Say Please!

So I found this cool book by Ron Clark called "The Essential 55".  It's all about raising successful students.  He has traveled all over the worked with his students and this book is the rules he created so that these students are successful in the world.  They range from Say Please to Clean Up After Yourself.  So... we're undertaking the essential 55.  Although it may be more like 52.  There are a few of his rules I disagree with (I like Doritos).  So, here I'll list the 55 and we'll start on #1 Sunday.  The plan is that we will report on each one as we go.  Here goes nothin....
1- Responding to Adults
2- Make Eye Contact
3- Congratulating Classmates
4- Respect Other's Comments, Opinions and Ideas
5- If you win, do not brag, if you lose, do not show anger
6- Ask a Question
7- Cover your mouth
8- Do not show disrespect with gestures
9- Always say thank you
10- Don't insult the giver
11- Random acts of kindness
12- Grade fairly
13- follow along when we read
14- Answer all questions with a complete sentence
15- Do not ask for a reward
16- Complete homework every day
17- Transitions -
18- Be Organized
19- Don't moan or complain
20- When Sub is present, all rules still apply
21- Follow the rules
22- [Doesn't apply]
23- Greet people by name
24- Keep yourself germ free
25- Make visitors feel welcome
26- Don't save seats
27- Don't stare at someone who is being reprimanded
28- Call someone and leave a message - once
29- ABCs of etiquette
30- Be responsible for your trash
31- Tipping
32- face forward
33- When meeting people, shake hands, repeat their name
34- Take only your fair share
35- If someone drops something, pick it up
36- Hold the door for people behind you
37- Say excuse me even if it wasn't your fault
38- Enter public buildings quietly
39- Compliment places you visit
40- Don't call out to friends
41- Answering Phone
42- Thank Chaperone's - and friend's parents
43- Go to the right, walk left (on escalators)
44- Walking in public...
45- Never cut in line
46- No talking in the movie theater
47- Do not bring Doritos into the school building
48- If anyone is bullying you, let me know
49- Stand up for what you believe in
50- Be positive and enjoy life
51- Live so that you will never have regrets
52- Learn from your mistakes and move on
53- No matter the circumstances, always be honest
54- Carpe Diem
55- Be the best person you can be
There are a couple I don't agree with (again with the Doritos) and a couple that really don't apply since this book was written for school  So here are a few more I'm going to add in from a magazine article:
1- Say Thank You - to friend's parents for rides, to the lunch lady, ALL the time
2- Don't interrupt grown ups who are speaking to each other
3- When you have doubt about dong something, ask permission first.
4- Keep your negative opinions to yourself
5- Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless it is to compliment them.
6- When people ask you how you are, tell them then ask how they are
7- Knock on closed doors - then wait for a response before opening
8- When you make a phone call, introduce yourself then ask if you can speak to the person you are calling
9- Don't call people mean names (even your siblings)
10- Don't make fun of anyone for any reason.  Teasing shows others you are weak and ganging up on someone else is cruel.
11- Even if a play or assembly is boring, sit quietly and pretend you are interested.  The performers and presenters are doing their best.
12- When you come across a parent, teacher or neighbor working on something, ask if you can help.
13- When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.
14- Use eating utensils properly.
15- Keep a napkin on your lap - and use it!
16- Don't reach for things across the table- have them passed.

WOW!  That's a long list.  I think my kids are pretty good at some of them.  Others will take some work!  So here we go... we'll see how this works...