Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
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...
Understanding Masking and Supporting Neurodivergent Students
Masking is a common but often misunderstood behavior among neurodivergent students, impacting their well-being and social interactions. In schools, many students feel pressured to suppress their natural behaviors to fit in, but this can take a significant toll on...
A Guide to Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices in Schools
For years, social skills instruction in schools has been built around compliance—teaching neurodivergent students to conform to neurotypical expectations. While often well-intended, this approach can inadvertently encourage masking, increase anxiety, and erode...
An SCSS Teacher Shares How Everyday Speech Reduced Prep Time & Burnout
For educators like Maci Allee, a Social Communication Support and Services (SCSS) teacher at Leander Independent School District, lesson planning used to be a time-consuming, energy-draining process. Before discovering Everyday Speech, she spent hours searching the...
How to Bring Everyday Speech to Your District
Everyday Speech transforms the way you teach social skills, helping students thrive while saving you valuable time. If you’re looking for ways to make this resource available to your entire team, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll share strategies to help you...
How Everyday Speech Empowers Student Support Teams
Student Support Teams play a critical role in fostering the social and behavioral growth of students. Everyday Speech is here to make this work simpler and more effective. With a no-prep social skills curriculum designed for busy professionals, we reduce prep time,...
How Everyday Speech Supports School Counselors (with Example Videos & Games!)
School counselors play a pivotal role in guiding students through their academic, social, and behavioral challenges. From helping students regulate their emotions to teaching critical interpersonal and problem-solving skills, counselors address diverse needs to ensure...
How Everyday Speech Supports Social Workers (with Example Videos & Games!)
Social workers play a vital role in supporting the holistic development and mental health of students. From helping students navigate emotional challenges to fostering self-regulation and conflict resolution, social workers address a wide range of needs that impact...
How Everyday Speech Supports Speech-Language Pathologists (with Example Videos & Games!)
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play an essential role in helping students develop social skills that impact every aspect of their lives. From fostering conversational abilities to teaching nonverbal communication and social problem-solving, SLPs address a wide...
No-Prep Activities
Teaching Problem-Solving Skills to Special Education Students
Introduction Problem-solving is an essential skill for students in special education. It helps them navigate through various challenges and make well-informed decisions. This blog post will provide an overview of the essential steps in problem-solving, a no-prep...
Teaching Hygiene in Special Education: Smells and Social Interactions
Introduction Hygiene is an essential aspect of our daily lives, impacting not only our physical health but also our social interactions. It is crucial for educators to teach students about the importance of maintaining good hygiene habits, especially for those in...
Teaching Middle School Students to Read People’s Moods: An Essential Social-Emotional Skill
Introduction The ability to read people's moods is an important social-emotional skill that middle school students can benefit from developing. This skill involves observing and interpreting others' facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice to better...
Enhancing Conversations by Discussing Shared Interests
Introduction In conversations, it's crucial for students to learn how to talk about things that interest others. This not only helps build connections but also fosters a sense of empathy and understanding. By teaching students to pay attention to clues about what...
Direct and Indirect Communication: A Key Skill for Middle School Students
As educators, we recognize the importance of teaching our middle school students effective communication skills. One crucial aspect of communication is understanding the difference between direct and indirect ways of asking for something. This blog post will provide...
Mindfulness Stretching: A Calming Activity for Students
Introduction Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can help students develop self-awareness, focus, and emotional regulation. Through mindfulness-focused stretching activities, educators can teach students to empty their minds of distracting thoughts and focus on the...
Teaching Personal Boundaries and Cooperation to Kindergarten Students
Introducing young children to the concepts of personal boundaries and cooperation is an essential part of their social-emotional learning journey. In this blog post, we will discuss a no-prep activity that educators can use to teach these skills to Kindergarten...
Teaching the Conversation Measuring Cup: A Guide for Educators
Introduction Welcome, educators! In this blog post, we will explore an essential social skill: the Conversation Measuring Cup. This skill helps students understand how much to talk during conversations, ensuring they don't say too much or too little. By teaching...
Teaching Kindergarteners the Power of Positive Self-Talk
Introduction Positive self-talk is a powerful tool that can help students develop a healthy mindset, boost their confidence, and improve their overall well-being. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of self-talk and its importance in Social-Emotional...
Teaching Students to Ask for Help: An Essential Skill for Problem Solving
Asking for help is an essential skill that students in Special Education need to develop to overcome challenges and improve their problem-solving abilities. This blog post will present an overview of the skill, a no-prep activity, discussion questions, related skills,...
Teaching Emotion Identification to PreK Students: An Engaging Activity & Discussion
Introduction Helping young children develop an understanding of emotions is an essential aspect of social-emotional learning. By teaching students to identify emotions in themselves and others, we equip them with the tools they need to build empathy, communication,...
Teaching Anger Management and Tone of Voice to Elementary Students
Introduction In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of teaching students how to manage their anger and tone of voice. As educators, we know that children can sometimes struggle with their emotions, especially when they experience anger. By helping students...
Teaching Gratitude: A Key to Happiness and Success for Elementary Students
Introduction Gratitude is a powerful habit that leads to increased happiness and success in life. It helps us connect with others in healthier, more positive ways, and motivates us to improve both our own lives and the lives of those around us. In this blog post, we...
Teaching Middle School Students to Ask for Help: Activities and Discussion Questions
Asking for help is a crucial skill for students to develop, as it fosters independence and effective communication. In this blog post, we will discuss an engaging no-prep activity that educators can use to teach middle school students how to ask for help. We will also...
Teaching the Value of Sharing Ideas and Compromise in Group Play
When students engage in group play, it is essential for them to learn the importance of sharing ideas, listening to others, and compromising. This not only fosters a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved but also helps develop essential social-emotional...
