Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
How to Teach Conversation Skills to Elementary Students
Hi again from Iris! Today our focus is teaching conversation skills to elementary students.In this lesson, we share a free video and visual tools to make teaching conversation skills as easy and stress-free as possible!First, let's start with a warm-up...
How to Support Child-Led Play
Welcome back! Iris here. As parents or educators, we often look at children’s milestones: Is the child applying the right amount of pressure for handwriting?Can they jump?Are their language skills progressing?and so on… I’d argue that play is just as important...
3 Activities for Teaching Basic Conversation Skills
Hello, Iris here! When was the last time you were an active part of a rewarding conversation? How did it feel? Maybe there were laughs, you felt seen, you got to share a story, or listened well. There are many ways we can connect, nonverbally and across language...
No-Prep Lesson for Teaching Students Nonverbal Communication
Welcome back, Iris here. Today we are covering nonverbal communication. Do you remember the last time you or a conversation partner communicated using primarily non-speaking methods? Maybe you lost your voice for a period of time or you went on a weekend trip with a...
No-Prep High School Lessons to Teach Job Skills
You likely have a distinct visual and emotional memory of your first job. A first job is a key life milestone. It’s one more step towards independence and adulthood. My first job was to grade math assignments at an afterschool support center. I was a sophomore...
No-Prep Middle School Lessons to Teach Self-Regulation
No-Prep Late Elementary Lessons to Teach Problem Solving
Welcome back! Iris here. This lesson is for learners grades 3-5 (late or upper elementary) and is a topic I consider of utmost importance—problem solving! Everyday Speech’s Social Communication Curriculum provides a thoughtful and pre-prepped roadmap for teaching...
SEL and Digital Wellness
With the rise of technology use in and out of the classroom, the digital world has become a central part of our learners’ life experiences, relationships, and identities. So, what can we do to support the digital wellness of our learners? The answer is...
The Whole-Child Approach and Why it Matters
If you work in education, you’ve likely heard of the “whole-child approach” to teaching. Rather than solely focusing on narrowly-defined academic achievement benchmarks, the whole-child approach incorporates a broader view of the skills and knowledge that all...
No-Prep Activities
Teaching Students the Art of Compromise: Activities and Discussion Questions
Introduction Disagreements are a natural part of life, but learning how to compromise can help students solve problems quickly and maintain positive relationships. This essential social-emotional skill can be taught through engaging activities and thoughtful...
Teaching High School Students Job Application Skills: A No-Prep Activity
Introduction Preparing high school students for the real world involves teaching them essential skills, such as applying for a job. This blog post will outline a no-prep activity that educators can use to help students learn the job application process and develop...
Teaching Students to Speak Slowly: An Activity for Effective Communication
Introduction Speaking too quickly can lead to confusion and misunderstandings in conversations. When students feel excited or nervous, they may start talking fast, making it difficult for others to understand them. In this blog post, we'll explore a no-prep activity...
Teaching the Art of Apologizing: A Guide for Special Education Educators
Introduction Apologizing is an essential social skill that helps individuals build and maintain healthy relationships. For students in special education, learning how to apologize effectively can be particularly beneficial in fostering positive social interactions....
Teaching PreK Students the Restaurant Rules for Social-Emotional Development
Introducing the Restaurant Rules to young children is an excellent way to foster their social-emotional development. These rules encourage self-control, hygiene, and manners, all of which are essential skills for young learners. In this blog post, we will explore an...
Dealing with Jealousy: Activities and Discussions for PreK Students
Introduction Jealousy is a natural emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. For young children, understanding and coping with jealousy can be especially challenging. As educators, it's essential to teach students how to recognize and manage these feelings...
Helping Middle School Students Cope with Rejection: Strategies and Activities
Introduction Rejection is a common experience for everyone, including middle school students. It can be challenging to deal with, but learning to handle rejection is an essential life skill. In this blog post, we will discuss strategies and activities to help students...
Developing Cyber Skills for Texting: A Guide for High School Educators
Introduction Texting has become an essential part of communication in today's digital world, especially for teenagers. However, it can sometimes be confusing and lead to misunderstandings due to the lack of non-verbal cues and the use of slang or abbreviations....
Teaching Students to Make Connected Comments in Conversations
In this blog post, we will explore the importance of making connected comments in conversations and provide an easy-to-implement activity for educators to use in their classrooms. By teaching students to make connected comments, we can help them develop stronger...
Teaching Kindergarten Students the Art of Leaving a Conversation Politely
Introduction A vital aspect of social-emotional learning is teaching children how to communicate effectively and respectfully with others. One fundamental skill is knowing how to leave a conversation politely. For Kindergarten students, it's essential to learn this...
Gratitude: A Key to Happiness and Success in Education
Introduction Gratitude is a powerful habit that can lead to increased happiness and success in our lives. Being grateful makes us more social, fosters healthier relationships, and encourages us to participate in happier activities. As educators, it is essential to...
Teaching Social Skills: Introductions and Building Connections
Introduction As an educator, one of the most important skills you can teach your students is how to make introductions and build connections. This helps students develop essential social skills, fosters a sense of belonging in the classroom, and creates a foundation...
Teaching Kindergarten Students the Importance of Introducing Themselves
Introduction Introducing ourselves is a crucial social skill that helps build relationships and create a positive atmosphere. By teaching kindergarten students this skill, we can enhance their social-emotional development and prepare them for successful interactions...
Teaching PreK Students the Art of Compromise: An Essential Social Skill
As educators, we understand that social-emotional learning is a crucial component of a child's overall development. One essential skill for young learners is understanding how to compromise with others. This blog post will explore the importance of this skill and...
Teaching Kindergarteners to Cope with Embarrassment: Activities and Discussions
Introduction Embarrassment is a natural emotion that everyone experiences, including young children. It is essential for educators to teach kindergarten students how to cope with embarrassment and develop healthy strategies to manage their feelings. This blog post...
