Goal: To improve social-relationship skills
Objective(s): The student will accept positive comments about oneself or about one's accomplishments.
Process Steps:
1. Decide if someone has given you a compliment.
2. Say thank you.
3. Say something else if you want to. (McGinnis and Goldstein, 1980 p. 131)
Discuss
Definition: To accept a compliment means to acknowledge their admiring remark by saying, "Thank you."
Rationale: Discuss reasons why you accept compliments. It is polite and appropriate.
Where/When/Comments:
• Discuss feelings experienced when given compliment (proud,
embarrassed, disbelieving, etc.). Reinforce listening to the
person giving compliments.
• Ensure students have prerequisite skill of saying thank
you. Discuss how others feel if the compliment they give is not
accepted appropriately. (McGinnis and Goldstein, 1980, p. 131)
Situations:
• Elicit from students examples of times they were given a
compliment.
• Discuss the need to give yourself compliments when you
have achieved a goal.
Model/Role Play with Feedback
• Use skillbooks, workbooks or comic books. (No.3, Unit
"Accepting Compliment").
• Students make awards/certificates to recognize those who
give them compliments.
• Blow up a balloon, write name of the person who gave you a
compliment and why you appreciate it. Post or give to the person.
(Special School District, 1989 p. 145)
• Pick one student and have other students write a
compliment about that person on an index card. Have student
practice accepting compliments.
• Each student writes name on sheet of paper and gives self
compliment. Pass paper to each student who adds an additional
positive comment. Return papers and student reads aloud. (Deckert
and et al, 1989 p. 125)
• Students read ten compliments and their responses and
decide if the compliments were accepted appropriately or not.
Role play situations:
• Your teacher compliments you on good work.
• Your parent compliments you finishing your chores.
• Your friend compliments you on how you look.
• Your boss compliments you for always being on time.
• Your parents compliment you for doing a good job washing
the dishes.
• You are complimented by someone on your haircut.
• Your friend compliments your mom on being pretty.
• You are complimented on making the basketball team.
• You are complimented on your new toy.
• Your neighbor compliments your dog while you are walking
him.
• Your teammates compliment your home run.
• Your coach compliments your fielding attempts.
• Your friend compliments your new shoes.
• Your parents compliment you on how well you've cut the
grass.
• Your boss tells you that you did well after your first day
on the job.
• Your teacher compliments you on a kindness you have shown
a classmate.
Application with Feedback
• Teacher assigns model student to give surprise compliments
to all other students throughout the day. Student reports back on
other students' performance. (Special School District, 1980 p.
148)
• One student is notified daily he will be evaluated by
others. Each student is to give the assigned student one
compliment and provide feedback to teacher (either oral or
checklist).
• Other teachers are asked to compliment students and
provide feedback to teacher.
• Send a note to parents describing the skill and asking
them to evaluate their child using an informal observation or a
suggested role play.
Social Skills Curriculum Guide, 1992
Special School District of St. Louis County