Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...
Teaching Kindergarteners the Conversation Stoplight for Better Communication
Introduction Teaching kindergarteners the art of conversation is a crucial step in developing their social-emotional learning skills. One effective method to achieve this is by using the Conversation Stoplight. This technique helps students understand when it's their...
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
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...
Preparing Kindergarten Students for Birthday Parties: A Guide for Educators
Introduction Going to birthday parties is a fun and exciting experience for kindergarten students. It is also an excellent opportunity to teach essential social skills that will help them navigate various social events as they grow older. This blog post will provide...
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 Self-Control to High School Students: Activities and Discussions
Introduction Self-control is an essential skill that high school students need to develop as they navigate through their academic and social lives. It enables them to manage their impulses, emotions, and behaviors effectively. By cultivating self-control, students can...
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
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...
Stretch Your Way to a Calmer Classroom: A Social-Emotional Learning Approach
Introduction As educators, we are constantly seeking ways to create a positive and engaging learning environment for our students. One often overlooked aspect of this process is the incorporation of physical activities, such as stretching, which can help foster a more...
Emotion ID: A Game to Help Students Recognize and Understand Emotions
Introducing Emotion ID, an engaging and interactive game that helps students develop the essential skill of recognizing and understanding emotions in themselves and others. By focusing on facial expressions, tone of voice, and the words people say, students can learn...
Teaching Students to Understand Indirect Communication: A Guide for Educators
Introduction Communication is an essential skill for students to develop in order to navigate social situations effectively. However, not all communication is direct. Sometimes, people convey their intentions or desires in an indirect manner. This can be due to a...
Teaching Elementary Students to Keep Hands & Feet to Themselves: Activities & Discussion
Introduction When working with elementary students, it's important to teach them about respecting personal boundaries and keeping their hands and feet to themselves. This vital social-emotional learning skill helps students develop positive relationships and fosters a...
Teaching Middle School Students to Focus on Others’ Interests in Conversations
Introduction As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our students effective communication skills. One key aspect of communication, especially for middle school students, is the ability to engage with others by discussing topics of mutual interest. This...
Teaching PreK Students to Listen and Follow Directions: A Guide for Educators
As an educator, teaching young students to listen and follow directions is essential for their growth and development. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity that fosters these essential skills, as well as discussion questions and related skills to help...