Everyday Speech Blog
Social Skill Lesson Plans and Articles
20+ Self-Esteem Activities for Teens (Middle & High School)
Self-esteem plays a major role in how teens handle challenges, express themselves, and make decisions. But it doesn’t develop on its own. It’s built through small moments—when students reflect, speak up, or learn from a setback. Related resources: See our full list of...
Conversation Skills Activity for Middle School: Drive the Conversation
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Many middle school students can start a conversation, but continuing it can be a challenge. They might give short answers, go off...
Elementary Conversation Skills Lesson: Knowing When a Conversation is Over
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Knowing how to end a conversation is just as important as knowing how to start one. For many students, especially in early...
Elementary Conversation Lesson: How to Introduce Yourself
Activities to Teach Conversation Skills Help students start, maintain, and deepen peer interactions with no-prep printables and lessons.Introducing yourself is one of the most important social skills children can build. It’s often the first step in forming a...
Conversation Skills Poster for Middle School: Using Humor and Sarcasm
Humor can help students connect with peers, express themselves, and feel more confident in social settings. It can also create misunderstandings, especially when tone, timing, or audience awareness are missing. Related resources: See our full list of social skills...
Anti-Bullying Activities and Resources: Help Students Take Action
Teaching students to prevent bullying starts with clear language, real examples, and consistent practice. Related resources: social skills activities social skills lessons social skills interventions Many students understand that bullying is wrong, but they may not...
How to Teach Online Communication Skills (with examples!)
Online communication is a daily part of students’ lives — yet the skills it requires are often overlooked in traditional social skills instruction. Whether students are emailing a teacher, texting a friend, or joining a group chat, the social expectations shift...
Teaching Digital Citizenship: Skills, Strategies, and No-Prep Resources
Digital citizenship isn’t just about screen time or internet safety rules — it’s about how students show up online. Whether they’re texting a friend, sharing a photo, or using AI for a class project, students are constantly making decisions that affect how they’re...
How to Help Students Manage Their Screen Time
Screens are a constant presence in students’ lives — shaping how they connect, cope, and communicate. But while most kids know how to use technology, far fewer understand how it affects their mental health. Many students rely on screens not just for entertainment or...
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...
