Everyday Speech Blog

Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles

How to Teach Conversation Skills to Elementary Students
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
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
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
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
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 Late Elementary Lessons to Teach Problem Solving
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
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
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 Listening Skills: A Guide for Special Education Educators
Teaching Listening Skills: A Guide for Special Education Educators

Introduction As educators, we understand that listening skills are crucial for students' success in school. This is especially true for Special Education students who may require additional support in developing their listening abilities. By teaching these skills, we...

Teaching Middle School Students the Art of Small Talk
Teaching Middle School Students the Art of Small Talk

Introduction Small talk is an essential social skill that helps people engage in quick, casual conversations. It often includes asking questions or making comments about the other person's day, the weather, or upcoming events. Teaching middle school students the art...

Polite Communication Skills for Addressing Annoying Behaviors
Polite Communication Skills for Addressing Annoying Behaviors

Introduction High school students often share spaces with others, and inevitably, they will encounter situations where someone is doing something they find distracting or annoying. In these situations, it's essential to equip students with the skills to address the...

Understanding Time and Place: Two Sides Activity for Students
Understanding Time and Place: Two Sides Activity for Students

Introduction In today's fast-paced world, it is essential for students to develop the ability to adapt their behavior and language according to the context they are in. This skill is crucial not only for their personal interactions but also for their future...

Teaching Middle Schoolers to Express Attraction Respectfully
Teaching Middle Schoolers to Express Attraction Respectfully

As educators, it is essential to teach middle school students how to express their feelings towards others in a respectful and appropriate manner. This blog post will explore the principles of Social-Emotional Learning in the context of students expressing attraction,...

Teaching the Think It or Say It Skill to High School Students
Teaching the Think It or Say It Skill to High School Students

Introduction As educators, one of the key skills we want to impart to our students is the ability to discern when it is appropriate to share their thoughts and when it is best to keep them to themselves. This important social-emotional learning skill, often referred...

Teaching Body Language Awareness through Guess What Happens Next
Teaching Body Language Awareness through Guess What Happens Next

Introduction: Body language plays a crucial role in our everyday interactions, often conveying more meaning than our spoken words. In this blog post, we will explore an engaging activity that helps students develop their body language awareness and understand how it...

Whole Body Listening: A Key Social Skill for High School Students
Whole Body Listening: A Key Social Skill for High School Students

Introduction When it comes to effective communication, listening is just as important as speaking. However, truly attentive listening goes beyond just using our ears. Whole body listening is the act of engaging our entire body to show we are genuinely interested in...