Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
![Problem-Solving Activities for PK-12: Worksheets, Activities, and Lesson Plans [Download]](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI0MDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjUwIj48cmVjdCB3aWR0aD0iMTAwJSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxMDAlIj48YW5pbWF0ZSBhdHRyaWJ1dGVOYW1lPSJmaWxsIiB2YWx1ZXM9InJnYmEoMTUzLDE1MywxNTMsMC41KTtyZ2JhKDE1MywxNTMsMTUzLDAuMSk7cmdiYSgxNTMsMTUzLDE1MywwLjUpIiBkdXI9IjJzIiByZXBlYXRDb3VudD0iaW5kZWZpbml0ZSIgLz48L3JlY3Q+PC9zdmc+)
Problem-Solving Activities for PK-12: Worksheets, Activities, and Lesson Plans [Download]
5 Proactive Strategies to Reduce Disproportionality in Special Education
Special education services are essential for students who need them, but systemic disparities in how students are identified and placed can lead to disproportionality. In many schools, certain student groups—particularly students of color, English language learners,...
Building Student Agency: Strategies for Managing Anxiety and Mental Health
The Principal’s Guide to Strengthening Behavior and School Culture with Social Skills Supports
As a principal, you’re always looking for ways to improve student behavior, build a positive school culture, and support teachers—but time and resources are limited. When classrooms struggle with behavior challenges, it affects learning, teacher morale, and the...
Free Preschool Problem-Solving Activity: Who Can Help?
Preschoolers are still learning how to navigate everyday challenges—whether it’s tying their shoes, feeling sad, or losing a favorite toy. At this age, one of the most important problem-solving skills they can develop is knowing who to ask for help in different...
Free Middle School Problem-Solving Activity: Learning to Compromise
Middle school students encounter situations that require compromise every day—choosing group project topics, negotiating plans with friends, or sharing common spaces at home and school. However, learning how to find solutions that work for everyone takes practice....
Free Middle School Problem-Solving Activity: Understanding the Problem Scale
Middle schoolers encounter challenges every day—forgetting homework, dealing with friendship conflicts, missing the bus, or feeling overwhelmed by assignments. But not every problem is the same. Some are small and can be solved independently, while others are more...
Problem-Solving Activity for Elementary: Finding Solutions
Every day, elementary students face challenges—whether it’s figuring out how to fix a mistake, navigating a disagreement with a classmate, or deciding what to do when they forget an assignment. The ability to think through these situations and make thoughtful...
How Everyday Speech Creates Engaging Video Lessons for Secondary Students
Engaging middle and high school students in relevant, collaborative learning experiences is a challenge many educators face. Research shows that student engagement is linked to critical outcomes such as academic achievement, school completion, and overall well-being....
No-Prep Activities
Teaching Special Ed Students to Keep Calm and Follow the Group
Introduction For students in Special Education, navigating social situations can be challenging. Learning how to keep calm and follow the group when things don't go as expected is an essential skill for these students. In this blog post, we will discuss a no-prep...
Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills with the Solve It Game for Special Education Students
In this blog post, we will explore the Solve It game, a step-by-step approach to problem-solving designed for educators working with special education students. This game helps students develop their ability to identify problems, evaluate their size, brainstorm...
Teaching PreK Students to Line Up: A No-Prep Activity and Discussion Guide
Introduction Learning to line up is an essential skill for young students. It helps them understand the importance of following directions, respecting others, and maintaining order in the classroom. In this blog post, we'll discuss a no-prep activity designed to help...
Teaching the On Purpose Plan: A Practical Social-Emotional Learning Skill for Educators
Introduction It can be challenging for elementary students to understand the difference between actions that are done on purpose and those that happen accidentally. The On Purpose Plan is a valuable tool that helps students distinguish between these two types of...
Teaching Elementary Students to Understand Thoughts by Following Eyes
Introduction As educators, one of our goals is to help students develop effective communication and social skills. An essential aspect of this is understanding what others are thinking, which can often be deduced by observing their eye movements. In this blog post, we...
Teaching Self-Control: An Essential Skill for Elementary Students
Self-control is a critical skill for students to develop, as it helps them succeed both academically and socially. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of self-control, present a no-prep activity that educators can use to teach this skill, and provide...
Teaching Kindergarteners Effective Storytelling with the Background Brief
Introduction Storytelling is an essential skill that helps children develop their communication abilities and social-emotional learning. In this blog post, we will focus on teaching kindergarten students how to tell stories effectively by providing enough information...
Solve It: A Step-by-Step Problem-Solving Game for Educators
Introducing Solve It, a game designed to teach students essential problem-solving skills through a step-by-step process. This activity is perfect for educators looking to incorporate principles of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into their lessons. In this blog post,...
Enhancing Conversations by Thinking About Others: Activities for Educators
Introduction As educators, we strive to equip our students with the skills they need to succeed in their social lives and foster meaningful relationships. One essential skill in this domain is the ability to think about others before engaging in conversations. By...
Teaching Conversation Drivers: Fostering Better Communication and Friendships
Introduction As educators, it is our responsibility to teach students not only academic skills but also essential social skills. One such skill is the ability to drive a conversation forward, even when the topic might not be of personal interest. This ability is...
Enhancing Conversation Skills in Kindergarten: A No-Prep Activity for Educators
As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our students essential social skills. One such skill is the ability to engage in meaningful conversations. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity designed to help kindergarten...
Conversation Drivers and Stoppers: Enhancing Social Skills in Special Education
Introduction Communication is an essential skill for students in special education, and understanding the difference between conversation drivers and conversation stoppers can greatly impact their social-emotional learning. Conversation drivers are strategies that...
Teaching Small Talk: A Guide for Educators in Social-Emotional Learning
Introduction Small talk is an essential skill for social interactions. It allows individuals to connect with others, even if only for a brief moment. Small talk usually consists of quick conversations that last just a couple of minutes, often revolving around light...
Solve It: A Game to Teach Problem-Solving Skills to High School Students
Introduction Problem-solving is an essential life skill that helps students navigate the challenges they face every day. By incorporating principles of social-emotional learning, educators can effectively teach students how to approach and solve problems step by step....
Teaching Cyber Skills Through the Two Sides Game: A Guide for Educators
Introduction With the increasing use of technology in our daily lives, teaching students about Cyber Skills has become essential. Cyber Skills are smart ways to stay safe while we communicate with others online and use technology. In this blog post, we will discuss an...
