Everyday Speech Blog

Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles

April Content Update: What’s New This Month?

This month's new content features videos and activities about understanding what to share online and in person. This includes topics like cyber safety, understanding the difference between friends and acquaintances, and staying cool-headed in tricky situations. We...

Our New Normal: Simplified Social Lives
Our New Normal: Simplified Social Lives

The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on most people’s social lives and created a strange new 'normal'. The thought of our pre-pandemic world has become a distant memory. Going to a party indoors? Preposterous. A concert? Unimaginable! While we are all...

Navigating IEPs: IEP Steps for Educators
Navigating IEPs: IEP Steps for Educators

Guest post by Laurel Mendoza, MA, CCC-SLP, in partnership with eLuma Online Therapy. As an educator, you’ve likely participated in an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. The IEP process plays a central role in the world of special education services. IEP steps...

Forming Healthy Habits One Step at a Time
Forming Healthy Habits One Step at a Time

Habits, put simply, are the small decisions and actions we make repeatedly. According to researchers at Duke University, our habits account for about 40% of our behaviors on any given day. Because such a large percentage of our behaviors are out of habit, we’d venture...

Shifting Your Perspective: Why and How?
Shifting Your Perspective: Why and How?

Perspective: Point of view; the way we see or perceive things. “Look on the bright side!” “Put yourself in their shoes.” “Anyway you slice it...” “The glass is half empty.” It’s likely you've heard at least one of these common English idioms before. Each of them is...

Maintaining Employee Morale: Tips for Administrators
Maintaining Employee Morale: Tips for Administrators

Guest post by Laurel Mendoza, MA, CCC-SLP, in partnership with eLuma Online Therapy. People are happier when they’re recognized at work. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Bonusly and SurveyMonkey, 82% of employed Americans consider recognition an...

How to Advocate for Your Child During the IEP Process
How to Advocate for Your Child During the IEP Process

Guest post by Laurel Mendoza, MA, CCC-SLP, in partnership with eLuma Online Therapy. Advocacy: to speak, write or stand up for something or someone. Navigating the world of special education services is not easy. With numerous forms and evaluations to complete,...

No-Prep Activities

Teaching PreK Students Body Awareness and Relaxation Techniques
Teaching PreK Students Body Awareness and Relaxation Techniques

Introduction As educators, it's essential to help our students develop a sense of self-awareness and learn techniques to manage their emotions. One way to achieve this is by teaching them about body awareness and relaxation. By guiding students through a "Wiggling...

Understanding Body Language: A Guide for Kindergarten Educators
Understanding Body Language: A Guide for Kindergarten Educators

Introduction Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a vital aspect of a child's development, and understanding body language is an essential skill in this domain. By learning to read body language, kindergarten students can better understand the emotions of their peers...

Helping Students Overcome Nervousness When Meeting New People
Helping Students Overcome Nervousness When Meeting New People

Introduction Meeting new people can be a daunting experience for anyone, especially for elementary students who are still developing their social skills. It is normal for children to feel nervous or scared in such situations. However, as educators, we can help them...

Teaching Cyber Skills for Effective Texting in Special Education
Teaching Cyber Skills for Effective Texting in Special Education

Texting is a significant part of our daily communication, but it can be confusing, especially for students in Special Education. When we talk to someone in person, we can see their facial expressions and hear their tone of voice. Unfortunately, we don't have these...

Teaching Good Sportsmanship: An Essential Social Skill for Students
Teaching Good Sportsmanship: An Essential Social Skill for Students

As educators, one of our goals is to teach students valuable social skills that they can apply in various aspects of their lives. Good sportsmanship is a crucial skill that helps foster positive relationships and ensures that everyone has fun while playing games. In...

Two Sides: A Game to Teach Flexibility and Emotional Management
Two Sides: A Game to Teach Flexibility and Emotional Management

Introduction In the ever-changing world we live in, it is essential for students to learn how to adapt and manage their emotions in different situations. The Two Sides game is a fun and engaging activity designed to teach students the concepts of being flexible and...

Tips for Teaching Hair Hygiene to Kindergarten Students
Tips for Teaching Hair Hygiene to Kindergarten Students

Introduction Teaching kindergarten students about the importance of hair hygiene is a crucial aspect of their personal care education. Proper hair hygiene is not only essential for maintaining a clean and healthy appearance but also for building positive social...

Effective Communication Skills for Special Education Students
Effective Communication Skills for Special Education Students

Effective communication is a vital skill for students to develop, especially those in special education programs. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of teaching communication skills, provide a no-prep activity for educators, offer discussion questions,...