Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
NEW Mini-Game: Tic-Tac-Moji
Introducing our newest release: Tic-Tac-Moji -- a short and sweet mini-game that intends to create more play-based learning inside our ES curriculum. Tic-Tac-Moji offers students and teachers an opportunity to engage in a ‘bite-sized’ game experience. This new type of...
Tips & Strategies for Finding Therapy Content
In Case You Missed It... Everyday Speech was recently invited by eLuma Online Therapy to participate in a partnered webinar where our founders, Brittany and Cal Brunell, were joined by three other veteran Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) to share strategies, tips,...
An Attitude of Gratitude
Thanksgiving: the time of year for family and friends to gather around the dining room table to embrace an attitude of gratitude. Many are thankful for family, friends, and of course-- a delicious, hot Thanksgiving feast. What is Gratitude? Gratitude can be...
Tips for Managing Peaks and Valleys
Part 2 of Series: Self-Care for Educators 2020 has certainly brought both personal and professional challenges for educators. There are the typical stressors that often occur with the ‘peaks and valleys’ of our jobs, and then there’s the 2020 survival level of stress...
Halloween is Not Cancelled (2020)
Boo! It’s almost October 31st (how did that happen?) and Halloween is just around the corner. This Halloween, the word ‘mask’ has a whole new meaning *sigh*. Many parents are scratching their heads trying to figure out how to make this Halloween special for their...
Great Games for Remote Learning
One of the problems with remote learning is that all those really fun games that fill the shelves of my school office, the ones that make students stop me in the hall and ask if we can PLEEEEASE play that game this week, all don’t work with e-learning. My secret...
Addressing Signs of Social-Emotional Distress in Children (Part 2)
Now that we know what the physical and behavioral signs of emotional distress looks like in our students, what do we do to help them cope with these feelings? Learning how to cope with stress is an invaluable skill that students of all ages should be equipped with. We...
Signs of Social-Emotional Distress in Children (Part 1)
It is no surprise during these unprecedented times that feelings of stress, worry, and anxiety are at an all-time high for both adults and children. Many children no longer have the predictable routine of 8-3 school days or the consistent social exposure and...
Self-Care Tips for Educators
Image Credit: Heidie Ambrose The beginning of a new school year typically brings a mix of emotions: the bittersweet end to long, hot summer days with a mix of excitement and anticipation for the start of a brand new school year ahead. But there is nothing typical...
No-Prep Activities
Building Friendships: An Engaging Activity for Educators
Introduction Friendships are an essential part of a student's social-emotional development. As educators, it's important to teach students how to make friends, maintain healthy relationships, and recognize the qualities of a good friend. This blog post will discuss an...
Teaching Kindergarteners About Blurting and Its Effects in the Classroom
Introduction Blurting is a common behavior among kindergarten students. It occurs when a child speaks out loud without waiting for their turn or being called upon by the teacher. While it can be challenging for young children to resist blurting out, it's important to...
Uncovering Students’ Strengths: A Guide for Educators
Every student possesses unique talents and abilities that make them special. As educators, it is our responsibility to help them discover and nurture these strengths. In this blog post, we will explore various types of strengths, including Emotional, Social, Learning,...
Teaching Kindergarten Students How to Ask to Play: A Social Skill for Success
Introduction As educators, we understand the importance of teaching social skills to kindergarten students. One of the essential skills for young children is learning how to ask to play with peers. This skill promotes positive interactions, builds friendships, and...
Incorporating Inclusion: Teaching Students the Value of Including Everyone
Introduction As educators, we strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment in our classrooms. One key aspect of this is teaching our students the importance of not leaving anyone out. This blog post discusses a no-prep activity that can help middle school...
Teaching the Art of Starting and Ending Conversations
Introduction In social interactions, the way we start and end conversations plays a crucial role in building connections with others. A well-executed conversation demonstrates respect for the other person and helps to avoid misunderstandings. This blog post will...
Teaching PreK Students to Stay on Topic: An Essential Social-Emotional Skill
Introduction Staying on topic is an important social skill for PreK students to develop. It ensures that conversations flow smoothly and helps to build strong relationships with peers and adults. In this blog post, we will discuss the concept of staying on topic and...
Teaching Respectful Behavior: Walking Quietly in the Halls and Classroom Transitions
Introduction Educators working with students in special education understand the importance of teaching respectful behavior and fostering a positive learning environment. One key aspect of respectful behavior is walking quietly in the halls and managing classroom...
Teaching Kindergarten Students the Art of Saying Goodbye
Learning how to say goodbye is an essential social skill for young children. It teaches them how to end conversations and interactions in a polite and respectful manner. This blog post will provide educators with a no-prep activity, discussion questions, related...
Teaching the Importance of Asking for Permission: A Social-Emotional Learning Guide for Elementary Educators
Introduction In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, it is essential for students to develop strong social-emotional skills to navigate relationships, manage emotions, and make responsible decisions. One important social-emotional skill is asking for...
Teaching Empathy: Putting Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes
Introduction Empathy is a fundamental skill for building strong connections and fostering positive relationships. By understanding how others feel, we can better communicate and support those around us. This blog post will explore an easy-to-implement activity to...
Changing the Channel: Helping Students Manage Strong Emotions
Introduction Strong emotions like anger, frustration, or sadness can sometimes overwhelm students, making it difficult for them to make good decisions. To help students manage these emotions, it's essential to teach them how to Change the Channel on their feelings....
Staying Calm When Angry: Social-Emotional Learning for PreK Students
Introduction In this blog post, we will discuss the important skill of staying calm when feeling angry, which is a crucial aspect of social-emotional learning for PreK students. Learning how to manage anger and stay calm is essential for young children as they...
Understanding the Difference: Laughing With vs. Laughing At Someone
Introduction As educators, it is essential to teach our students the importance of maintaining healthy and positive social interactions. One crucial aspect of social-emotional learning is understanding the difference between laughing with someone and laughing at...
Topic Radar: Fostering Inclusive Conversations for Special Education Students
Introduction For educators working with students in Special Education, enhancing their communication skills is essential for fostering meaningful relationships and promoting inclusivity. One effective approach is using the concept of Topic Radar. Topic Radar...
