Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
How to Teach Task Initiation in Elementary (Free Lesson Plan & Activity)
Download Free Executive Functioning Resources Teach skills like organization, planning, and task initiation with resources for interventions and whole-class lessons.Task initiation is a fundamental executive functioning skill that helps students start tasks without...
Executive Functioning Goals: Free Middle School Poster & Lesson Plan
Download Free Executive Functioning Resources Teach skills like organization, planning, and task initiation with resources for interventions and whole-class lessons.Developing executive functioning goals is essential for middle school students, especially those in...
How to Teach Executive Functioning in Elementary (Free Lesson & Worksheet)
Download Free Executive Functioning Resources Teach skills like organization, planning, and task initiation with resources for interventions and whole-class lessons.Developing executive functioning skills is essential for elementary students to manage emotions, stay...
Middle School Organizational Skills: Free Video Lesson & Lesson Plan
Download Free Executive Functioning Resources Teach skills like organization, planning, and task initiation with resources for interventions and whole-class lessons.Executive functioning skills are essential for success in school and beyond, and organizational skills...
Creating a Common Language: Using Everyday Speech Concepts in Your Classroom
Special educators, general educators, and specialists know that clear, consistent language is key to helping students build communication, social, and behavioral skills. That’s where Everyday Speech comes in. Our curriculum includes a unique library of concepts...
50+ Examples of Strengths-Based IEP Goals for Students
Download 50+ Example IEP Goals Customizable library of strengths-based goalsIEP goals should empower students. Instead of focusing on eliminating challenges, strengths-based IEP goals emphasize autonomy, self-advocacy, and meaningful skill development. Below are real...
How to Teach Self-Advocacy – with Examples!
Self-advocacy is the ability to understand and communicate one’s own needs, preferences, and rights. For neurodivergent students, this skill is critical—not only in education but in relationships, work, and daily life. Too often, traditional social skills instruction...
How to Set Neurodiversity-Affirming IEP Goals that Support Autonomy and Authenticity
Too often, Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals are written with the assumption that neurodivergent students must adapt to neurotypical behaviors. But what if we shifted the focus to honoring their strengths and supporting authentic engagement? Why Traditional...
The Double Empathy Problem: How to Improve Classroom Understanding
Communication is often seen as a skill that neurodivergent students must improve, but what if the challenge lies in mutual understanding? Enter the Double Empathy Problem. What is the Double Empathy Problem? For decades, social skills education for neurodivergent...
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...