Would you like your children or students to have better manners in public?
Have you ever gone to the movies and someone near you kept talking during the film? How about the annoyance of having someone kicking your seat from behind on an airplane?
1.Say “good morning” or “thank you”. Greetings are always nice to give and receive. Teach your students or children to make eye contact and say “hello” when meeting someone. When you are out and about during your daily activities, make it a practice to say “thank you” often. When someone holds the door or elevator for you, say ‘thank you”. As a parent or teacher you can show children what to to do by being the example. Remember, children are watching you. You can also point out why you expressed gratitude and how it feels to offer appreciation.
2. Excuse me: If you bump into someone, say “excuse me or I’m sorry”. Make eye contact so the other person know you are sincere.
3.Talk to your friends about the movie after its over, not during the film. When at the movies, throw away your snack containers as you leave the theater. Do not leave them behind. Don’t kick the chair in front of you.
4.Don’t cut in front of others while standing in line. Wait for your turn.
5.Don’t chew gum with your mouth open, and don’t make the popping noise. Only blow bubbles in private. Practicing proper etiquette in public places shows others that you are considerate. It also reinforces your own integrity for choosing to use the good manners you were taught.
6. When out for a day of shopping, put things back the way they were found. Refold the t-shirt you picked up. If you drop a pair of jeans, refold them and put the item back where you found it.
Children learn from the actions of others. Make it common practice in your home or classroom to show consideration for each family member, so that when they’re in public, it will seem natural.
Teaching children to be kind is key to being healthy, happy, and having good manners. Doesn’t it warm your heart when you hear a child has been involved in helping out the community in some significant way? How about the moment when you observe a child talking to the newest student at school? Point these moments out to your students. Kindness lifts our spirits. This can be felt on both sides of the act. As you witness a child demonstrating kindness, point out the act to them and discuss it.
When you discuss the action of performing random acts of kindness there is a chance this will become “standard operating procedure”.
Let your students know this is not about being kind just to receive a gesture of kindness. It is about the feeling it leaves inside when you perform an act of kindness.
Random acts of kindness can make our lives better and easier. Have your student’s friendships improved? How about their relationships with other teachers or educators at your school? Maybe just maybe they feel more confident and happier. I promise this will make for an interesting and positive conversation in your classroom.
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 NOTself-guided.
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.
Manners To Go is happy to announce we have licensed and certified another teacher to start an etiquette business.
I have a very special place in my heart for teachers. My mother was a teacher for nearly 36 years. My sister was a school administrator. All of my aunts and uncles were teachers.
A Teacher Starts an Etiquette Business
My lineage runs deep. I remember helping my mother set-up her classroom at the beginning of the year.
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 NOTself-guided.
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.
This book will help you teach social skills in your classroom.
Last weekend I was in our local bookstore. This title, Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang, jumped off the shelf. I walked right to it.
Yes, the cover is bright and inviting but once I opened the book and read a few pages, I knew I had to add to my resources for Preschool children.
Use This Book to Make a Human Connection
And this is why: this book speaks to the many cultures that make up the classrooms across the world. This book also addresses how to make the human connection.
If you have been following us, you know I am a big believer in this topic. Why not start them young – in Preschool?
“The playroom was quiet. Luli couldn’t speak English. Neither could the others. All around the room, children played alone.”
The story goes on to tell about Luli’s plan. She has a fat-bellied (don’t you love this description) teapot with matching cups.
Luli passes around the tea cups to all the children in her class. And everyone speaks a different language- however, they all speak the language of TEA!
This story is heartwarming! I encourage you to get your own copy and share it with your students.
Luli uses a “fat-bellied” teapot to connect with her classmates. This type of teapot is easy to find. You can use paper cups to pass around lemonade or water. Let your students practice pouring tea for each other.
During this time, have them engage in conversation with their classmates. You can read them the story of Luli while they are having “tea”.
A Teacher Becomes More Interesting When Teaching Manners in Elementary School
Storytelling is what sets you apart as a teacher.Think about it.As a teacher, I don’t need to tell you how much younger children love it when someone reads a story to them.
This works for elementary school students too…only you don’t need to read to them….TELL them a story.
A story about you and an experience you had.Maybe you made an “etiquette” mistake.Maybe you made the right decision by choosing to use your good manners in a certain situation.
Good or bad, share your story.Make it real for this age group.
I can promise, they will sit up and listen to “your” story.It will make you more interesting.
The moment you share your story is the moment you take control of your classroom and become more interesting as a teacher.
Manners are not about rules so don’t teach it in that way.Share a real-life experience.
Lisa Richey, founder, Manners To Go | Join Our Manners Movement
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:
Here is How Students Feel When Using Good Manners and Life Skills:
More confident
Self-assured
Ready to take more risks
Prepared for college or job interviews and internships
Happier and healthy
Friendlier
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.
Lisa Richey provides etiquette programs to businesses, schools, and individuals.
