Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
Free Middle School Worksheet: Building Confidence and Self-Worth
Middle school is full of transitions. Students are figuring out who they are, where they fit in, and what they’re good at. But with that growth often comes self-doubt—and many students struggle to see the strengths they already have. The Building Confidence and...
Partner Conversation Activity for High School: Free Conversation Share Packet
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Some students talk through every silence. Others wait quietly, unsure when or how to jump in. Neither behavior is wrong, but both...
Free High School Worksheet: Teach Students to Recognize and Respond to Bullying
The word “bullying” gets thrown around a lot, but many high schoolers still don’t know how to recognize it—or what to do when they see it. They might call every conflict bullying, or fail to speak up when a serious situation unfolds around them. The Let’s Talk About...
Free High School Worksheet: Practicing Self-Reflection
High school students make countless decisions every day. Some are small and forgettable. Others stick with them. But few are encouraged to pause and ask themselves, “What would I do differently next time?” The Self-Reflection worksheet from Everyday Speech invites...
Free High School Worksheet: Teach Students How to Practice Positive Self-Talk
Students talk to themselves all day long. It might not always be out loud, but it’s constant—narrating, reacting, and interpreting what’s happening around them. And for many teens, that internal voice is more critical than kind. Helping students become aware of their...
Free High School Worksheet: Help Students Discover and Apply Their Strengths
By high school, students are used to being evaluated—on grades, test scores, behavior, and participation. But they don’t always get a chance to reflect on the strengths that go beyond academics. And without that reflection, it’s easy for teens to overlook what they’re...
Instructional Strategies and Resources to Support Anxious Students
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges students face, yet it often goes unrecognized in school settings. It may show up as avoidance, emotional outbursts, frequent visits to the nurse, or complete disengagement. While educators are not expected to...
Free High School Worksheet: Becoming More Independent
By the time students reach high school, independence is often expected—but not always explicitly taught. Teens are navigating more responsibilities, more freedom, and higher stakes, but that doesn’t mean they always feel ready. The Becoming More Independent worksheet...
Try These No-Prep Self-Advocacy Activities for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students
Self-advocacy is one of the most important life skills students can build—and one of the most overlooked. Whether a student needs to ask for extra time on a test, speak up in a group project, or express a personal opinion, being able to advocate for themselves helps...
No-Prep Activities
Teaching High School Students Safe Social Media Usage: Tips and Activities
Introduction: In today's digital age, social media plays a significant role in the lives of high school students. As educators, it's essential to teach them how to use social media responsibly and safely. This blog post will provide an overview of essential social...
Calming Corner: Animal Breathing Techniques for Kindergarten Students
Introduction Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) plays a crucial role in a child's development, particularly in the early years. Teaching children simple and engaging techniques to manage their emotions and focus their minds can have lasting benefits. In this blog post,...
Teaching Students to Identify Interest in Conversations: A Guide for Special Education Educators
Introduction As educators working with students in special education, one of the important skills we can teach is the ability to recognize when someone is genuinely interested in a conversation. This skill is critical for building strong social connections, fostering...
Teaching PreK Students to Be the Bigger Person: Activities and Discussions
Introduction As educators, we strive to teach our PreK students valuable life skills that will help them navigate the challenges they may face. One of these essential skills is learning to be the bigger person in difficult situations. When others make us angry or...
Teaching Kindergarteners Effective Handwashing Techniques and Related Social-Emotional Skills
Introduction Handwashing is an essential skill that everyone should learn from an early age. For kindergarten students, it is important to teach them not only the mechanics of handwashing but also the underlying principles of hygiene and self-care. In this blog post,...
Enhancing Communication in Relationships for Special Education Students
Introduction Communication plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy and happy relationships. For students in special education, developing strong communication skills is essential to avoid misunderstandings and foster positive connections with others. This blog...
Teaching Problem-Solving Skills with the Solve It Game
Introduction Problem-solving is a crucial life skill that helps children navigate through various challenges they may encounter. The Solve It game is a fun and interactive way to teach elementary students how to tackle problems step by step. This game focuses on...
Box Breathing: A Calming Technique for Elementary Students
Introduction Deep breathing is a powerful technique that can help students manage their emotions and maintain a calm state of mind. By practicing deep breathing exercises, such as Box Breathing, students can learn to control their worries, angers, and fears, allowing...
Teaching Students to Ask Friends to Play: A Guide for Special Education Educators
Introduction Asking friends to play is an essential social skill that students need to develop, especially in Special Education. This blog post will guide educators through an activity that requires no preparation, designed to help students practice asking friends to...
Teaching Middle Schoolers to Understand Indirect Communication
Introduction Indirect communication is a common way people express their thoughts, feelings, or desires without explicitly stating them. This can be especially prevalent among middle school students, as they navigate the complexities of social interactions. Educators...
Developing Caring Skills for Students in Special Education
Being caring is essential for building strong friendships and family connections. It involves thinking about others in kind ways and taking actions to help them. Students in special education can benefit greatly from developing these skills, as it enables them to...
Teaching Conversation Skills to Elementary Students: Driving the Conversation Forward
Introduction Conversations are an essential part of our daily lives. For elementary students, developing conversation skills is crucial for building strong relationships and fostering social-emotional growth. One of the key aspects of a successful conversation is...
Teaching the Art of Conversation Share to PreK Students
Introduction The Conversation Share is a crucial skill for fostering healthy communication among young learners. It helps children understand the importance of balancing talking and listening in a conversation, ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to express...
Enhancing Listening Skills in Special Education: No-Prep Activity and Discussion
Introduction Listening is a crucial skill for students in special education, as it enables them to better understand the world around them and improves their social interactions. In this blog post, we will explore an engaging no-prep activity designed to enhance...
Tips for Teaching PreK Students to Make Connected Comments
Introduction Communication skills are essential for young children to develop strong relationships and navigate their social world. One important aspect of communication is making connected comments. In this blog post, we will explore the skill of making connected...
