Simple Character Lessons for Every Student

​​Teachers spend a significant amount of time with their students. Most days, I feel like I spend most of my time talking to kids! I have noticed a few character lessons that have seem to fall through the cracks in the past few years. Here are some general character lessons that all students should be taught:

1. Please and thank you – It might surprise you to hear that many students are no longer regularly  encouraged to use these basic manners. Regardless of the reason, I feel that is important for students to regularly express their care for others with these simple words. Recently, I worked with a two-year-old who had virtually no experience saying please and thank you. It took her one week to incorporate the words into her daily language. I would even go a step further to encourage teachers to explain why these words are significant.

2. Respect your elders – I think that this is just a concept that has fallen by the wayside. This is an unfortunate truth because even as an adult I feel that it is very important to hear and respect the wisdom of my elders. It is important that students are taught that they are valued and that they are special, but students should also realize that they have a lot to learn and a long way to go (we all do!). One of the best ways that I can teach my students to be successful is to look for people in their life to conserve as mentors and leaders. Often times, that requires students to respect those who came before them.

3. Titles – Not a day goes by without a student calling me either “dude” or “bro.” I have chosen to take a humorous approach to the situation because I am not easily offended. Whenever a student addresses me as such I simply reply by saying “Mrs…” They usually laugh and correct themselves and then I’m happy to help them with whatever they needed. This is just another thing that shows respect for the people around you. I want my students to feel comfortable in the learning environment. But I feel that I have more to offer them as their elder and as their teacher than what I have to offer them by just being another adult friend. The longer that I have taught the more I come to realize that students crave classrooms where adults provide them with kind and caring guidelines that will serve them well in life.

These are just three simple character lessons that I believe point students in the right direction and build respect in the classroom. Remember, it is important to always model the rules that you hope to teach!