Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
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...
Free Preschool Problem-Solving Activity: Who Can Help?
Preschoolers are still learning how to navigate everyday challenges—whether it’s tying their shoes, feeling sad, or losing a favorite toy. At this age, one of the most important problem-solving skills they can develop is knowing who to ask for help in different...
Free Middle School Problem-Solving Activity: Learning to Compromise
Middle school students encounter situations that require compromise every day—choosing group project topics, negotiating plans with friends, or sharing common spaces at home and school. However, learning how to find solutions that work for everyone takes practice....
Free Middle School Problem-Solving Activity: Understanding the Problem Scale
Middle schoolers encounter challenges every day—forgetting homework, dealing with friendship conflicts, missing the bus, or feeling overwhelmed by assignments. But not every problem is the same. Some are small and can be solved independently, while others are more...
Problem-Solving Activity for Elementary: Finding Solutions
Every day, elementary students face challenges—whether it’s figuring out how to fix a mistake, navigating a disagreement with a classmate, or deciding what to do when they forget an assignment. The ability to think through these situations and make thoughtful...
No-Prep Activities
Teaching Elementary Students to Read a Room and Adapt Their Behavior
Introduction As educators, one of the crucial skills we need to develop in our elementary students is the ability to read a room and adapt their behavior accordingly. This involves observing the environment, the people in it, and their actions, helping them to make...
Teaching PreK Students the Art of Conversation: The Conversation Measuring Cup
Introduction Conversations come in all shapes and sizes, and as educators, it's important to teach our PreK students how to adapt their responses based on the situation. The Conversation Measuring Cup is a concept that helps young students understand when to give...
Teaching Good Sportsmanship: Activities and Discussions for Educators
Introduction As educators, it's important to teach students the value of good sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship is an essential life skill that helps students understand and respect the feelings of others, even during competitive situations. In this blog post, we will...
Teaching High School Students the Skill of Being Tuned In
As educators, it's essential to help our high school students develop the ability to be aware of their own actions and the actions of others around them. This skill, known as being tuned in, allows students to adapt their behavior to different situations and settings,...
Solve It: A Step-by-Step Problem-Solving Game for High School Students
Introduction High school students often face challenges in their relationships and daily lives. To help them navigate these situations more effectively, it’s important to teach them valuable problem-solving skills. In this blog post, we will introduce a game called...
Understanding Relationships with the Relationship Ruler: A Guide for Special Education Educators
Introduction As educators, we know that teaching students about different levels of relationships is crucial for their social growth and development. The Relationship Ruler is an essential tool for helping students understand the various layers of relationships and...
Teaching Empathy to High School Students: Activities and Discussions
Introduction Empathy is a crucial skill that helps us connect with others and form meaningful relationships. It is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, often referred to as "putting yourself in someone else's shoes." Teaching empathy to high...
Teaching PreK Students the Importance of Following the Group
As educators, we know that teaching our young students the importance of following the group is essential for their social development. This blog post will provide you with an easy-to-follow activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help your PreK students...
Teaching Problem-Solving Skills with the Solve It Game for Special Education Students
Introduction Helping students learn problem-solving skills can be a challenging but rewarding experience. Problem-solving is a crucial life skill, and for students in Special Education, it can be particularly beneficial in navigating their day-to-day lives. In this...
Teaching Students to Drive Conversations Forward: Strategies for Special Education Educators
Introduction Being a good friend involves taking turns in conversations and showing interest in what others have to say, even if it's not a topic that we find particularly engaging. In this blog post, we will discuss the concept of Conversation Drivers and how they...
Teaching Students to Control Thoughts and Feelings with the Self-Controller Scanner
Introduction Controlling one's thoughts and feelings is a crucial life skill that promotes better decision-making, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. The Self-Controller Scanner is a technique that helps students become more aware of their emotional state...
Teaching Problem-Solving Skills to Middle School Students
Introduction Problem-solving skills are essential for success in life, and it's important to teach these skills to middle school students. As educators, we can help students learn how to identify problems, decide whether they are big or small, seek help when needed,...
Communicating About Distractions: A Guide for Educators
Introduction In a classroom setting, students often encounter situations where others may unknowingly cause distractions or engage in annoying behaviors. As educators, it's essential to teach students effective communication skills to address these situations calmly...
Teaching Emotions to Kindergarten Students with Emotions Bingo
Welcome to a blog post that introduces a fun and engaging activity designed for kindergarten students to learn about emotions and develop their social-emotional skills. The activity, Emotions Bingo, is based on a video that shows different people experiencing various...
Teaching Personal Space to PreK Students through Social-Emotional Learning
Introduction Personal space is an essential concept for young learners to understand. It helps them respect boundaries and maintain healthy relationships with their peers. In this blog post, we will discuss an engaging no-prep activity for teaching personal space to...