Giving and Receiving Complments

Giving and Receiving Compliments

“Giving compliments and showing appreciation when you receive them helps make the classroom and school a better place for everyone because it makes others feel noticed and appreciated.”

Pamela Seigle, co-author of the Social Competency Program

Purpose

• To understand the definition of a compliment
• To understand how to give and how to receive compliments

Introducing Compliments with Students

• Explain that a compliment is “saying something good about someone.”
• When giving a compliment:
• Be truthful
• Be specific
• Be positive
• When receiving a compliment:
• Look at the person
• Smile
• Say, “Thank you.”
• Display the compliment poster as a reference for all members of the class (sample attached)

Parent Communication

• Open parent communication is a vital component of a successful social skills curriculum. Ideas for communication include:
• Having students share what they have learned about this topic with a parent
• Addressing this topic in your weekly newsletter home
• Sending home a letter to parents addressing the topic in your classroom. An example letter is available in the Social Skills Dropbox.

From the Classroom…K-2

• Before you start the meeting, wrap a box as a gift, with wrapping paper, ribbon, and a bow.
• Share that one way to let students know you like what they do is by giving them a compliment.
• Tell students that when someone gives you a compliment, it is as if they have given you a gift and you should say “Thank you!”
• Tell the students that you will go around the circle and give each one of them a compliment such as, “Billy, you were very helpful today when you showed Tommy how to use the new computer.” As you give the compliment, hand the student the wrapped gift. He/She should say, “Thank you!” and hand the gift to the next person at which time you give that person a compliment. Point out that the compliments are truthful and specific. Continue until you have complimented all students.
• At another time, have each student practice giving a compliment by giving the wrapped gift to another student as he/she gives a compliment.

From the Classroom…3-5

• Share that one way to let students know you like what they are doing is by giving them a compliment.
• Have students define what a compliment is and have them think of a time when they received a compliment.
• Tell students that responding to a compliment in the right way is very important. They might be embarrassed, but they should still look at the person, smile, and say, “Thank you!” One should acknowledge receiving a compliment just as one acknowledges receiving a gift.
• Brainstorm some things that you might want to compliment others about:
• What can the person do well? (play ball, sing, problem solve, etc.)
• How does the person treat others? (shares, respects others, etc.)
• Remind students that complimenting should be something we do whenever we see a behavior or action that we respect or admire. It is not meant only for our friends!
• Have students practice giving and receiving compliments by going around the circle and having each person be the recipient of a compliment from a classmate.

Literature Connections:

• K-2: Manners, by Aliki,
• 3-5: Rosebud & Red Flannel, by Ethel Pochocki

When you give a compliment:

• Be truthful
• Be specific
• Be positive

When you receive a compliment you might:

• Look at the person
• Smile
• Say, “Thank you.”