Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
Executive Functioning Goals: Free Middle School Poster & Lesson Plan
Developing executive functioning goals is essential for middle school students, especially those in special education. This blog introduces a free executive functioning poster and lesson plan designed to improve organization, time management, and task prioritization....
Teaching Calm: Self-Regulation Strategies for Elementary Classrooms
How to Teach Executive Functioning in Elementary (Free Lesson & Worksheet)
Download Free Executive Functioning Resources Teach skills like organization, planning, and task initiation with resources for interventions and whole-class lessons.Developing executive functioning skills is essential for elementary students to manage emotions, stay...
Middle School Organizational Skills: Free Video Lesson & Lesson Plan
Download Free Executive Functioning Resources Teach skills like organization, planning, and task initiation with resources for interventions and whole-class lessons.Executive functioning skills are essential for success in school and beyond, and organizational skills...
Creating a Common Language: Using Everyday Speech Concepts in Your Classroom
Special educators, general educators, and specialists know that clear, consistent language is key to helping students build communication, social, and behavioral skills. That’s where Everyday Speech comes in. Our curriculum includes a unique library of concepts...
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 Set Neurodiversity-Affirming IEP Goals that Support Autonomy and Authenticity
Download 50+ Example IEP Goals Customizable library of strengths-based goalsToo 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...
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...
No-Prep Activities
Solve It: A Game to Teach Problem-Solving Skills to Middle School Students
Introduction Teaching problem-solving skills to middle school students can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. With Solve It, educators can guide students through a step-by-step process that helps them address everyday issues in a structured and effective...
Building Strong Friendships: A Guide for Middle School Educators
Introduction Friendships are an essential aspect of social-emotional development in middle school students. Friends provide support, happiness, and trust, all of which contribute to a positive school experience. By guiding students to build strong friendships,...
Helping Elementary Students Agree More Often: A Social-Emotional Learning Activity
Introduction Everyone has their own opinions and feelings about various topics. As educators, it’s essential to teach students the importance of being aware of how often they disagree with others. Agreeing more often can lead to positive feelings and better...
Compromising and Controlling Feelings: A Guide for Elementary Educators
Introduction As educators, we understand that teaching students to compromise and control their feelings is essential for their social and emotional growth. This blog post will focus on the skill of compromising, which involves finding a middle ground when there are...
Teaching the Importance of Handwashing to Elementary Students
Introduction Handwashing is an essential skill that not only promotes good hygiene but also contributes to a healthy environment for everyone. It is important for educators to teach their students the significance of washing their hands, as well as when and how to do...
Developing Cyber Skills for Online Messaging: A Guide for Educators
As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our students how to communicate effectively and safely online. With the increasing popularity of online messaging, it is essential to equip students with the right Cyber Skills to ensure a positive online...
Understanding Bullying: Types, Prevention, and Social-Emotional Learning
As educators, it is our responsibility to create a safe and supportive environment for all students. One important aspect of this is addressing and preventing bullying. In this blog post, we will discuss what bullying is, the various types of bullying, and how to...
Teaching PreK Students to Change the Channel on Strong Emotions
Introduction Strong emotions like anger, frustration, or sadness can fill our whole brain and make us choose poor decisions. Learning to control emotions, even strong ones, is an essential skill for students in their early years. By teaching them to "Change the...
Teaching PreK Students to Act Interested – A Social Rule for Better Connections
Introduction As educators, we strive to teach our PreK students various social skills that will help them build better connections and friendships. One such skill is the ability to act interested in what others are saying, even if the topic might not be interesting to...
Teaching PreK Students to Stay Calm and Focused When Others Aren’t Following Rules
Introduction As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our young students how to stay calm and focused when they encounter situations where others are not following rules. In a PreK classroom, this skill is essential for fostering a positive and...
PreK Conversation Drivers and Stoppers: Bingo Game Activity for Educators
In today's world, effective communication is an essential skill. As educators, we strive to teach our students how to engage in meaningful conversations and develop their social skills. This blog post focuses on a fun and engaging activity called Conversation Drivers...
Teaching Kindergarten Students to Address Distractions and Communicate Respectfully
Introduction As educators, we strive to create a positive learning environment for our students. An important aspect of this is teaching Kindergarten students how to address distractions and communicate respectfully with others. By developing these skills, students...
Teaching Elementary Students the Importance of Answering Questions
Introduction Effective communication is a fundamental aspect of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). One key aspect of communication is teaching elementary students the importance of answering questions when asked. By doing so, they learn to be more considerate,...
PreK Educators: Introducing the Conversation Measuring Cup
Introduction Welcome to the world of the Conversation Measuring Cup, a valuable concept that helps PreK students understand how to balance their talking turns during conversations. The Conversation Measuring Cup teaches children to adjust the length of their responses...
Helping Students Evaluate Relationships: A Guide for Special Education Educators
Introduction Relationships play a vital role in our lives, and understanding how to evaluate them is an essential skill. In this blog post, we will discuss an activity to help students in special education settings reflect on their relationships, identify potential...
