Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
How to Write IEP Goals: Example Goals for EVERY Skill
IEP goals shape the daily experience of students receiving special education services. They aren’t just legal requirements—they’re commitments. Each goal is a reflection of what the team believes the student can learn, how they’ll get there, and how success will be...
How to Build Student Agency: Resources & Strategies
Empowering students to take charge of their own learning is one of the most impactful things educators can do. When students develop agency, they build the skills needed to set goals, make decisions, and navigate challenges with confidence. In today’s educational...
Free Middle School Self-Esteem Poster: Strategies to Build Confidence
Middle school is one of the most formative stages for shaping how students see themselves. Every interaction, success, and setback influences how they think about their value—and whether they believe they’re capable of growth. The Building Confidence goal poster from...
How Everyday Speech Supports Balanced Screen Time in Schools
As more districts move to reduce screen time in schools, the challenge isn’t just about limiting how long students are on screens—it’s about making sure that technology use is intentional and impactful. District leaders are navigating how to maintain the benefits of...
Free Elementary Activity: Teach the Difference Between Teasing and Bullying
For elementary students, teasing and bullying can be confusing. Hurtful moments may be brushed off as jokes, and students may not always know when to speak up—or how to describe what they’re experiencing. The Bullying vs. Teasing worksheet from Everyday Speech helps...
How Everyday Speech Supports the New Massachusetts IEP
The new Massachusetts IEP brings a major shift in how schools approach individualized education plans, with a stronger emphasis on student-centered learning, self-advocacy, and transition planning. These updates are designed to ensure that students take a more active...
The Best No-Prep Problem-Solving Activities for PK-12 Students
Problem-solving is an essential skill that helps students navigate challenges in academics, relationships, and daily life. Whether working through a math problem, resolving a disagreement, or making a decision about time management, problem-solving encourages critical...
5 Proactive Strategies to Reduce Disproportionality in Special Education
Special education services are essential for students who need them, but systemic disparities in how students are identified and placed can lead to disproportionality. In many schools, certain student groups—particularly students of color, English language learners,...
The Principal’s Guide to Strengthening Behavior and School Culture with Social Skills Supports
As a principal, you’re always looking for ways to improve student behavior, build a positive school culture, and support teachers—but time and resources are limited. When classrooms struggle with behavior challenges, it affects learning, teacher morale, and the...
No-Prep Activities
The Art of Agreeing More Often Than Disagreeing: A Guide for Educators
In this blog post, we will explore the importance of agreeing more often than disagreeing, and how this practice can contribute to healthy communication and relationships. We'll share a no-prep activity for educators and provide discussion questions to spark deeper...
Teaching Inclusion in the Classroom: Activities and Discussions for Elementary Educators
Introduction Inclusion is a crucial component of social-emotional learning for elementary students. It involves understanding and valuing the diverse backgrounds, interests, and personalities of others. By teaching students to be inclusive, educators can foster a...
Teaching Middle School Students How to Join a Group at the Right Time
Introduction As educators, we understand the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) in the development of our students. One essential skill that middle school students need to learn is how to join a group at the right time. In this blog post, we will discuss an...
Teaching Students to Use a Filter: Think It or Say It
Introduction Helping students develop social-emotional skills is important to create a positive learning environment and foster healthy relationships. One essential skill to focus on is using a filter, or deciding whether to think or say something in a given...
Teaching Elementary Students the Skill of Waiting Patiently
Introduction Patience is an essential social-emotional skill that helps children navigate various situations in life. It enables them to wait their turn, respect others, and develop self-control. This blog post will introduce an engaging no-prep activity for educators...
Choosing Friends: Fostering Healthy Friendships through Social-Emotional Learning
Introduction Friendships play a significant role in our lives, especially during our formative years. As educators, it's essential to teach students the importance of choosing friends who are a good fit. This blog post will explore the concept of selecting friends...
Including Everyone on the Playground: A Guide for Educators
Introduction In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of including everyone on the playground, regardless of interests, abilities, or personalities. We will also explore an activity that requires no preparation, discuss related skills, and provide next steps...
Repair the Conversation: An Engaging Activity for Effective Communication
As educators, we understand the importance of teaching our elementary students strong communication skills. Social-Emotional Learning plays a crucial role in helping children develop these abilities. In this blog post, we'll introduce you to an engaging activity...
Teaching Personal Space and Proximity in Special Education: Activities and Discussions
Incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into special education classrooms can help students navigate social situations with greater ease and confidence. One essential skill to teach is maintaining appropriate personal space and proximity during...
Teaching Inclusiveness: Activities and Discussions to Promote Social Skills
Introduction In today's world, it's crucial for students to develop strong social skills that will help them navigate their personal and professional lives. One such skill is inclusiveness, which refers to the practice of making everyone feel welcome and included in...
Understanding Miscommunication in Text Messages: Activities for Special Education Students
Introduction Texting is a popular, convenient, and enjoyable way to communicate with friends and family. However, understanding the meaning of text messages can sometimes be challenging, especially for students in special education. When we're texting, we don't have...
Background Brief: A Game for Effective Storytelling and Communication
In this blog post, we will introduce an engaging activity called Background Brief, designed to help students develop effective storytelling and communication skills. By identifying missing background information in stories, students will learn the importance of...
Connected Comments: The Puzzle Pieces of Conversations
Introduction In the realm of social-emotional learning, effective communication plays a vital role in fostering healthy relationships and understanding others. One essential aspect of effective communication is the ability to make connected comments during...
Teaching Students When to Say “Sorry” – Strategies for Special Education Educators
Introduction As educators, one of our goals is to help students develop social-emotional skills. An essential skill for students, especially those in special education, is learning when to say "sorry." Apologizing is a vital aspect of maintaining healthy relationships...
Teaching Kindergarten Students the Art of Getting Attention
Introduction As educators, it's important to teach our students the skills they need to navigate social interactions effectively. One such skill is the ability to get someone's attention appropriately. This is especially important for Kindergarten students, as they...
