Social Skills that Click: An “Everyday Speech” Subscription for Everyday Success

The goal of “Social Skills That Click: An ‘Everyday Speech’ Subscription for Everyday Success” is to provide approximately 30 middle school students with engaging, evidence-based interventions that strengthen their social language skills through an annual “Everyday Speech” online subscription. Students are navigating increasingly complex social environments, making effective communication skills essential for success in school. Many of my students in grades 6-8 with speech-language impairments require specially designed instruction for maintaining conversations, understanding social cues, perspective-taking, problem-solving, and self-advocating. Advancement in these critical areas can help them converse with teachers and peers, contribute to classroom discussions, collaborate on group projects, and complete academic tasks.

During speech-language therapy, interventions can be selected from "Everyday Speech" based on students’ interests, needs, and communication goals outlined in their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). For example, students can watch and discuss developmentally appropriate videos, participate in guided conversations, practice skills through motivating games and activities, and apply strategies to realistic situations they may encounter at school. Middle school students often respond positively to technology and meaningful activities that feel relevant to their lives. “Everyday Speech” makes therapy fun and gives students ample opportunities to practice important content, build confidence, and foster greater independence. These skills include: • Functional communication • Conversation • Understanding social cues • Perspective-taking • Problem-solving • Executive functioning • Self-advocacy • Emotional recognition and regulation • Making inferences

If my grant is funded, approximately 30 students will benefit from “Everyday Speech,” a high-quality learning aid for developing social language skills, throughout the school year. I expect students to show improvement in their ability to: • Communicate their wants, needs, thoughts, and ideas effectively. • Participate in conversations and activities with adults and classmates. • Understand and respond to social cues. • Consider another person's perspective. • Use problem-solving strategies in social and academic situations. • Self-advocate when they need assistance or clarification. • Regulate their emotions and choose appropriate communication strategies. • Generalize learned and practiced communication skills from speech-language therapy to the school environment at large and beyond. These improvements can positively affect a student's overall school experience and be tracked through various quantitative and qualitative measures, such as progress monitoring of IEP goals, academic achievement, classroom participation, speech-language pathologist observations, teacher/caregiver input, and student self-reflections. Continuous data collection throughout the school year will help me identify areas of growth, determine which skills require additional support, and adjust therapy activities to meet individual student needs.

The grant funds will be used to purchase an annual "Everyday Speech" online subscription. “Everyday Speech” will provide access to communication-focused lessons, videos, games, activities, and other resources that can be used to help approximately 30 middle school students in grades 6-8 during individual, small-group, and whole-class speech-language services.

600

"Everyday Speech" (1-Year Subscription)

600