School Manners Madness
These are the school Annoying Annoyances. Do you ever do some
of them? Be honest. If you did, you probably just weren't thinking. Next
time, you'll remember to think, so that you won't become an Annoying
Annoyance.
After you check the Annoying Annoyances I've listed, try some of the
activities. I think you'll enjoy them.
Dr. M
What Annoys Other Kids?
- Asking to borrow others' things all the time.
- Not asking to borrow but borrowing anyway.
- Going into other people's desks without permission.
- Calling people unkind names.
- Whispering about others and just plain whispering.
- Always keeping your hand in the air and demanding that the teacher
listen to you, not others.
- Calling people to get the homework assignment the teacher gave in class.
(This is okay, of course, if you were absent.)
- Bothering others.
- Sending secret notes.
- Not being willing to share.
- Making a book or sheet of paper about whether you like people in your
class or not.
- Ignoring people.
- Giving out party invitations in the classroom, but not giving one to
everyone.
- Saving seats at lunchtime.
- Getting upset when you don't win.
- Making fun of what people are wearing or how they talk.
- Not being clean.
- Talking about other people's families in unkind ways.
- Playing with your food or others' food at lunch. Chewing with your
mouth open. Talking when chewing.
- Bragging.
What Annoys Teachers?
All of the things (above) that annoy kids also annoy teachers.
- Acting like you don't like what the class is doing. Saying you are
bored.
- Not knowing what the class is doing.
- Complaining about little things that you can handle yourself.
- Not telling the teacher when you need to about important things.
- Minding other people's business.
- Complaining about being partners with some people in your class.
- Always giving excuses.
- Not being thoughtful to classmates and teachers.
- Not listening to other teachers.
- Not realizing that your job is to be a student.
Mannerly Activities
Activity #1: Read the lists above and decide if you agree with them.
Make a lists on your computer of the other Annoying Annoyances that weren't
on the lists.
Activity #2: Make a computer presentation or slide show about manners
in school. Emphasize what you think the most important manners are. Show
what the perfect classroom would be like.
Activity #3: A friend hands you a fancy, new notebook. It has the title
"Our Class" and the date on it. Inside on each page there is
the name of a student in your class. All of the students are included.
Your friend asks you to take the notebook home and write something about
each classmate.
You look at the book and read what has already been written. Some of
it is very nice, but some is not.
Write a story on your computer telling what you will do and what will
happen the next day in class. Give your story several possible endings.
Activity #4: Pretend you are the teacher. What rules would you set for
the students in your class? How would you enforce the rules? How would
you handle problems students bring to you that involve a conflict you didn't
see or hear? How would you encourage your students to use good manners?
Activity #5: On the computer, write a funny story and illustrate it.
The title is "How to Be an Annoying Annoyance!"
