Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
Storytelling Activity for Middle School: Background Brief Game
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Some students jump into a story before giving the background information their listener needs. They might leave out where something...
Preschool Social Skills Activity: Sharing Play Ideas
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.In preschool, many students know what they want to play, but fewer know how to invite someone to join them. That is where teaching...
Conversation Skills Activity for High School: Conversation Stoplight
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Many high school students still need support knowing when it’s their turn to talk. Some interrupt without realizing it. Others stay...
Conversation Skills Activity for Middle School: Conversation Share
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Middle school students are still developing the ability to participate in balanced conversations. Some may speak at length without...
Conversation Skills Activity for Middle School: Staying on Topic with Connected Comments
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Middle school students often struggle to stay on topic in conversation. They may jump from one idea to the next, repeat the same...
Pragmatics Activity for High School: Interactive Sarcasm Spinner
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Sarcasm can be tricky for students to recognize, and even harder to use effectively. Some students interpret sarcasm literally....
Digital Citizenship Activity for Middle School: Sharing on Social Media
Middle school is often when students begin to form habits around how they use technology to connect with others. As they explore group chats, texting, and social media, students need help developing digital judgment, empathy, and responsibility. The Sharing on Social...
Elementary Conversation Skills Lesson: How to Greet Others
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Learning how to greet others is one of the most important foundational conversation skills students can build. Whether saying hello...
Conversation Skills Activity for Preschool: Staying on Topic
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Preschool students are still learning how to participate in conversations in a meaningful way. They may respond impulsively, shift...
No-Prep Activities
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...
Teaching Conversation Skills: A No-Prep Activity for Educators
Introduction As an educator, you understand the importance of teaching conversation skills to students. Effective communication is crucial for building relationships and navigating social situations. This blog post focuses on teaching students how to stay on topic...
Building Resilience with Positive Self-Talk in Special Education
Introduction As educators, we understand that learning is a process that involves both successes and setbacks. It's essential for students, especially those in special education, to develop resilience and a growth mindset. One powerful way to help students overcome...
Introducing Solve It: A Step-by-Step Game for Teaching Problem Solving Skills
Introduction Teaching problem-solving skills to elementary students can be a challenging task. As educators, we strive to teach our students how to navigate through everyday challenges and make good decisions. One effective way to teach problem-solving skills is...
Introducing Yourself: A Vital Skill for Special Education Students
Introduction Introducing yourself is an essential skill that students need to develop, especially in special education settings. It is a basic social skill that allows students to make connections and establish relationships with others. In various contexts, such as...
Teaching Students How to Make Plans with Friends: A No-Prep Activity for Educators
Introduction Social-emotional learning (SEL) is essential for students to develop healthy relationships and effectively navigate social situations. One crucial aspect of SEL is teaching students how to make plans with friends. This involves learning to initiate...
Guess What Happens Next: A Social-Emotional Learning Activity for Special Education
Introduction In today's world, it's essential for students to develop strong social-emotional skills that will help them navigate various situations in life. Educators working with students in Special Education can benefit from engaging activities that encourage...
Teaching the Value of an Open Mind: Activities and Discussions for Educators
Introduction Being rigid is the opposite of being flexible. In the context of Social-Emotional Learning, having a Closed Mind means resisting change and not being open to new ideas. This can lead to feelings of frustration, worry, and a lack of adaptability. On the...
Teaching Kindergarteners the Importance of Personal Space in Conversations
Introduction As educators, it's essential to teach our kindergarten students the importance of maintaining an appropriate distance while conversing. This skill is a crucial aspect of social-emotional learning, as it helps children understand the concept of personal...
Understanding Voice Pitch and Tone: A Guide for Educators of PreK Students
Introduction Effective communication is an essential skill for young children as they navigate their social and emotional development. One aspect of communication that is often overlooked is the importance of voice pitch and tone. This blog post will provide educators...
Teaching Good Team Player Skills for Special Education Students
In this blog post, we will explore the importance of being a good team player and provide educators with an easy-to-implement activity to help students develop these essential skills. We will also discuss related skills and provide resources for further learning and...
Observation Skills: Helping Middle School Students Navigate New Situations
Introduction When middle school students encounter new situations or challenges, it can sometimes feel overwhelming or scary. One of the best ways to help them navigate these unfamiliar circumstances is by teaching them effective observation skills. By observing...
Teaching Good Sportsmanship: A Social-Emotional Learning Guide for Elementary Educators
Introduction Learning to accept both victories and defeats with grace is an essential life skill for all individuals. For students, being a good sport not only makes games and activities more enjoyable, but it also helps them develop strong social-emotional skills....
Teaching Problem-Solving and Cooperation Skills to Students
Introduction As educators, we strive to help our students develop essential life skills. Problem-solving and cooperation are two crucial skills that can help students navigate social situations and maintain healthy relationships. In this blog post, we will explore a...
Teaching Conversation Drivers and Stoppers: Guess What Happens Next Activity
Introduction Teaching high school students the importance of Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers is crucial for their social-emotional development. Conversation Drivers are essential for maintaining and progressing a conversation, while Conversation...