Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
How Social Media Helps, Hurts, and Hooks Us
As humans, we crave connection with others. Positive relationships have a big influence on our mental health. Being socially connected to others leads to positive health benefits, including greater feelings of joy and happiness, improved self-esteem, and less feelings...
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...
No-Prep Activities
Teaching High School Students to Read the Room: Activities and Discussions
Introduction Teaching high school students how to read the room is an essential skill that helps them navigate social situations and adapt their behavior accordingly. In this blog post, we will introduce a no-prep activity that educators can use to teach this skill,...
Teaching Polite Communication Skills for Addressing Annoyances
Introduction As educators, one of our primary goals is to teach students essential life skills that will help them navigate social situations. One of these skills is knowing how to address annoyances calmly and politely. This blog post will provide an overview of this...
Surfing Conversations: Teaching Smooth Topic Transitions in Middle School
Introduction Conversations are an essential part of our daily lives, and it's crucial for middle school students to develop the ability to transition smoothly between topics. Just like surfers ride one wave until it's finished before starting a new one, students...
Teaching Elementary Students How to Politely Ask to Use the Bathroom
Introduction One of the essential social skills for elementary students is learning how to politely ask to use the bathroom. This skill helps students develop respect for their teachers and peers, fosters a sense of responsibility, and promotes a positive learning...
Teaching Honesty with Care: Balancing Truthfulness and Sensitivity in Special Education
Introduction Honesty is a crucial skill for students to develop, but it is important to understand that there is a line between being honest and being too honest. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of teaching students how to balance truthfulness and...
Developing Problem-Solving Skills and Emotion Management for Special Education Students
Introduction In our daily lives, we encounter various problems, some arising from our mistakes and others due to circumstances beyond our control. While we cannot avoid facing these problems, we can learn to manage our emotions and reactions to them. This is...
Teaching PreK Students the Importance of Answering Questions
Introduction When working with PreK students, it's essential to teach them the importance of answering questions and engaging in effective communication. By answering questions, young learners can build a strong foundation for social-emotional learning, as they learn...
Teaching the Conversation Share Skill to Kindergarten Students
Introduction Sharing is a fundamental concept that children learn from an early age. While sharing toys and games is essential, sharing in conversations is equally important. The Conversation Share skill involves taking turns in speaking, ensuring that everyone gets...
Solve It: A Step-by-Step Problem-Solving Game for Special Education Students
Introduction Problem-solving is a critical skill for students in special education settings. The Solve It game is designed to help these students navigate social situations by breaking down problems into manageable steps. This game not only encourages students to...
Exploring Direct and Indirect Communication Styles for High School Students
Introduction Communication is a vital skill in our everyday lives, and understanding the differences between direct and indirect styles can greatly improve the way we interact with others. Speaking directly means stating exactly what you are thinking, whereas indirect...
Being Tuned In: A Key Skill for Students in Special Education
Introduction Being Tuned In involves being aware of our own actions and the actions of others around us. This skill helps students ensure that their actions are appropriate for the current situation, time, and place. By practicing Being Tuned In, students can avoid...
Unlocking Your Learning Style: A Guide for High School Educators
Introduction Understanding the various learning styles is essential for educators working with High School students. Every student has a unique way of learning, which might be different from their peers. By identifying their learning style, students can maximize their...
Teaching Problem-Solving Skills and Emotion Management to Middle School Students
Introduction We all face problems in our day-to-day lives at home and at school. Some of our problems are from mistakes we made, like oversleeping and missing the bus. Other problems are out of our control and are bad luck, like our game getting rained out. While we...
Teaching Conversation Skills to Kindergarten Students: Tips for Educators
As educators, we understand the importance of teaching social-emotional learning skills to our young students. One vital aspect of this learning process is teaching conversation skills, which helps students develop meaningful connections with their peers. In this blog...
Teaching Empathy: A Guide for Educators
Introduction Empathy is a crucial skill that helps students understand and connect with others. It allows them to recognize and share the emotions of their peers, fostering healthy relationships and a supportive community. This blog post will outline an...