Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
Free Elementary Activity: Teach the Difference Between Teasing and Bullying
For elementary students, teasing and bullying can be confusing. Hurtful moments may be brushed off as jokes, and students may not always know when to speak up—or how to describe what they’re experiencing. The Bullying vs. Teasing worksheet from Everyday Speech helps...
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
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...