with."
"I have used the Circles Programs for years in my LifeSkills health classes. I highly recommend this program. Taking a proactive approach to teaching such sensitive subject matter makes all the difference in prevention."
"Students can relate to the videos making instruction easier for the teacher/counselor"
"Very good experience, we found it very user friendly and age appropriate. It was a borrowed kit so we found that you need to be using this resource on a daily basis to reinforce these new skills. A lot of new skils are forgotten by people with intellectual disabilities"
"I really though the program offered special ed students with a concrete way to support them in social choices that give a better impression by others that don't understand the person"
"I want to take a moment to thank James Stanfield and Co. for developing such an exceptional curriculum for Circles social skills. I have been using and promoting the Circles and BeCool series for years as special educator of students with autism and as a special education coordinator for charter schools. Your product is the best out there. Great job and thank you!"
"I used this program in a group setting with LMSW and found it to be helpful"
"I used the Circles Curriculum when I worked in a different state. I had been looking for it since and finally found it! I think it Is a wonderful program because it incorporates all of the learning styles"
"Loved the Circles Curriculum!"
"We like the Circles Curriculum - It works well with our population"
“Excellent and informative”
“I have been using Circles 2 for several months with a wide range of different special education students. It is working so well, I just had to write and rave about it to you. I teach 13 different classes of students each week, with a wide range of disabilities. Last week while the students were watching the transition from one segment to another, they out in song, the Circles song, of course. Actually, they sounded quite good. I've pointed out Jim, Dr. Stanfield, when he makes his cameo appearances, and now they all shout it out, "there's Dr. Stanfield!" The humor is grand, and its teaching points work so well. Thank you! I am an old colleague of Jim's; please let him know how grateful I am for this product! Keep up the good work”
"When I take my class out on a community activities it is exciting and rewarding to hear them say who a stranger is and that talking with the city bus driver or store clerk is OK if it’s not personal.”
"The Circles Program was used in my sons 6th grade class and it was a great tool to begin with but he moved to another school district and they do not have a program. I am researching this for a district wide 6-12 program”
“ Your products facilitate the learning of necessary life skills”
“Excellent, But would like more materials to use with students.”
“I really enjoy the Circles Program and would like how the students were able to relate to the color system.”
“I taught the circles program in another school district and found it to be very successful.”
“The materials are very helpful, especially the individual lesson cards with plans and graphics to match”
“I have received positive feedback from other agencies regarding the circles programs and its suitability for a similar client group”
“It works great! Our agency and our socialization program uses the Circles Curriculum very often. It works out great especially with our teen populations”
“Worked well with students”
“I really enjoyed using the circles program, I believe that it teaches children how to be self advocates in a way that is non threatening to them, I also think it is a great way to teach boundaries to students who do not understand boundaries”
“Thought the Circles Curriculum was well done and very useful”
“I have used the circles program with my severely challenged students as well as higher functioning students. ALL are interested when the tape plays and participate in discussions. We use the individual circle diagrams to go along with the video and role-play. They bring pictures from home and we take pictures to complete their individual circles and then they take them homely I strongly believe that participating in this program helped a student of mine report that she was being sexually abused by a member of her family. I have taught over 20 years and this is one of the best programs for my students”
“We have used your materials extensively over the years. We ordered the Circles and BeCool back in 1998. We are currently replacing those due to the fact that they are worn out and we have expanded and are using these though out our program. We cover 23 counties here in West Texas.”
“Observed a special education teacher teaching a class of 12 students ages 21+ using the Circles curriculum. EVERY student was engaged and every student has a developmental disability.”
“Circles was great! I want to use it again!”
“I love the Circles Curriculum.”
“Very positive and well received!”
Very Positive Experience. The simple, straightforward, and visual format of the Circles program helped my students have a thorough understanding of boundaries”
“I especially thought the Circles program was excellent for our population of adults with developmental and physical disabilities”
“I have found the Circles program to be extremely beneficial to my students. The language is used across the school to ensure all students understand the shared philosophy around personal safety”
“The Circles 2 program was wonderful for my high school life skills students. I feel they gained valuable skills because of the curriculum. I am now in a school for autism and feel that the fitting in progress fits my students’ needs”
“I found it to be very beneficial and would like to purchase the Circles Curriculum for my current employment.”
“We are currently using the Circles curriculum with a PDD student and we see how interested he is. Helping him to think before he acts out. He is in a stage where his wish is to understand what he needs to do to bring the girl he likes into his blue circle.”
“My students really enjoyed the Circles program. It was much more successful with the higher group of my multiple disabilities students.”
“No problems, great response from students.”
"I think the Circles paradigm would be good to use with MR and Autistic students.”
“The Circles Curriculum for relationships was a useful tool for relationship building with out individuals with disabilities”
“Wonderful! I really like the Circles curriculum!”
“I have used the Circles 1 Intimacy and Relationships program and was very pleased with it. I am at a new school now and would like to get the same program for my students.”
“Excellent! Circles helps our developmentally disabled young adults and autistic adults understand differences in boundaries in relationships. Well done!”
“I use the Circles curriculum a lot."
“It is a wonderful curriculum for lower functioning students!”
“Our district has instituted Circles in our high school settings. We are in need of a personal relationships/sexuality curriculum at the middle schools.”
“It was great. Very clear for my students and they really enjoyed it.”
“I worked with Circles with Schenectady ARC. I enjoyed using the curriculum very much, and would like to take a look at the other products you offer. Thanks”
“The Circles curriculum was fantastic. I saw real improvements in the students I worked with learning how to interact appropriately with others.”
“Circles has become a standard teaching tool in sex education for the developmentally disabled.”
“I enjoyed using the Circles Curriculum and found it to be very beneficial”
“I have been using the Circles Curriculum since 1993 and it is still an invaluable resource for teaching students social skills. The visuals and the way the Curriculum make the teaching of the social skills is concrete and easy for the students to understand. It also leads into generalization into community and vocational settings”
“We have used Circles for many years and we can easily adapt it to the different functioning levels of our clients”
“I have used this curriculum for a few years and I really appreciate it for our special needs K and 1st graders”
“I think it is awesome. Very good and easy to teach. And the kids use it and love it!!”
“I had inherited a slide show Circles program that was in my office when I took this position 8 years ago, and I have worn out the video cassette. It is such a clear and usable example to my special needs adults, while holding their interest and not talking down on them as though they are children! I am looking forward to see if the new version maintains”
“I have used the circles program with much success. However, my materials are quite old, and am looking to update”
“I really like the Circles curriculum and want to get it for my school system. We used it when I was working in NYC and it was a very effective tool for teaching social skills such as personal space and how to act appropriately in different settings.”
“I love your curriculum!”
Patricia Wescott, Teacher, Dinuba CBI, Dinuba, CA
“I have really found it useful and provides a generalization of standards that can be taken home, discussed and modified for the needs of my kids. Parents are very grateful.”
“Very well done and put together”
“The Circles Level 1 Program is great. At my last district we started teaching the “circle” in elementary. By the time the students reached Jr. High they were very familiar with the terms so we could move right into the skills”
“It was very helpful to complete trainings with”
“Excellent! Circles is the best program we have to teach our students social skills”
"I used it in a different school system and loved it!"
"It was very effective in teaching boundaries and appropriate interactions based on the type of relationship, with a clientele of MR/DD adults."
"Great and very effective!"
"Fantastic-easy to teach. Engaging. Adaptable for learning styles and attention spans."
"I loved the Circles Level 1 program. It was easily modified to meet the diverse needs of all my students!"
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5 Star Reviews