Everyday Speech Blog

Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles

Middle School Maintaining Conversation Lesson
Middle School Maintaining Conversation Lesson

Download Activity and Lesson Plan Introduction We have crafted a maintaining conversation lesson plan for middle school students, designed with straightforward, engaging strategies for your classroom routine. Identifying the Challenges Many factors could make it hard...

Free Elementary End-of-Year Reflection PDF
Free Elementary End-of-Year Reflection PDF

Download Activity and Lesson Plan To have your elementary students reflect on their school year, celebrate all of their accomplishments, and prepare for the year ahead make sure to download this free elementary End of Year Reflection PDF. Teaching End-of-Year...

Free High School Handling Rejection PDF
Free High School Handling Rejection PDF

Download Activity and Lesson Plan Teaching high schoolers to handle rejection is an important social skill to acquire. With Everyday Speech's handling rejection lesson, students can learn to successfully navigate and handle the rejection all teenagers will face. This...

Free Elementary Self-Advocacy Lesson Plan
Free Elementary Self-Advocacy Lesson Plan

Download Activity and Lesson Plan Teaching elementary students to advocate for themselves is an important social skill to acquire. With Everyday Speech's self-advocacy lesson, students can learn to independently advocate for themselves in order to respect their own...

Solving Problems on the Playground Lesson Plan
Solving Problems on the Playground Lesson Plan

Download Activity and Lesson Plan One of the social skills we can teach our elementary students is problem-solving skills to be a good sport on the playground. Playground activities often involve social interactions that can be challenging for some students. However,...

Think Before Speaking for Middle School
Think Before Speaking for Middle School

Download Activity and Lesson Plan It is important to teach middle school students how to think before they speak, especially when it comes to saying hurtful things. Download the free activity above and use the accompanying lesson...

No-Prep Activities

Empathy Essentials: Putting Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes
Empathy Essentials: Putting Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes

Empathy is a crucial skill for forming meaningful relationships and connecting with others. It involves understanding and sharing the feelings of another person, often referred to as "putting yourself in someone else's shoes." In this blog post, we will explore the...

Teaching Middle School Students the Right Way to Interrupt
Teaching Middle School Students the Right Way to Interrupt

Introduction Interrupting, or speaking when someone else is already talking, can lead to negative feelings and misunderstandings. As educators, it's essential to teach middle school students the difference between a good and a not-so-good way to interrupt. This blog...

Building Strong Friendships in High School: A Guide for Educators
Building Strong Friendships in High School: A Guide for Educators

Introduction Fostering strong friendships among high school students is crucial for their social and emotional growth. As educators, we can help students develop the skills required for building meaningful connections. These skills include learning about others,...

The Two W’s: Teaching Small Talk Skills for Better Connections
The Two W’s: Teaching Small Talk Skills for Better Connections

Introduction Small talk is an essential social skill that helps us connect with others and create a positive atmosphere. It's a short conversation that usually occurs when we see someone we know, such as before school or at social events. To help students develop this...

Act It Out! A Role-Playing Game to Teach Empathy in the Classroom
Act It Out! A Role-Playing Game to Teach Empathy in the Classroom

Introduction Welcome to a blog post about Act It Out!, a role-playing game designed to help students develop empathy by acting out different social situations. Empathy is a crucial skill that allows us to understand and relate to the feelings of others. By seeing...

Teaching Self-Control to PreK Students: Activities and Discussions
Teaching Self-Control to PreK Students: Activities and Discussions

Introduction Self-control is an essential skill for PreK students as they navigate various social situations and learn to regulate their emotions. It involves the ability to refrain from impulsive behaviors, such as calling out in class or reacting negatively to a...

Background Brief: Enhancing Storytelling and Communication Skills
Background Brief: Enhancing Storytelling and Communication Skills

High school students often face challenges when it comes to effective communication, especially in storytelling. One of the key aspects of storytelling is providing the necessary background information to ensure that the listener can fully understand and appreciate...

Dealing with Rejection: Strategies for High School Educators
Dealing with Rejection: Strategies for High School Educators

Introduction Rejection is a natural part of human life, experienced by everyone at different times and in various forms. As educators, it's important to teach high school students how to handle rejection, whether it's small, medium, or big. Social-Emotional Learning...

Self-Advocacy with Friends: Empowering Middle School Students
Self-Advocacy with Friends: Empowering Middle School Students

Introduction As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our middle school students the skill of self-advocacy with friends. This essential ability allows them to communicate their needs, thoughts, and feelings while fostering healthy relationships. It...

Teaching Conversation Skills for Students in Special Education
Teaching Conversation Skills for Students in Special Education

Introduction Starting conversations can be challenging for many students, especially those in Special Education. Teaching students the necessary skills to engage in conversations is crucial for their social-emotional development. This blog post focuses on a...

Teaching the Importance of White Lies in Social-Emotional Learning
Teaching the Importance of White Lies in Social-Emotional Learning

Introduction As educators, one of our goals is to help students develop social skills that will help them to be successful in their interactions with others. One aspect of this is understanding the concept of white lies, which are small untruths told in order to spare...