Why You Should Teach Etiquette for Teens In High School

Why You Should Teach Etiquette for Teens In High School

Teaching etiquette is important at any age. But etiquette for teens is incredibly significant — especially for high school students! With so many big life changes ahead, teenagers need to be prepared to thrive socially out in the world. 

Focusing on etiquette for teens in your high school classroom will help you continue to positively impact your students. You’ll provide them with skills and knowledge that last a lifetime. 

Why It’s Essential To Focus On Etiquette For Teens

As an educator, you understand the value of social skills for every student. Particularly for high school students, knowing how to act in both social and professional situations is essential! 

Basic manners and etiquette for teens helps them make positive impressions on the right people. Whether your high schoolers are applying for part-time jobs or apprenticeships, college, or interviewing, etiquette is the key! 

Plus, etiquette helps teens know how to respect others. In such a vulnerable emotional time as adolescence, the more respect and empathy we can foster, the better! 

Teenagers who use good manners (and have amazing social skills) are more likely to receive opportunities to grow and thrive. In a modern world grounded in tons of new social etiquette rules, teens might not receive proper manners education at home. That means the classroom might be the only place they could learn social skills and etiquette for the professional world! 

Etiquette for teens impacts their ability to excel, both in school and professionally as they enter the workplace.

Related: Why Etiquette for Kids Is So Important to Teach In Elementary School

Basic Teen Etiquette To Get Started

Every teen should have a certain set of skills that will help them socially, academically, and professionally. No matter what subject you teach, etiquette for teens is incredibly important….and easier than you think to add to your classroom. 

Some basic etiquette for teens to focus on include:

  • How to make (and appropriately maintain) eye contact
  • How to introduce themselves
  • Conversation skills
  • Using appropriate language when speaking with others
  • When to put their devices away and be completely present 
  • Digital decorum
  • How to navigate a place setting
  • How to manage and present themselves well on social media
  • Expressing gratitude
  • Basic interview skills
  • Good posture when sitting or standing
  • Good hygiene
  • Dressing for professional occasions

Receiving these basic skills will help any teenager navigate the world more smoothly. All of these skills are easy to teach, but incredibly valuable (and lifelong). 

How To Start Adding Etiquette for Teens To Your Curriculum

Etiquette for teens doesn’t have to be the entire focus of your classroom. It’s easy to add small, teachable moments to your lessons, no matter what subject you teach. 

First, make sure you model good behavior in your classroom. Consistently model the etiquette and social behaviors you’d like to see your students learn. 

You can even point out moments where you practiced specific etiquette skills. 

Next, point out and celebrate when a teenager in your class is using those amazing etiquette skills. Whether it’s skills from a lesson you’ve taught or something you haven’t covered yet, celebrating etiquette helps teens see its value. 

Be direct when teaching etiquette for teens. Don’t assume that all teenagers know even basic social skills or manners! 

Everyone’s home situation, background, and lifestyle are different, so create an even playing field by showing and telling what’s right (and explaining why it’s right). 

You’ll also want to highlight the true benefits of good manners and etiquette for teens in your classroom. Let’s be honest: no high schooler likes feeling as though what they’re doing is irrelevant! The more you can show them how valuable these skills are, the more open they’ll be to learning. 

Teaching etiquette is about self-respect and respecting others. 

You should highlight to your students that etiquette and good manners aren’t just a set of strict rules. Instead, encourage students to reflect and use these skills because of how it makes them feel on the inside!

Benefits of Etiquette For Teens

Students who learn and use etiquette become more polite, well-rounded teenagers and adults.

Etiquette for teens actually leads to a number of positive character traits, like: 

  • Greater confidence and self-esteem
  • Empathy for others
  • Improved etiquette and social skills in the classroom and at home
  • Better manners in everyday life 
  • Confidence to take on leadership roles and new challenges

All of these character traits help teenagers navigate adolescence and beyond. As they grow older, those fundamental etiquette lessons will continue to add value to their lives. 


High school is one of the most important times to focus on manners and social skills. Etiquette for teens provides lifelong value and builds character. Even better, it helps prepare them for amazing opportunities as they grow older! 

If you’re ready to start focusing on etiquette for teens in your classroom, Manners To Go’s curriculums can help you! Providing etiquette and social education to your students in any subject is easy with the right strategies and tools on your side. 

Here is a FREE Guide to Help YOU Start a Business Teaching Manners to Children

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6 Things Needed to start an etiquette business
   

Here Are Your Next Steps

Step 1

Get to Know Manners To Go™

Most likely, you will want to get to know us. Feel free to call or email us. Click on the links below. We are happy to discuss the details with you.

Step 2

Decide on the best training option for you

We offer two trainings to become certified to teach manners to children:

Professional Consultant Certification - Live video training

Option #1:

“Live” Video Training

If you are looking to start immediately and save money on travel and time, then this is your best option.You choose the dates of our trainings. Most choose to have their sessions once a week, others twice. This is a “live” and private training. It is NOT self-guided.

2 Day Etiquette Certificate Training

Option #2:

Two-Day In-Person

PRIVATE Training.  That’s right, we meet in person, the two of us and our focus is completely on your business.  Click the image above or follow the button below to learn more and to see a list of cities available for your training.

Step 3

Receive the curriculum and book your training dates

Upon payment, you receive the curriculum. Next, we will send an email asking you to schedule your first training date.

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Why You Should Teach Etiquette for Teens In High School | Manners to Go

Free Virtual Afternoon Tea Instruction

Free Virtual Afternoon Tea Instruction

As an educator, you may use this information in your classroom or enjoy this event with your own family.

During this afternoon tea instruction you will learn:

The history of tea

How to hold a teacup (you might be surprised)

How to eat a scone (hint, not as if you were eating a sandwich)

Milk in first or last

How to stir (this might surprise you too)

How to set a “tea” table

Napkin etiquette

And so much more

DATES: Thursday, May 6 | 4:00 pm EDT

Saturday, May 8 | 4:00 pm EDT

This event is complimentary. We so appreciate your support over the years.

HERE ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS TO ATTEND THIS VIRTUAL EVENT

  1. Mark the dates on your calendar (choose either date)
  2. Look for our next email with a registration link
  3. Invite family and friends
  4. Once we receive your name and email, a follow-up Zoom link will be sent
Virtual Afternoon Tea Instruction
Manners To Go Lesson Plans for Teachers
A Teacher Becomes More Interesting When Teaching Manners for High School Students

A Teacher Becomes More Interesting When Teaching Manners for High School Students

A Teacher Becomes More Interesting When Teaching Manners in High School

Storytelling is what sets you apart as a teacher.  Think about it.  As a teacher, I don’t need to tell you how much younger children love it when someone reads a story to them.

This works for high school students too…only you don’t need to read to them….TELL them a story.

A story about you and an experience you had.  Maybe you made an “etiquette” mistake.  Maybe you made the right decision with choosing to use your good manners in a certain situation.

Good or bad, share your story.  Make it real for this age group.

I can promise, they will sit up and listen to “your” story.  It will make you more interesting.

The moment you share your story is the moment you take control of your classroom and become more interesting as a teacher.  This matters to a high school student.

Manners are not about rules so don’t teach it in that way.  Share a real life experience.

                             Lisa Richey, founder, Manners To Go | Join Our Manners Movement

They will remember it.  Understand it.  Use it.

To learn more about teaching manners, etiquette and life skills to high school students, click here.

Would You Like to Join Our Manners Movement and Teach Life Skills in Your High School Classroom?

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