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Interview Skills for Special Needs Students

Interview Skills for Special Needs Students

Job interviews can be challenging for high school special needs students, but with the right preparation and support, they can successfully navigate the process.

I am thrilled to be included in the Parenting Special Needs online magazine this month. I filmed a video specifically to discuss 5 actions a student can take to elevate their interview skills.

Here is a link to the video.

Etiquette Expert How to Prepare for Magazine Interview

Here Are Job Interview Skills and Strategies for Special Needs

  1. Preparation:
    • Understand the Job: Help students understand the specific job they are interviewing for, its responsibilities, and the skills required.
    • Research the Company: Encourage them to research the company to gain a basic understanding of its culture, values, and mission.
  2. Building Confidence:
    • Practice: Conduct mock interviews to help students become more comfortable with the interview process.
    • Body Language: Teach them about positive body language, like making eye contact, offering a firm handshake, and sitting up straight.
  3. Communication Skills:
    • Listening: Practice active listening skills to ensure they understand the questions being asked.
    • Clear Communication: Encourage clear and concise responses to interview questions. Role-play common interview questions and responses.
    • Use of Technology: If necessary, teach students how to use technology or assistive devices to communicate effectively.
  4. Dress and Grooming:
    • Appropriate Attire: Help students select appropriate interview attire based on the job and company culture.
    • Personal Hygiene: Emphasize the importance of good personal hygiene and grooming.
  5. Self-Presentation:
    • Self-Advocacy: Encourage students to share their strengths, skills, and accomplishments confidently.
    • Positive Attitude: Promote a positive attitude and the importance of showing enthusiasm for the job opportunity.
  6. Social Skills:
    • Interpersonal Skills: Teach basic social skills like making polite conversation and demonstrating respect. Our job skills component is customized for high school students and includes lesson plans and handouts to use in your classroom.
    • Handling Nerves: Help students manage anxiety and stress through relaxation techniques or coping strategies.
  7. Questions and Answers:
    • Prepare for Questions: Assist students in preparing answers to common interview questions, such as “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want this job?”
    • Ask Questions: Encourage students to ask questions about the job or company to demonstrate interest.
  8. Problem Solving:
    • Scenario-Based Questions: Practice answering hypothetical questions that assess problem-solving skills and adaptability.
  9. Portfolio or Resume:
    • Create a Resume: Help students create a simple resume or portfolio highlighting their skills, experiences, and accomplishments.
  10. Mock Interviews:
    • Conduct multiple mock interviews with different interviewers, if possible, to expose students to various interview styles.
  11. Feedback and Reflection:
    • Provide constructive feedback after mock interviews, highlighting areas for improvement.
    • Encourage students to reflect on their experiences and identify strategies for improvement.
  12. Follow-Up:
    • Teach the importance of sending a thank-you note or email after the interview to express gratitude and reiterate interest in the position.
  13. Advocate for Accommodations:
    • If necessary, work with students to identify and request reasonable accommodations for the interview process.

Remember Each Special Needs Student Is Unique

Tailor your approach to their specific abilities and challenges, and provide ongoing support and encouragement throughout the interview process. The goal is to build their confidence and skills, ultimately increasing their chances of success in job interviews.

We offer a curriculum specifically for job interview skills. Click here to learn more.

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Teach Manners in the Classroom

Teach Manners in the Classroom

My heart goes out to children.  I often wonder what is happening to their ability to connect.  Teaching manners in the classroom has never been more important.

What is it like for them to build relationships with their friends at the moment? How about with other adults outside of their parents?

Many children have dealt with this for years as we have become so accustomed to our lives orbiting around digital devices.

What is in store for this generation? What is it like for them to make a human connection? Do they know how? Do they have the confidence to start and carry on a conversation?

I do know this- we can help them

Parents Need Teachers to Help Them Teach Children about Kindness, Respect, Good Manners, and Confidence

Over the years as I have worked with parents, I often hear the comment “they will listen to you more than me”- meaning, when teaching manners, children listen to a third party.  For some reason, this is the way of the world.

Finding moments or dedicated time to teach manners in your classroom is actually very easy.  Most likely you are using good social skills all day every day in the classroom.

Teach Manners and Life Skills Such As:

Eye contact: When using eye contact, point out what you are doing.  As students use good eye contact, let them know you noticed.

Respect: Point out respectful behaviors as you see certain actions (helping others, expressing gratitude, holding the door, saying “good morning”)

Conversation skills: We have multiple conversations a day.  Recognize students when they engage with each other. Conversation skills are becoming a lost art.  This skill is the cornerstone of building friendships.

There has been a focus at the school level in many states to focus on the whole child.  

You Can Call Teaching Manners….

Life Skills

Character Building

SEL | Social Emotional Learning 

We are here to help you.

Have You Downloaded Our FREE Manners Lesson Plan (for each grade level)

If not, what are you waiting for?

Today is the day!

Teachers love using our lesson plans to teach manners in their classrooms.  The lesson plan objective along with suggested dialogues and handouts are included.

We make it easy for you.

You will not be disappointed and we promise the manners lesson plans and curriculum will make a difference in your classroom.

Teach Manners in the Classroom

Why not join our manners movement?

Manners To Go Lesson Plans for Teachers

Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children

CLICK THE IMAGE TO GET THE DOWNLOAD RIGHT NOW

6 Things Needed to start an etiquette business
   

Here Are Your Next Steps

Step 1

Get to Know Manners To Go™

Most likely, you will want to get to know us. Feel free to call or email us. Click on the links below. We are happy to discuss the details with you.

Step 2

Decide on the best training option for you

We offer two trainings to become certified to teach manners to children:

Professional Consultant Certification - Live video training

Option #1:

“Live” Video Training

If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOT self-guided.

2 Day Etiquette Certificate Training

Option #2:

Two-Day In-Person

PRIVATE Training.  That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business.  Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.

Step 3

Receive the curriculum and book your training dates

Upon payment, you receive the curriculum. Next, we will send an email asking you to schedule your first training date.

Manners To Go Lesson Plans for Teachers

Join the
Manners To Go™ movement with Lisa Richey.

Thank You Note Writing and Why It Still Matters

Thank You Note Writing and Why It Still Matters

Thank You Note Writing Will Always Be Relevant.  And Here is Why.  
Thank You Note Activity
  • Expressing gratitude is the highest form of respect
  • Receiving a thank you note feels special 
  • Thank you notes are a gesture to express how we feel and recognize someone’s efforts and kindness
  • It make a human connection

Our methods of communication have changed over the years.  You are aware of how casual we have become but thank you notes will always be in style! 

In fact, thank you note writing is an act that will set you apart, both personally and professionally.  
And that is not really the reason to do it.  Think about the time and thought that went into the gift or action.  Writing a thank you note recognizes the giver.  

Writing a thank you note also is a way to make a human connection.  We all know making a human connection has become a treasure and gift.

Have you read our article about 3 Manners Activities You Can Teach Today in Your Classroom? There is a thank you note activity to use in your classroom. Click Here

Thank you notes can have several important benefits:

  • Personal touch: Handwritten thank you notes add a personal touch that shows the recipient you took the time and effort to acknowledge their kindness or gesture.
  • Thoughtfulness: Sending a thank you note demonstrates thoughtfulness and consideration, which can strengthen relationships and leave a positive impression.
  • Gratitude reinforcement: Expressing gratitude reinforces positive behavior in the person who extended the kindness, encouraging them to continue their thoughtful actions.
  • Formal occasions: Thank you notes are still commonly used for formal occasions, such as after receiving gifts for weddings, birthdays, baby showers, or other significant events.
  • Professional settings: In professional settings, sending thank you notes after job interviews, receiving mentorship or guidance, or after collaborating on projects can leave a lasting positive impression on colleagues and supervisors.
  • Networking: Sending thank you notes after networking events or when someone has provided you with valuable advice or assistance can help strengthen professional relationships.

Overall, thank you notes serve as a meaningful way to express gratitude and can make a positive impact in both personal and professional relationships. While other forms of communication may be used, the sincerity and thoughtfulness behind a well-written thank you note remain valued and appreciated by many.

Gratitude Works Both Ways

Sitting and writing thank you notes is so up lifting for both parties. Yes, we love to be recognized, but expressing gratitude is joyful and we feel this from the inside out.

Writing Thank You Notes Can Be a Creative Outlet

I love going to stationary stores. The colors, beautiful papers (both wrapping and cards) are a delight to the senses.

You can express yourself when choosing your note cards. Are you colorful, more of a minimalist, playful and witty? The choices today are endless.

You can buy boxed cards or have yours personalized. 

Manners Free Lesson Plan
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How To Work On Interview Etiquette With High Schoolers (& Why It Matters)

How To Work On Interview Etiquette With High Schoolers (& Why It Matters)

As students progress through high school, the need for strong interview etiquette skills becomes even more important. Interview skills should be a priority in every high school classroom. 

As an educator, your role is to help your students succeed and thrive academically. But a huge part of this is preparing them for what’s to come. From scholarship and college admission interviews to their first jobs and internships, interviewing is going to be a huge barrier to success. That’s why you should focus on interview etiquette with your high school students. 

And luckily, it’s easier to implement than you might expect! 

Why Is It Important To Teach Interview Etiquette To High School Students? 

Aside from preparing students for college and career interviews, teaching interview etiquette helps shape other life skills, too. 

High school students are unique in that, when they feel fully confident, they have a contagious level of positive energy. When they learn new skills that feel relevant to real life, it’s easy to see their joy and sense of accomplishment. 

That’s right—high school students will be incredibly enthusiastic about learning new skills, as long as those skills feel relevant and practical. Interview etiquette is hands-on and lets students think and learn in a new, different way. 

Students love learning things that benefit themselves. Studying something like geometry is important, but many students don’t see how it’s relevant to their real lives. When you teach interview etiquette, you’re supporting your students in preparing for adulthood. 

Plus, you get to build that confidence in your students. A huge part of interviewing is learning to showcase yourself in the best light and celebrate your skills. Many high school students are vulnerable and feel insecure….and you have the chance to change that while helping them make a good impression and achieve their goals. 

3 Types Of Interview Etiquette You Should Teach To High School Students

If you’re worried about how to teach etiquette to your high school students, it’s way easier than you’re anticipating. 

There are actually three main types of etiquette you should focus on. We’ll go over those three types and then move into some easy strategies for incorporating interview etiquette into your classroom. 

1. Teach Them How To Have A Strong Interview Presence

The first main component of interview etiquette is having a presence. This means things like: 

  • Having good posture throughout the interview
  • Walking into the room with confident body language
  • Keeping your body language confident throughout the conversation

Our body language tells interviewers what they need to know before we even start talking. Many students are completely uncomfortable with interviews, and that shows in their body language.

Prioritize walking in with confidence, maintaining eye contact, and keeping your shoulders back and down, your torso elongated, and your chin up.  

2. Teach Them To Dress The Part

Dressing the part—and more specifically, dressing for what you want—matters. The way we dress helps portray our values and attitude toward a role. 

You’ll want to encourage students of all backgrounds to do their best to dress in an authentic, appropriate, and professional manner. Remind students that it’s okay to ask about interview dress codes if they aren’t sure. 

Typically, you can advise male students to wear slacks and a clean, pressed, collared shirt. The same outfit will work for female students, but a dress or skirt with a business-appropriate length will also suffice. 

Just remember that all students do not come from the same background, home environment, or resources. Keep that in mind when discussing appropriate interview attire

3. Work On Conversation Skills

The final fundamental piece of interview etiquette is conversation skills. There are a few important things here that you’ll want to teach your students. 

First, let your students know that they should always do research on the company (or university) that they’ll be interviewing with. Even better, if they know the name of the person who will be interviewing them, they can research that person, too. 

Next, prioritize conversation skills during the interview. Of course, basic manners and conversation skills matter here. But there are also specific that matter, like asking open-ended questions and using phrases like “describe,” “please explain,” and “tell me.”

You can have your students interview each other with scripts to practice these types of skills! 

Related: Why You Should Teach Etiquette for Teens In High School

How To Easily Teach Interview Etiquette

Now let’s get to the fun part. How do you easily teach interview etiquette in your high school classroom? 

Here are four steps you can take to do this. 

Make The Process Fun With Role-Playing

As a high school educator, you know how important it is to keep learning fun and engaging. When it’s time to prepare your students for interviews, you need to keep things hands-on and engaging whenever possible! 

Role-playing activities are a great way to engage students with real practice. You can even pair students up in groups and have them consistently practice interview etiquette once a week. 

Use An Etiquette Curriculum To Help You Plan These Lessons

If you’re looking for structured plans for etiquette in your classroom without extra stress, the Manners to Go curriculum is perfect for you! 

Manners To Go offers a job skills curriculum complete with tons of engaging activities to guarantee student success during interviews. A huge part of interview etiquette is how you carry yourself (not just your answers to questions) and that’s exactly what our curriculum focuses on. 

As a high school educator, you have lots on your plate. Manners To Go’s curriculum gives you a clear path for teaching interview etiquette in your classroom without tons of extra work. 

Practice Key Interview Skills Consistently

There are so many skills that your students need to know in order to be successful in interviews. Breaking this down into a specific checklist helps you stay on track while creating snackable lessons for your students. 

Here are some of the key interview etiquette skills you should focus on: 

  • Preparing a list of questions for the interviewers
  • Answering typical interview questions students might be asked
  • Eye contact
  • Confident posture
  • Body language and delivery
  • Inclusivity and conversation skills

Make sure to point out successes at each of these skills as students start to use them. Manners To Go’s curriculum features lessons for each of these essential skills. 

Prioritize Following Up After Every Interview  

If you want to help your students stand out, going above and beyond with interview etiquette is a must. 

And the best way to do that is to implement manners through following up! 

Teach your students that following up with an interviewer isn’t just acceptable—it’s encouraged. Then, focus on practicing those skills by writing a handwritten thank you note or email. 

These follow-ups are quick to put together, but take practice to master. They’re worth doing, particularly because they show good character and strong leadership skills. 


Working on interview etiquette with your high school students is an incredible way to prepare them for the real world. Whether your students are heading to jobs, college admissions, or scholarship interviews, they need those essential skills to succeed.

Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children

CLICK THE IMAGE TO GET THE DOWNLOAD RIGHT NOW

6 Things Needed to start an etiquette business
   

Here Are Your Next Steps

Step 1

Get to Know Manners To Go™

Most likely, you will want to get to know us. Feel free to call or email us. Click on the links below. We are happy to discuss the details with you.

Step 2

Decide on the best training option for you

We offer two trainings to become certified to teach manners to children:

Professional Consultant Certification - Live video training

Option #1:

“Live” Video Training

If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOT self-guided.

2 Day Etiquette Certificate Training

Option #2:

Two-Day In-Person

PRIVATE Training.  That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business.  Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.

Step 3

Receive the curriculum and book your training dates

Upon payment, you receive the curriculum. Next, we will send an email asking you to schedule your first training date.

Manners To Go Lesson Plans for Teachers

Join the
Manners To Go™ movement with Lisa Richey.

How To Work On Interview Etiquette With High Schoolers (& Why It Matters) | Manners to Go
Teaching Children the Difference Between Being Kind and Being Nice

Teaching Children the Difference Between Being Kind and Being Nice

When adding a manners, social skills or SEL program to your list of activities, consider teaching the subtle differences between being kind and nice.

Teaching children the difference between being kind and being nice can help them develop empathy, authenticity, and a deeper understanding of their actions and their impact on others. Here are some strategies to help teach this distinction:

Steps to Teach the Difference Between Being Kind and Nice

  • Lead by example: Children learn a lot from observing the behavior of adults around them. Model kind and authentic behavior in your interactions with others. Show genuine care and empathy, and explain your actions when you are being kind.
  • Discuss emotions and perspectives: Engage children in conversations about emotions and different perspectives. Help them understand how kindness involves considering others’ feelings and needs, while niceness can sometimes be more superficial.
  • Highlight real-life examples: Point out examples from everyday life or stories where acts of kindness have made a difference. Discuss the impact these actions have had on others and how they reflect genuine care and empathy.
  • Encourage perspective-taking: Help children understand how their actions can affect others by encouraging them to take the perspective of someone else. Ask questions like, “How do you think that person felt when you did/said that?” This helps children develop empathy and consider the deeper impact of their actions.
  • Explore authentic emotions: Teach children to express their genuine emotions in appropriate ways. Explain that it’s okay to feel upset, disappointed, or angry at times, and that being kind doesn’t mean hiding or suppressing those emotions. Emphasize the importance of expressing emotions respectfully and constructively.
  • Teach assertiveness and boundaries: Help children understand that kindness also involves setting healthy boundaries and speaking up for themselves and others when necessary. Explain that being kind doesn’t mean always saying “yes” or avoiding conflict, but rather finding ways to address situations respectfully and compassionately.
  • Practice kindness in everyday situations: Encourage children to engage in acts of kindness regularly, such as helping a friend, sharing, or showing empathy when someone is sad. Reinforce the positive impact of these actions and discuss how they differ from simply being nice.
  • Reflect and discuss: After certain situations, reflect with children on how kindness and niceness played a role. Discuss the differences in outcomes and how being kind can create deeper connections and positive change.

Remember, teaching children about kindness and authenticity is an ongoing process. Be patient, reinforce positive behavior, and continue having open discussions to help them understand the nuances between being kind and being nice.

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Elementary School Manners

Elementary School Manners

What Are Good Manners in the Elementary School Classroom and Why They Are Needed

Do elementary school students need to learn good manners?  Is it still useful for students to learn good social skills?  Are you the one that needs to teach this?  Do you even have the time?

These might be the questions you are asking yourself about now.

Trust me, your students need you to show them how to not be socially awkward or uncomfortable.

When you teach manners and life skills in your classroom, you add a great deal of value to the lives of your students.

Here is how they feel when using good manners:

  • More confident
  • Self-assured
  • Empathy for others
  • Pride in showing their parents that they know how to use their good manners
  • Better manners in everyday life outside the classroom
  • Happier and healthy
  • Friendlier

Activities to Teach Manners in Elementary School

Today, I am sharing an activity/lesson plan that you can easily easily teach in your classroom. In fact, if you click on the image below, you can download the specific manners lesson plan.

I believe when we set a goals or intention we need to understand our “why” behind it. This lesson plan will help your students understand the “why” we use our good manners everyday – in public, at at home, with others and especially in your classroom.

This is a fun activity and one that can take only five minutes – or more. You choose.

Your students can engage in a conversation, answer as a group or write down their answers independently.

Free Manners Lesson Plan
Free Etiquette Lesson Plan
Activity for Etiquette at School

Why Not Join Our Manners Movement and Teach Life Skills in Your Classroom?

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Manners To Go Lesson Plans for Teachers

We offer done-for-you lesson plans on manners and life skills.

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Have you downloaded our FREE Lesson Plan to Teach Manners in Your Classroom?

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