What is grace and courtesy in Montessori?
Grace and courtesy lessons teach children everyday social skills, such as greeting a visitor, waiting for a turn or interrupting politely, through short role plays. They belong to Practical Life. FutureNerds has a grace and courtesy observation type, and the AMS primary curriculum lists Grace and Courtesy as a lesson.
Examples of grace and courtesy lessons
| Lesson | What the child practices |
|---|---|
| Greeting | Saying hello, using a name, making eye contact |
| Waiting | Placing a hand on an adult's shoulder and waiting to be noticed |
| Offering | Offering a snack or a chair to someone else |
| Walking around a mat | Not stepping on another child's work |
| Saying sorry | Naming what happened and offering to help |
How the lessons are given
The guide acts out the situation first, often with another adult or an older child, and keeps it short and a little funny. Then the children take turns. Lessons are given when the class is calm, not in the middle of a conflict, and repeated often in the first weeks of the year.
How FutureNerds records it
Guides can record a grace and courtesy observation for one child, separate from lesson observations. On an assessment, grace and courtesy is part of Social-Emotional Development, next to conflict resolution and community participation.
How to record grace and courtesy in FutureNerds
- Tap Quick Record.
- Pick the child and the grace and courtesy observation type.
- Write what the child did, for example "Offered the last chair to a visitor."
- Turn on "Share with parents" if the family should read it.
- Save. The note is there when you write the child's assessment.
Questions and answers
What is an example of a grace and courtesy lesson?
Teaching a child to place a hand on an adult's shoulder and wait, instead of calling out, when the adult is talking to someone else.
Is grace and courtesy part of Practical Life?
Yes. Grace and courtesy is usually taught as part of Practical Life, alongside care of self and care of the environment.
Can I track grace and courtesy in FutureNerds?
Yes. FutureNerds has a grace and courtesy observation type, and assessments cover it under Social-Emotional Development.