Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
How Everyday Speech Supports Balanced Screen Time in Schools
As more districts move to reduce screen time in schools, the challenge isn’t just about limiting how long students are on screens—it’s about making sure that technology use is intentional and impactful. District leaders are navigating how to maintain the benefits of...
How Everyday Speech Supports the New Massachusetts IEP
The new Massachusetts IEP brings a major shift in how schools approach individualized education plans, with a stronger emphasis on student-centered learning, self-advocacy, and transition planning. These updates are designed to ensure that students take a more active...
The Best No-Prep Problem-Solving Activities for PK-12 Students
Problem-solving is an essential skill that helps students navigate challenges in academics, relationships, and daily life. Whether working through a math problem, resolving a disagreement, or making a decision about time management, problem-solving encourages critical...
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,...
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...
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 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 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 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 Students to Follow Directions Independently: A Guide for Educators
Introduction As educators, we frequently give our students directions throughout the day. These directions often involve multiple steps and it's crucial for students to follow them independently without constant reminders from the teacher. By paying attention and...