Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
Tier 1 Supports That Work: Free Resources to Support Your Students
A strong foundation of support is key to helping all students succeed academically, socially, and behaviorally. The Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) provides a proactive framework that ensures students receive what they need, starting at Tier 1—universal...
Free Lesson Plan & Worksheet for High School: Problem-Solving in Groups
Collaboration is an essential skill for high school students. Whether they’re working on a group project, participating in team sports, or solving real-world challenges, they need to know how to work together, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts...
Free Middle School Problem-Solving Activity: Identifying the Problem
Middle school students encounter challenges daily—navigating friendships, managing schoolwork, handling emotions, and making decisions. However, one of the biggest obstacles to solving problems effectively is not recognizing the actual problem in the first place. Many...
Nonverbal Communication Activities & Lessons for the Classroom
Nonverbal communication plays a crucial role in how students express themselves, understand others, and navigate social interactions. From tone of voice to facial expressions and body language, students rely on nonverbal cues to interpret meaning, build relationships,...
Strengthening Executive Functioning in Students: Lessons, Strategies, and Resources
Executive functioning skills are critical for student success, particularly for those receiving support through special education, counseling, and intervention services. These skills impact a student's ability to stay organized, regulate emotions, follow multi-step...
Nonverbal Communication Activity: Visual Referencing for Middle School
Download Activity and Lesson Plan As special educators, we understand the unique challenges middle schoolers face, particularly when it comes to nonverbal communication. Many students in this age group struggle with making eye contact during social interactions. While...
Free Tone of Voice Activity for High School Students
Download Activity and Lesson Plan Many high school students struggle with nonverbal communication, particularly in understanding and using tone of voice effectively. Whether it’s detecting sarcasm, expressing emotions appropriately, or adjusting their tone based on...
Nonverbal Communication Activity: Visual Referencing for Elementary
Download Activity and Lesson Plan Visual referencing is a key nonverbal communication strategy that helps students engage in conversations without the pressure of direct eye contact. Often referred to as social referencing, this skill allows learners to observe and...
Mindfulness Activities for Kids: Fun & Simple Ways to Teach Calm and Focus
Helping kids develop mindfulness skills is one of the most powerful ways to support their emotional well-being, focus, and self-regulation. Whether at home, in the classroom, or in therapy sessions, mindfulness activities provide children with the tools they need to...
No-Prep Activities
Teaching Turn-Taking in Conversation for Special Education Students
Introduction Communication is a vital skill in everyday life, and taking turns during conversations is an essential aspect of effective communication. For students in Special Education, learning to take turns while talking can be challenging. In this blog post, we...
Teaching Middle School Students to Think Before They Speak: Two Sides Activity
Introduction Encouraging students to think before they speak is an essential skill in Social-Emotional Learning. By teaching them to consider if their thoughts are kind and helpful before expressing them, we can promote a more respectful and understanding environment....
Understanding Voice Pitch and Tone in Social-Emotional Learning
As educators, we know that effective communication is a critical component of social-emotional learning. One key aspect of communication is understanding how voice pitch and tone can impact the meaning of our words. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of...
Teaching Teamwork and Collaboration Skills to Elementary Students
Introduction Teamwork and collaboration are essential skills for students to develop, as they help build strong relationships and improve problem-solving abilities. In this blog post, we will explore an easy-to-implement activity that encourages teamwork and...
Teaching Tone of Voice to Kindergarten Students: A Guide for Educators
Teaching young children about tone of voice is essential for developing their social-emotional skills. This blog post will provide educators with a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and additional resources to help Kindergarten students understand how their tone...
Teaching the Importance of Eye Contact in Social-Emotional Learning
Introduction Eye contact is a foundational aspect of communication and plays a significant role in social-emotional learning. It helps us connect with others, express our feelings, and demonstrate that we are actively engaged in conversations. In this blog post, we...
Teaching Students the Art of Saying No Respectfully: A Guide for Educators
Introduction As educators, it is essential to teach students the importance of setting boundaries and respecting their own needs and feelings. One crucial aspect of this is learning how to say no in a respectful manner. By teaching students to say no politely, we help...
Developing Empathy: Activities and Discussions for Educators
Introduction Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, or "putting yourself in someone else's shoes." This essential social-emotional learning skill helps students form meaningful connections with their peers, fostering positive...
Teaching PreK Students the Art of Gentle Correction
Introduction As educators, we understand the importance of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for our PreK students. One key aspect of this is teaching them how to handle situations where they may know more about a subject or a game than their peers....
Joining Friends on the Playground: A Guide for Educators
Introduction Playing with others on the playground is not only fun but also essential for students' social development. Sometimes, students may find themselves in situations where they need to join a game or activity that has already started. This blog post will...
Teaching High School Students the Importance of Keeping Secrets and Building Trust
Introduction Trust is a crucial aspect of any relationship, especially among high school students. One way that trust is built is by keeping secrets when someone confides in you. By respecting someone's privacy and not sharing their secrets, you demonstrate that you...
Phone Etiquette for Elementary Students: Teaching Essential Skills
Introduction Teaching phone etiquette to elementary students is an important aspect of their social development. As they begin to communicate with friends and family members over the phone, it is essential for them to learn the appropriate ways to interact. In this...
Teaching Students to Show Interest in Others’ Conversations
Introduction It is crucial for students to understand that everyone has different interests and preferences. When engaging in conversations, it is essential to show interest in what others are saying, even if the topic is not personally appealing. By actively...
Teaching Flexibility to Kindergarten Students: Activities and Discussions
Introduction Flexibility is an essential component of social-emotional learning that helps students adapt to changes and cope with unexpected situations. For kindergarten students, developing flexibility skills can lead to improved relationships, reduced stress, and...
Staying Calm in School: Strategies for High School Students
Introduction High school can be a challenging environment for students, with numerous situations that can trigger feelings of stress, anxiety, or anger. It's essential for students to learn how to stay calm and maintain self-control in these situations, not only for...