Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
50+ Examples of Strengths-Based IEP Goals for Students
Download 50+ Example IEP Goals Customizable library of strengths-based goalsIEP goals should empower students. Instead of focusing on eliminating challenges, strengths-based IEP goals emphasize autonomy, self-advocacy, and meaningful skill development. Below are real...
How to Teach Self-Advocacy – with Examples!
Self-advocacy is the ability to understand and communicate one’s own needs, preferences, and rights. For neurodivergent students, this skill is critical—not only in education but in relationships, work, and daily life. Too often, traditional social skills instruction...
How to Set Neurodiversity-Affirming IEP Goals that Support Autonomy and Authenticity
Too often, Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals are written with the assumption that neurodivergent students must adapt to neurotypical behaviors. But what if we shifted the focus to honoring their strengths and supporting authentic engagement? Why Traditional...
The Double Empathy Problem: How to Improve Classroom Understanding
Communication is often seen as a skill that neurodivergent students must improve, but what if the challenge lies in mutual understanding? Enter the Double Empathy Problem. What is the Double Empathy Problem? For decades, social skills education for neurodivergent...
Understanding Masking and Supporting Neurodivergent Students
Masking is a common but often misunderstood behavior among neurodivergent students, impacting their well-being and social interactions. In schools, many students feel pressured to suppress their natural behaviors to fit in, but this can take a significant toll on...
A Guide to Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices in Schools
For years, social skills instruction in schools has been built around compliance—teaching neurodivergent students to conform to neurotypical expectations. While often well-intended, this approach can inadvertently encourage masking, increase anxiety, and erode...
An SCSS Teacher Shares How Everyday Speech Reduced Prep Time & Burnout
For educators like Maci Allee, a Social Communication Support and Services (SCSS) teacher at Leander Independent School District, lesson planning used to be a time-consuming, energy-draining process. Before discovering Everyday Speech, she spent hours searching the...
How to Bring Everyday Speech to Your District
Everyday Speech transforms the way you teach social skills, helping students thrive while saving you valuable time. If you’re looking for ways to make this resource available to your entire team, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll share strategies to help you...
How Everyday Speech Empowers Student Support Teams
Student Support Teams play a critical role in fostering the social and behavioral growth of students. Everyday Speech is here to make this work simpler and more effective. With a no-prep social skills curriculum designed for busy professionals, we reduce prep time,...
No-Prep Activities
Changing the Channel on Big Emotions: A Guide for Educators
Introduction Emotions and feelings are an inherent part of our daily experiences, and they can be both positive and negative. Sometimes, we encounter big, negative emotions like anger, frustration, or sadness, which can dominate our thoughts and impact our...
Teaching Conflict Resolution and Problem Solving Skills to Special Education Students
Introduction Conflicts are a normal part of life, and learning how to navigate them is an essential skill for students in Special Education. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of teaching students to handle conflicts with friends using the Problem...
5 Golden Rules of Play for Elementary Students: A Guide for Educators
Introduction Playing with others is an essential part of children's development, and establishing a set of guidelines can help ensure that everyone has a positive experience. The Five Golden Rules of Play are designed to help elementary students learn how to interact...
Enhancing Focus and Self-Regulation with the Five Finger Breathing Exercise
Introduction Incorporating Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into the classroom is essential for fostering healthy emotional development, social skills, and overall well-being in students. One effective way to introduce SEL is by teaching students self-regulation...
Teaching Kindergarten Students the Importance of Asking Permission
Introduction Asking permission is a crucial skill for young learners to develop. It teaches them the importance of respecting others' belongings and personal space, and helps to foster a positive classroom environment. In this blog post, we will discuss the concept of...
Teaching Problem-Solving Skills through Social-Emotional Learning
Introduction Problem-solving skills are essential for students, especially those in special education. These skills can help students navigate their emotions, communicate effectively, and build positive relationships with peers and educators. In this blog post, we'll...
Teaching High School Students the Art of Humility and Avoiding Bragging
Introduction As educators, it's essential to help our high school students develop strong social-emotional skills. One such skill is understanding the importance of humility and how to avoid bragging. Bragging can make others feel annoyed or inferior, and it's crucial...
Understanding Relationships with the Relationship Ruler for PreK Students
Introduction As educators, it's essential to teach PreK students about the relationships they have with different people in their lives. Developing an understanding of these relationships helps them interact appropriately with others and fosters healthy...
Empathy: A Key Skill for Building Strong Friendships in Middle School
Introduction Empathy is the ability to understand how someone else feels and show care for their feelings through words and actions. It forms the foundation of strong relationships and helps us forge bonds with others. In a world where friendships play a crucial role,...
Teaching Kindergarten Students to Walk Slowly and Quietly in the Halls
As educators, we aim to create a respectful and calm learning environment for our students. One essential aspect of this is teaching them how to walk slowly and quietly in the halls. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity to help Kindergarten students...
Teaching Open-mindedness to Elementary Students: Activities and Discussions
Introduction Dealing with change and accepting others' ideas can be challenging for children. When a child has a Closed Mind, they stick to their own ideas and are unwilling to consider other perspectives. This mindset can lead to feelings of worry and frustration and...
Developing Independence: A Guide for Educators of Middle School Students
Introduction Gaining independence is a crucial part of growing up, especially for middle school students. As they grow, students learn to take initiative, do things on their own, and rely less on others for guidance. Developing independence has numerous positive...
Switching Tracks: Adapting to Change in Group Activities
Introduction Switching Tracks is a crucial skill that helps students adapt to change, particularly when working in groups. Change can be challenging, and unexpected alterations in plans can cause feelings of anxiety or upset. To better navigate these situations,...
Teaching PreK Students the Value of Helping Others and Building Friendships
In this blog post, we will explore the importance of teaching young children the value of helping others and building strong friendships. By incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning, educators can impart essential life skills that will enable students to...
Teaching Effective Classroom Entry Skills: Activities and Discussions
Creating a positive learning environment starts with how students enter the classroom. Teaching students effective classroom entry skills is an essential aspect of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement no-prep...
