Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
A Speech Pathologist’s New Year’s Resolutions
As we move into January, I want to write down my resolutions for 2014. I’m not usually big into setting resolutions, but re-evaluating your clinical skills is part of growing into a better clinician. For me, it’s important to be challenged and to keep increasing my...
10 Repurposed Therapy Materials
As an SLP, I often struggle to come up with new materials to use in my lessons. I don’t want things to get stale from overuse, but I also don’t have the time to be constantly creating materials. So, in an effort to be more green (and also try to save money before the...
Parents – Work on Social Skills at Home!
I am often asked what parents can do at home to help their child work on social skills. Many parents don’t know what skills to work on or how to work on them. I think you’ll find that by adjusting your mindset a little, the process becomes a lot easier. Social...
Finding EBP: It’s Easier than you Think!
I must admit I am not always the best at using Evidence Based Practice (EBP), but it’s a personal goal of mine to become better. It’s hard enough to take the time to reflect on sessions (or eat lunch), never mind find the time to read through research papers. I’ve...
Tips for Parents – How to Work with your Child’s Speech Therapist
As an SLP, I sometimes get so focused on helping my students hit their goals that I forget to take a step back and take a look at the big picture. The fact is, I’m only with each child for a limited number of hours every week. Parents interact far more each week than...
Tracking Progress – Get a Grip on your Data!
At a recent speech staff meeting, we had a lengthy discussion about keeping data during our sessions. Methods of data collection vary, especially depending on the subject. Keeping data on language and social goals can be really difficult because the concepts are...
Fun Social Activities that Won’t Feel Like Work
Parents always ask me what to work on at home, so I decided to list some social skills activities that are simple, fun and can be worked into everyday situations. You can practice all of these skills in lots of different settings. If you’re working on greetings, say...
9 Important Lessons I Learned Working with Autism
I began working with children on the autism spectrum during my first clinical practicum as a graduate student clinician. Now, three years later, I still learn something new each time I work with these children. Every individual child is so special and unique; they are...
A Beginner’s Guide to Let’s be Social
Let’s be Social! is an iPad application focused on developing social skills in children with autism and other developmental delays. The content is organized into"Skill sets", which are high level content, and then within each skill set, are organized into “Lessons”....
No-Prep Activities
Teaching Job Application Skills: A Guide for Educators
Introduction Preparing students for the job market is a crucial aspect of their education. This blog post will discuss the importance of teaching job application skills, an essential part of Social-Emotional Learning. We'll explore a no-prep activity for educators,...
Teaching Elementary Students to Stay Positive and Keep Trying
As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our students to persevere through challenges and maintain a positive mindset. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity that encourages students to stay positive and keep trying, even when faced with...
Fork in the Road: Conversation Drivers and Stoppers for High School Students
Introduction Welcome to Fork in the Road, a game where students explore the impact of different behaviors on social interactions. In this activity, high school students will examine situations involving Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers. Conversation...
Teaching Students to Tune In: Activities and Discussions for Social-Emotional Learning
Introduction In today's fast-paced world, it's more important than ever for students to develop the ability to tune in to their environment and understand how their actions affect others. This is a crucial aspect of Social-Emotional Learning, and when practiced...
Two Sides: A Fun Game to Teach Conversation Skills to Elementary Students
Introduction Teaching conversation skills to elementary students is essential for their social-emotional development. In this blog post, we will explore an engaging game called "Two Sides," which focuses on Conversation Drivers and Conversation Stoppers. Conversation...
Teaching the Importance of Hygiene: Activities and Discussions for Educators
Introduction Hygiene is an essential aspect of our daily lives that contributes to our overall health and well-being. It also plays a crucial role in our social interactions, as good hygiene makes other people feel comfortable around us. As educators, teaching...
Wake Up Your Body: Stretching for Kindergarten Students
Introduction As an educator, it's essential to incorporate activities that promote social-emotional learning (SEL) into your students' daily routines. One such activity is stretching, which helps students release tension, increase energy, and improve focus. In this...
Tuning In: A Guide to Helping PreK Students Become More Aware of Their Surroundings and Others
In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of being tuned in to our surroundings and the feelings of others, especially for PreK students. This skill is essential for developing empathy, self-awareness, and effective communication. By practicing this skill,...
Teaching Storytelling Skills to Kindergarten Students
Storytelling is an essential skill for children to develop as they grow. It helps them to communicate, express their feelings, and connect with others. In this blog post, we will discuss how to teach storytelling skills to kindergarten students using a simple, no-prep...
Oral Hygiene: A Key Component of Social Interactions for Students
Introduction Oral hygiene is an essential aspect of personal cleanliness that can significantly impact our social interactions. Ensuring our mouths are clean and our breath smells good can make a world of difference in how we communicate and connect with others. This...
Teaching Small Talk Skills to Special Education Students: Tips and Activities
Introduction Small talk is an essential social skill that helps individuals initiate and maintain conversations with others. It can be especially beneficial for special education students, as it fosters a sense of belonging and encourages social interaction. In this...
Teaching PreK Students to Stay Calm and Solve Problems
In this blog post, we will explore a valuable skill for PreK students: learning how to stay calm and solve problems. This skill is important in preventing small issues from escalating into bigger ones and promoting healthy relationships with peers. We will provide a...
Observing Others: A Key Skill for Adapting to New Situations
When students are in new situations or doing something they've never done before, it can feel intimidating. A valuable skill for students, especially those in special education, is learning to observe others to understand how to act in these situations. This blog post...
The Art of Asking for Permission: Social-Emotional Learning in Action
Introduction In the classroom and in everyday life, it's important for students to learn the value of asking for permission when using or borrowing items that don't belong to them. This essential social skill helps to promote respect, kindness, and empathy towards...
Teaching PreK Students to Ask Friends to Play: Activity and Discussion
Introduction Developing social skills is an essential part of early childhood education. One crucial skill for young children is learning how to ask friends to play. This blog post will guide educators through an engaging no-prep activity, discussion questions, and...
