What are good manners and how can I teach them?

What are good manners?

Courtesy, politeness or having good manners are all about respecting others and yourself.

How would you feel if someone:

·         talked to your friend but turned his back to you?

·         pushed you out of the way to get the seat you were about to sit on?

·         let the door slam in your face as you were about to walk through it?

·         shared your things but never shared anything of theirs?

·         never said 'please' or 'thank you'

Good manners are about considering the feelings of other people, and being the kind of person that others will like and respect.

Manners at school

·         Saying good morning/afternoon if you are walking past an adult who you know.

·         Asking if you can borrow something, not just taking.

·         Returning things that you have borrowed.

·         Waiting your turn before you speak.

·         Saying 'excuse me,' rather than pushing past someone.

·         Holding the door open for the person coming in, especially if he/she is carrying something.

·         Respecting your own and other people's property, especially school property.

·         Saying 'please' and 'thank you'.

Source: Kids Health. Retrieved from: http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&id=2526&np=287

Some activities to reinforce the skill

• Y charts to define what good manners look like, sound like and feel .
• Role-play using good manners/bad manners at home, school and in the wider community. Class can used thumbs-up/thumbs down strategy to signify whether good or bad manners were displayed– students explain their reasons.
• Good manners Jar Label an empty jar with “Manners Jar”. Anytime you see a student displaying good manners put something in (marbles, cotton balls, counter). See how full it gets at the end of the week. Can the children improve each week?
• Manner Detectives Create signs that illustrate good manners which can be used/seen around the classroom eg., “waiting your turn”, “saying please and thank you”. Students add names of students to the signs when they see them showing the good manner examples. This could also be anonymous – replace with keeping tallies. Build a good manners wall.
• Manners from A-Z List each letter of the alphabet and challenge the children to find well-mannered phrases for each letter of the alphabet. Share with class. Class could then create a book A-Z of manners with a collection of phrases.
• Create a track your manners chart you can encourage students to keep a track of their good manners behaviour (self-reflection).
• Thank you notes
• Circle Time – discuss “Using Good Manners” as well as any incidents that students have observed (positive or otherwise) in the classroom/playground.
• Paper Bag Character Study using a paper bag, students draw a picture of a main character from a story read who does/does not show good manners (on one side of the bag) and give examples from the story (on the other side of the bag) - good activity for middle/upper primary students.
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Mrs Perlini

Year 2 Teacher

Acting Assistant Principal 2015

Source: clipart.co