How to Teach Social Skills Like a Pro

If I'm being 100% honest, doing therapy for social language skills has not always been something that I love…not that I don't like it, just that it's not my favorite part of being an SLP. Know what I LOVE? Tools that make these parts of my job easier! EverydaySpeech.com is one of those tools.

Everyday Speech is an interactive site that gives SLPs tons of materials to work on social language skills with their students. The curriculum included targets 15 different skills areas: emotional regulation, self regulation, behaviors, play skills, school rules, perspective taking, basic conversation skills, conversation topics, advanced conversation skills, nonverbal communication, situational awareness, problem solving, friendship, self esteem, and friendship.

The curriculum has a scope and sequence, which is available to download as a PDF. I appreciate this for a place to start with kids who need help in many areas. Each skill area includes goals, and you can choose which to target.

Once you choose a goal, you are taken to the teaching units. This includes the lessons, in the sequence that you are going to teach them. Each skills starts with a video introduction. These videos use kids, which my kids can relate to, and are short, which I really appreciate. Then, there are printables and games that allow you to practice, apply, and review the skill.

And if you just want to pick and choose, you can! You can browse all of the materials at ANYTIME, so that makes prepping for sessions super easy. All of the materials are in one place, easy to find, and are no prep.

What I love about Everyday Speech:

• It's all online and easy to access from my computer or tablet
• Multiple age levels targeted
• Videos to model social skills that my students are struggling with
• Extension games that are super engaging and my students love
• Carryover activities to send home
• Sequential, explicit structure for teaching each skill
• New materials every Monday during the school year, delivered to my inbox
• Makes planning SO EASY!
• Free trial, so I could try it out first

Mostly, I love the confidence I feel with using Everyday Speech. I never have to question what I'm going to do in therapy each week with my students working on social skills. I'm currently using this program with a group of K-1 students with autism, as well as 3-5 students with varying exceptionalities (behavioral disability, autism, language impairment).

What don't I love about Everyday Speech?

• I got nothing. This is the best thing I've added to my toolbox this year!

Do you use Everyday Speech in your therapy? What do you think about it?

I was given a free membership to this site in exchange for this review. The opinions in this post are mine.