Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
December Content Updates
Hi Everyday Speechies! We hope you're gearing up for some very well-deserved time off! Finish the year strong with our December content updates, including new activities, videos, and games! Start your holiday celebrations with our new printable gratitude activity,...
New Data Tracking and Goal Bank Resources
We are excited to announce that subscribers now have access to our brand new informal data tracking and goal bank for our Social Communication Curriculum! These evidence-based resources support teachers and professionals with goal setting, data tracking, and...
November Content Updates
We know your plate is full (Thanksgiving pun intended). That's why we're bringing you tools and resources to help save you time and stress, like our newly added Student Data Tracking sheets (sample) and Goal Bank for Social Communication Curriculum (SCC) subscribers!...
Why Gratitude Matters
What are you grateful for? You’ve probably heard this question multiple times over the years, likely at a Thanksgiving dinner. Take a moment and think about what you’re grateful for now. Got it? Now, how do you feel? Chances are you feel a little more content,...
Teaching Students Social Awareness
Learners who are socially aware can take others’ perspectives, identify how others may be feeling, and recognize and respect individuals from diverse backgrounds. Why is social awareness important for social-emotional learning? Teaching students to empathize with...
Teaching Students Self-Awareness
Teaching students self-awareness will help them to better understand themselves, their emotions, thoughts, values, and cultural identities. It's a skill that addresses the question we all have: “Who am I?” Why teaching students self-awareness is important for...
Student Mindfulness Exercises
Take a deep breath. You did it! You made it through quite possibly one of the most challenging Septembers of your life as an educator. Transitioning from a year and a half of virtual learning to in-person learning has its challenges, to say the least. You and your...
October Content Updates
Take a look at our October content updates! This month, just in time for Halloween, we're bringing you and your students a free (and adorable) printable candy corn emotions puzzle. Plus, be sure to check out the updates to some of our classic Everyday Speech videos...
ADHD and Social Skills
It’s not uncommon to have an IEP student (or two, or three, or four) on your caseload who has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) AND a social skills goal. A lot goes into a successful social interaction! Students diagnosed with ADHD may also struggle with...
No-Prep Activities
Teaching Conversation Share: Balancing Talk Time for Middle School Students
Introduction In a conversation, it's crucial to maintain a balance between speaking and listening. This balance, known as the Conversation Share, ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings. For middle school students,...
Helping Students Express Their Feelings and Use Positive Self-talk
In this blog post, we will explore the importance of teaching students to express their feelings and use positive self-talk in their everyday interactions. Developing these skills is crucial for students to build healthy relationships and navigate social situations...
Tips for Teaching Cyber Skills: Posting Photos on Social Media Responsibly
Introduction Social media can be a fun and engaging way for students to connect with friends and share their experiences. However, it is essential for them to understand the online social rules and the impact of sharing photos on social media. In this blog post, we...
Teaching Social Chameleon Skills for Special Education Students
As educators, it is important to support our students in developing the ability to adapt their behavior to different situations. Being a Social Chameleon means blending in and adjusting to any situation, no matter what's going on around you. This blog post will...
Teaching PreK Students to Walk Quietly: A No-Prep Social-Emotional Learning Activity
Introduction As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our students not only academic skills but also social-emotional skills that will help them navigate various situations in their daily lives. One such skill, particularly for PreK students, is learning...
Read the Room: A Social-Emotional Learning Activity for Elementary Students
Introduction As educators, we strive to help our students develop a range of skills that will serve them well in life. One such skill, often overlooked but equally important, is the ability to "read the room" – to gauge the atmosphere of a situation and adapt behavior...
Riding the Conversation Waves: Teaching High School Students Smooth Topic Transitions
In this blog post, we will explore the importance of smooth topic transitions in conversations and how to teach high school students this vital skill. By comparing topic transitions to riding waves, we can help students understand the concept and practice it...
Teaching Middle School Students the Power of Tone of Voice in Social-Emotional Learning
Introduction As educators, we strive to teach our middle school students the importance of effective communication and understanding emotions. One key aspect of communication that often goes unnoticed is tone of voice. Tone of voice plays a significant role in...
Teaching Personal Boundaries: A No-Prep Activity for Educators
Introduction Teaching personal boundaries is an essential part of social-emotional learning for students. It helps them understand the importance of respecting others' personal space and belongings, as well as knowing when it's appropriate to ask for permission. In...
Staying Calm in School: Tips and Strategies for Educators
Introduction In a school setting, students encounter various situations that may cause them to feel upset or uncomfortable. As educators, it's crucial to teach students the importance of staying calm and maintaining self-control. This not only ensures a positive...
Teaching Respect for Diverse Opinions: An Activity for Educators
Introduction In today's world, it's important for students to understand that everyone has their own thoughts and feelings, which form their opinions. By teaching students to respect diverse opinions, we can help them develop empathy, tolerance, and effective...
Handling Conflicts with Friends: Problem Solving Steps for PreK Students
Introduction Disagreements or arguments with friends are called conflicts, and they can occur from time to time. Conflicts may make us feel upset or uncomfortable, but when we resolve them, everyone feels better, and the friendship usually returns to normal. To handle...
Enhance Social Skills with Act It Out! Role-Playing Game for Elementary Students
Introduction Welcome to Act It Out!, a role-playing game designed to help elementary students develop essential social skills. This engaging activity focuses on the importance of topics in conversations and how they can affect others' perceptions and actions. Through...
Teaching Students About Appropriate Eye Contact and Avoiding Staring
Introduction Social interactions can be complex, especially when it comes to making eye contact and avoiding staring. It's essential to teach students the difference between appropriate eye contact when conversing and staring, which can make others feel uncomfortable....
Building Strong Friendships: A Guide for Middle School Educators
Introduction In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of building strong friendships for middle school students. Friendships play a crucial role in the social-emotional development of young people, as they learn to listen to each other, help one another, and...