A timely reminder of good manners in the classroom and on the playground

Q. School has started, and as always, it takes a little while for everyone to adjust – students to each other and teachers to students, especially in the lower grades. And we barely get started and there is a holiday, which doesn’t help matters. Just for a reminder, would you please list some of the key manners to be displayed at school to make it a great year? Most of the teachers I know would post them on their note board or read them to the class.

A. Thank you. Yes, the start of a new school year has its challenges, i.e., new teachers, new students, excitement from all the summer activities, not being used to sitting still for any length of time, outside voices versus inside voices, and more.

I reached out to my teacher friends, current and retired, and asked them for their input, for which I thank them very much. Here is a recap of their comments, as well as some of mine:

Taking turns to speak: This was a recurring subject since younger children are so very excited to tell everyone what they think and feel that they have to be reminded they need to raise their hand each time they want to speak, unless the teacher calls on them first. And that means not raising your hand and then starting to speak and interrupting someone else instead of actually waiting to be called up.

Listening: Sometimes children are so excited to speak or do something, they need to be reminded to “listen” to everything the teacher is telling them before they raise their hand or jump into action, thinking they know the complete guidance before it is given.

Taking turns on the playground or in the classroom: It is good to remind children on the playground about the rules of the playground and how important it is to share equipment. For example, there may not be enough swings for everyone, and if you don’t get there before all the swings are occupied, you must wait until someone leaves their swing and goes on to another piece of play equipment.

Sometimes it is difficult for children who are always first at home to learn they can’t always be first in their classroom. A teacher’s gentle words telling the class how important each and every student is – and how important each and everyone’s opinion is, but how and why they have to take turns being first, solves the situation.

It is important to remind the children to be safe and think of the safety of the other children. For example, they need to listen to the playground supervisor and not walk too close to the swings so they don’t accidentally get hit by the swing or by someone’s feet.

Being respectful of their belongings, their classmates’, their teacher’s, their classroom’s. This is very important. Each student should have their names on the personal items they bring to school and they should be careful not to tear or rip the pages of their books or the school’s books. They should not take items from their schoolmates or damage any of their property.

Saying “Please” and “Thank you.” Being polite and saying “please” and “thank you” to all teachers and other students equals a great class.

A gentle reminder from teachers to their students to use their indoor, quieter voice rather than the louder playing-outside voice may be necessary for a few days.

Being quiet when asked to be quiet: This seems to be a tough one especially for some extroverted children and for children who think whispering is not really talking.

Being patient can be another subject which teachers need to periodically address.

No pushing when requested to form a line: Sometimes younger children are so excited about going outside or going to lunch, they find themselves pushing a little to get there faster. A single reminder from the teacher usually works or being asked to go to the back of the line definitely solves the problem very quickly.

Showing kindness to each other and not making fun of classmates if they make a mistake is one of the first reminders which helps maintain decorum in the classroom.

Doing homework is so very important and one which parents’ positive encouragement makes a big difference. Doing homework as soon as the student gets home or at a specific time each evening is ideal. I can remember having a light snack when I got home after school, then some time to play and then homework before dinner and sometimes finishing after dinner. Sometimes there were deviations, but I knew I had to do my homework each and every evening.

Communicating: Teacher to student to parents or teacher to parents and student or student to parents to teacher – so vital to a successful school year.

Final note: A special thank you to all teachers for what they do each and every day to help make their students successful in life.