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Boys Town Skill of the Week

Greeting Others

Boys Town Skillof the WeekGreeting Others

Greeting Others

“Greeting Others” is a skill kids will need throughout life but also has the added benefit of improving classroom relationships and culture. Each morning as your students enter your classroom, meet them at the classroom door and greet them with something individualized and personal. This not only teaches and models for them the important skill of “Greeting Others,” but gives you the daily opportunity to make a personal connection with each one. Go a step further by greeting each student when returning from lunch and then adapting the skill to saying goodbye at the end of each day. These individual interactions with each student will go a long way in developing positive, trusting relationships.
Greeting Others Social Skill Video

Morning Meeting

Morning Meeting is a great place to practice social skills, especially those greetings! Remember there are lots of ideas in the Morning Meeting folder in Google Drive under PD and Resources. I will also include a link to the Responsive Classroom website which is a great place for ideas so be sure to look around. Also check out the Core Coaches link and how they incorporate fun greetings into their morning.
People Like it When I Say Hi
Greeting Others is a skill that, while positive and helpful, is not often seen as a critical classroom management skill so it can be overlooked. However, teaching students how to greet others can greatly improve classroom community so be sure to teach it early. Remember to model the nonverbal skills such as eye contact, voice tone, and body language you want to see from students.

Planned Teaching

Introduce the Skill - have students brainstorm why greeting others appropriately is important


  • others see you as friendly
  • helps you make a good first impression
  • helps build a positive school culture
  • improves your mood and the mood of others
  • you may make someone who is sad feel better

Describe the Appropriate Behavior



  1. Look at the person - shows confidence, respect, maturity
  2. Use a pleasant voice tone - an energetic or happy tone says you are glad to greet them
  3. Say "Hi" or "Hello" - lots of ways to greet someone

Give a reason or rationale



  • A first impression is often a lasting one which is why it is important to greet someone in a friendly manner
  • You start relationships/friendships off on a positive note
  • You help others feel more relaxed and pleasant around you
  • Others will see you as the kind of person they want to be around

Practice



  • Model the incorrect and correct way to greet others - have fun with it
  • Give students name tags of famous people and have them walk around greeting others as that person - for a twist, put the name tags on their backs and have others give them clues as to who they are
  • Have students pair up and greet each other in another language

Role Play Scenarios



  • As you walk into the school building, you see the principal standing at the door. Offer a friendly greeting and say the principal's name.
  • Outside at recess, you see a group of your friends. Following the steps of the skill, show how you would greet them in a friendly way.
  • You come home from school and see that your grandmother is visiting. Show how you would make her feel welcome with a friendly greeting.
  • You are not a morning person and it is hard for you to be friendly early in the day. A teacher notices you enter the school and says, "Good morning!" Be friendly and greet the teacher.

Feedback

  • Praise specific steps followed and give feedback on areas of improvement
  • Let students know you will be watching in order to "catch them" using the skill
  • Continue to praise and re-teach as needed

Things to think about....

What should eye contact look like?

  • Looking someone in the eye and never looking away?
  • Looking someone in the eye and occasionally looking away?
  • Looking at someone's face?
  • Looking away most of the time but occasionally making eye contact?
  • Facing the person who is talking to you?

Why is it nice or helpful to look at the person who is greeting you?

List some times when greeting others is important.

Brainstorm some friendly and respectful greetings you can say to friends, family, teachers, etc...

How does the skill of Greeting Others help you at school? Outside of school?