Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
Tier 1 Supports That Work: Free Resources to Support Your Students
A strong foundation of support is key to helping all students succeed academically, socially, and behaviorally. The Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) provides a proactive framework that ensures students receive what they need, starting at Tier 1—universal...
Free Lesson Plan & Worksheet for High School: Problem-Solving in Groups
Collaboration is an essential skill for high school students. Whether they’re working on a group project, participating in team sports, or solving real-world challenges, they need to know how to work together, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts...
Free Middle School Problem-Solving Activity: Identifying the Problem
Middle school students encounter challenges daily—navigating friendships, managing schoolwork, handling emotions, and making decisions. However, one of the biggest obstacles to solving problems effectively is not recognizing the actual problem in the first place. Many...
Nonverbal Communication Activities & Lessons for the Classroom
Nonverbal communication plays a crucial role in how students express themselves, understand others, and navigate social interactions. From tone of voice to facial expressions and body language, students rely on nonverbal cues to interpret meaning, build relationships,...
Strengthening Executive Functioning in Students: Lessons, Strategies, and Resources
Executive functioning skills are critical for student success, particularly for those receiving support through special education, counseling, and intervention services. These skills impact a student's ability to stay organized, regulate emotions, follow multi-step...
Nonverbal Communication Activity: Visual Referencing for Middle School
Download Activity and Lesson Plan As special educators, we understand the unique challenges middle schoolers face, particularly when it comes to nonverbal communication. Many students in this age group struggle with making eye contact during social interactions. While...
Free Tone of Voice Activity for High School Students
Download Activity and Lesson Plan Many high school students struggle with nonverbal communication, particularly in understanding and using tone of voice effectively. Whether it’s detecting sarcasm, expressing emotions appropriately, or adjusting their tone based on...
Nonverbal Communication Activity: Visual Referencing for Elementary
Download Activity and Lesson Plan Visual referencing is a key nonverbal communication strategy that helps students engage in conversations without the pressure of direct eye contact. Often referred to as social referencing, this skill allows learners to observe and...
Mindfulness Activities for Kids: Fun & Simple Ways to Teach Calm and Focus
Helping kids develop mindfulness skills is one of the most powerful ways to support their emotional well-being, focus, and self-regulation. Whether at home, in the classroom, or in therapy sessions, mindfulness activities provide children with the tools they need to...
No-Prep Activities
Teaching Effective Group Work and Collaboration Skills to Students
Effective group work and collaboration skills are essential for students to succeed in various aspects of their personal, academic, and professional lives. By fostering these skills early on, educators can help students become better communicators, problem solvers,...
Teaching Elementary Students to Be ‘Tuned In’ – A Social-Emotional Learning Approach
Introduction Being 'Tuned In' is an essential skill for students to develop as they navigate their social and educational environments. This skill involves noticing one's own actions and the actions of others, ensuring that actions are appropriate for the situation,...
Teaching Problem-Solving Skills Through Social-Emotional Learning
Introduction In our daily lives, we all face problems, both big and small. These problems can arise from our own actions or from circumstances beyond our control. As educators, it's essential to teach our students how to effectively handle these problems by developing...
Calming Break for PreK Students Using Our Senses
Introduction Educators working with PreK students often face the challenge of helping them self-regulate and manage their emotions. One effective way to do this is by engaging them in a calming activity that uses their senses. This approach is rooted in the principles...
Teaching High School Students About the Importance of Good Hygiene
Introduction As educators, it is essential to teach high school students the importance of good hygiene. Maintaining proper hygiene not only keeps students healthy but also helps them feel more comfortable around others. By emphasizing the significance of daily...
Adapting to Schedule Changes: Skills and Activities for Middle School Students
Introduction As educators, we understand that some students thrive on routine and predictability. However, life is full of unexpected events, and it's essential for students to learn how to handle changes in their daily schedules. In this blog post, we'll explore an...
Teaching PreK Students to Manage Jealousy: Activities and Discussions
Introduction Jealousy is a natural emotion that children, as well as adults, experience. It's important for educators to teach young students how to manage their feelings of jealousy and channel them into positive actions. This blog post will explore a no-prep...
Teaching Conversation Skills with Drivers and Stoppers Bingo
Introduction Developing good conversation skills is essential for kindergarten students as they learn to interact with their peers and adults. One way to teach these skills is through the concept of Conversation Drivers and Stoppers. Conversation Drivers are...
Time Management Skills for Elementary Students Transitioning to Middle School
Introduction As elementary students transition to middle and high school, they experience increased independence. This new freedom comes with greater responsibilities, such as taking ownership of their time and learning how to budget it effectively. Time management is...
Teaching Problem-Solving Skills in Everyday Life: A Guide for Educators
Introduction Problems are an inevitable part of life, both at home and at school. They can arise from thoughtless actions or purely by accident. How we handle and react to these problems is crucial for our personal growth and well-being. As educators, it is essential...
Teaching Students to Advocate for Their Learning Accommodations
Introduction Every student has unique learning, social-emotional, and sensory needs. It is essential for educators to understand and accommodate these needs to ensure the success of each student. However, there may be instances when a student's needs are not being met...
Helping Students Understand the Importance of Diverse Conversations
Introduction In social situations, it's crucial for students to understand that people have diverse interests and not everyone wants to talk about the same topic all the time. By learning to engage in different conversations and respecting others' interests, students...
Teaching Good Sportsmanship to Kindergarten Students: A No-Prep Activity Guide
Introduction Developing good sportsmanship is an essential skill for young children, as it fosters a healthy attitude towards competition, winning, and losing. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity to teach kindergarten students the...
Teaching PreK Students to Ask for a Break: A Social-Emotional Learning Approach
Introduction In early childhood education, it is crucial to help students develop the ability to recognize and manage their emotions. One essential skill for PreK students is learning to ask for a break when they feel overwhelmed, stressed, angry, or frustrated. This...
Guess What Happens Next: School Behavior Edition – A Social-Emotional Learning Activity
Introduction In this blog post, we will discuss an engaging and interactive activity called 'Guess What Happens Next' that focuses on school behavior. This activity aims to help students understand how their actions can impact others and develop better decision-making...