Everyday Speech Blog

Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles

How Do You Feel Interactive Preschool Matching Activity
How Do You Feel Interactive Preschool Matching Activity

Access FREE SEL materials today Teaching preschoolers to recognize and understand emotions is a crucial part of their social-emotional development. Everyday Speech’s How Do You Feel Interactive Preschool Matching Activity offers a fun and interactive way to introduce...

Interactive Yoga Library for Elementary Students
Interactive Yoga Library for Elementary Students

Access FREE SEL materials today As elementary school counselors, finding engaging, effective ways to help students manage emotions can be a challenge. Calming strategies are essential in helping students build self-regulation skills. Everyday Speech’s Interactive Yoga...

Retro Social Communication Game for High Schoolers
Retro Social Communication Game for High Schoolers

Access FREE SEL materials today In the ever-evolving world of social communication, engaging high school students can be challenging. That’s where Everyday Speech’s latest addition, the Social Navigator game, steps in. This retro social communication game for high...

Helping Middle Schoolers Say No to Peer Pressure
Helping Middle Schoolers Say No to Peer Pressure

Access FREE SEL materials today In middle school, students often face challenging social situations and pressure to fit in. Knowing how to say no and advocate for themselves is crucial for building confidence and resilience. However, many students find it hard to...

Teaching High Schoolers Self-Advocacy Skills
Teaching High Schoolers Self-Advocacy Skills

Access FREE SEL materials today High school is a critical time for students to learn self-advocacy skills, especially for those with unique learning needs. Self-advocacy empowers students to understand their preferences, communicate effectively, and access support...

Bus Safety Discussion Prompts
Bus Safety Discussion Prompts

Access FREE SEL materials today For many elementary students, riding the school bus is a daily experience and often one of their first steps toward independence. However, bus safety can be a challenge for young learners, who may not fully understand the importance of...

Solving Problems on the Bus Activity
Solving Problems on the Bus Activity

Access FREE SEL materials today Riding the school bus is often one of the first independent experiences for elementary students. However, it also presents unique challenges. Knowing how to handle common bus issues—like friends talking too loudly or disagreements over...

Gratitude Activity for November
Gratitude Activity for November

Access FREE SEL materials today November is the perfect time to teach gratitude, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner. Gratitude is more than saying "thank you"; it’s about recognizing and appreciating the kindness around us. For elementary students,...

Taking Responsibility Activity for Middle Schoolers
Taking Responsibility Activity for Middle Schoolers

Access FREE SEL materials today Responsibility is a vital life skill for middle school students. Learning to take charge of one’s actions, make positive choices, and accept accountability helps students become trustworthy, dependable individuals. For special...

No-Prep Activities

Enhancing Communication Skills with the Background Brief Activity
Enhancing Communication Skills with the Background Brief Activity

Introduction Effective communication is an essential life skill that students need to develop. For students in Special Education, learning to provide adequate background information while telling a story or engaging in a conversation is crucial. The Background Brief...

Stretching Breaks: Calming Minds and Bodies for Elementary Students
Stretching Breaks: Calming Minds and Bodies for Elementary Students

As educators, we know the importance of incorporating Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) principles into our teaching strategies. One simple yet effective way to achieve this is by introducing stretching breaks in the classroom. In this blog post, we will discuss the...

Enhancing Communication Skills with the Conversation Stoplight
Enhancing Communication Skills with the Conversation Stoplight

Introduction The Conversation Stoplight is an effective tool to help middle school students develop their communication skills and foster positive social interactions. The Stoplight concept teaches students to listen carefully, share the conversation, and speak only...

Helping Students Advocate for Themselves in the Classroom
Helping Students Advocate for Themselves in the Classroom

Introduction One of the most important skills for students to develop is the ability to advocate for themselves in the classroom. This is especially true for students in Special Education. By teaching students how to effectively communicate their needs and emotions,...

Teaching Students to Be Mindful of Others in Shared Spaces
Teaching Students to Be Mindful of Others in Shared Spaces

As educators, it's essential to teach our students how to be considerate and respectful when sharing spaces with others. By incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning, we can help students develop empathy, self-awareness, and social awareness. This blog...

Teaching Kindergarten Students Classroom Behavior with Bingo
Teaching Kindergarten Students Classroom Behavior with Bingo

In this blog post, we will explore a fun and engaging activity to teach kindergarten students about proper classroom behavior. Using the game of bingo, children can learn about different behaviors that help them and their classmates have a positive learning experience...