Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
Instructional Strategies and Resources to Support Anxious Students
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges students face, yet it often goes unrecognized in school settings. It may show up as avoidance, emotional outbursts, frequent visits to the nurse, or complete disengagement. While educators are not expected to...
Free High School Worksheet: Becoming More Independent
By the time students reach high school, independence is often expected—but not always explicitly taught. Teens are navigating more responsibilities, more freedom, and higher stakes, but that doesn’t mean they always feel ready. The Becoming More Independent worksheet...
Helping Autistic Learners Navigate Online Communication and Digital Citizenship
Try These No-Prep Self-Advocacy Activities for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students
Self-advocacy is one of the most important life skills students can build—and one of the most overlooked. Whether a student needs to ask for extra time on a test, speak up in a group project, or express a personal opinion, being able to advocate for themselves helps...
Free Middle School Self-Advocacy Worksheet: Honoring My Strengths
Middle schoolers are at a turning point—not quite kids, not quite teens. At this age, self-esteem can dip, peer comparison increases, and students begin to define themselves more clearly through both strengths and struggles. That’s why this Honoring My Strengths...
Free Middle School Self-Advocacy Worksheet: Speaking Up With Friends
Middle school friendships can be tricky. From group projects to text threads, students are navigating a lot of unspoken social dynamics—while also trying to figure out who they are. It’s no surprise many struggle to speak up when something feels off. The Speaking Up...
Free High School Self-Advocacy Worksheet: Advocating for Yourself
By the time students reach high school, we often expect them to speak up for themselves—to share opinions, ask for support, and self-advocate in challenging situations. But many teens still struggle with this. Whether it’s nerves, self-doubt, or a lack of tools, they...
Free Elementary Self-Advocacy Worksheet: Speaking Up at School
Some students have no trouble asking for what they need. Others might freeze, whisper, or say nothing—even when they’re struggling. Learning to speak up at school is a foundational self-advocacy skill that helps students build independence, confidence, and trust in...
Free Self-Advocacy Poster for Elementary, Middle, and High School Classrooms
Whether it’s asking for a break, getting clarification, or speaking up when something doesn’t feel right, self-advocacy is one of the most important life skills students can build. But many students—especially those with communication challenges or social-emotional...
No-Prep Activities
Enhancing Listening Skills for PreK Students: Activities and Strategies
Introduction As educators working with PreK students, we understand the importance of cultivating strong listening skills in the classroom. When students listen attentively, they are better able to learn and absorb new information. This not only helps them understand...
Teaching Social-Emotional Skills through Everyday Conversations
Introduction Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is essential for students to develop healthy relationships, self-awareness, and effective communication skills. One of the key aspects of SEL is learning how to engage in meaningful conversations. This blog post will focus...
Teaching Elementary Students to Read Body Language and Understand Emotions
As educators, it is essential to equip our students with the ability to understand and respond to emotions. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is a critical component of a child's development, helping them to become more empathetic and better communicators. In this blog...
Teaching Kindergarten Students the On Purpose Plan: Understanding Accidental vs. Purposeful Actions
Introduction It's essential for Kindergarten students to learn the difference between accidental and purposeful actions. This understanding can help them manage their emotions and reactions in various situations. By teaching them the On Purpose Plan, educators can...
Teaching Staying on Topic: A Guide for Special Education Educators
Introduction Staying on topic is an essential skill for students to develop in order to engage in meaningful and productive conversations. For students in Special Education, learning how to stay on topic can be particularly challenging, but it is crucial for their...
Using the Conversation Stoplight: Helping Students Join Conversations at the Right Time
In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of teaching students in special education settings the skill of joining conversations at the right time. The Conversation Stoplight is a helpful tool that educators can use to facilitate this process. We will provide a...
Building Friendships: An Engaging Activity for Educators
Introduction Friendships are an essential part of a student's social-emotional development. As educators, it's important to teach students how to make friends, maintain healthy relationships, and recognize the qualities of a good friend. This blog post will discuss an...
Incorporating Inclusion: Teaching Students the Value of Including Everyone
Introduction As educators, we strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment in our classrooms. One key aspect of this is teaching our students the importance of not leaving anyone out. This blog post discusses a no-prep activity that can help middle school...
Teaching PreK Students to Stay on Topic: An Essential Social-Emotional Skill
Introduction Staying on topic is an important social skill for PreK students to develop. It ensures that conversations flow smoothly and helps to build strong relationships with peers and adults. In this blog post, we will discuss the concept of staying on topic and...
Topic Radar: Fostering Inclusive Conversations for Special Education Students
Introduction For educators working with students in Special Education, enhancing their communication skills is essential for fostering meaningful relationships and promoting inclusivity. One effective approach is using the concept of Topic Radar. Topic Radar...
Solve It: A Step-by-Step Problem-Solving Game for Special Education Students
Introduction Problem-solving is a critical skill for students in special education settings. The Solve It game is designed to help these students navigate social situations by breaking down problems into manageable steps. This game not only encourages students to...
Being Tuned In: A Key Skill for Students in Special Education
Introduction Being Tuned In involves being aware of our own actions and the actions of others around us. This skill helps students ensure that their actions are appropriate for the current situation, time, and place. By practicing Being Tuned In, students can avoid...
Teaching Body Language Awareness to Elementary Students
In today's world, communication goes beyond just words. Body language plays a significant role in conveying emotions and messages. For children, understanding and interpreting body language can be a crucial skill in building positive relationships and effective...
Teaching PreK Students the Importance of Covering Sneezes for Social-Emotional Growth
Introduction In this blog post, we will explore the importance of teaching PreK students about proper sneezing etiquette and hygiene practices as part of their social-emotional learning journey. By helping young learners understand the significance of covering their...
Teaching Students to Read Social Situations: An Essential Skill for Effective Communication
Introduction As educators, we know that social-emotional learning (SEL) is crucial for our students' growth and development. One key aspect of SEL is the ability to read social situations, which involves observing and interpreting the feelings and emotions of others...
