Use a stuffed football, or stuffed animal of some type for this activity. Teach your students how to give a compliment, not something superficial like, “I totally love your outfit.” but something honest and meaningful like, “I noticed that you always have a kind word for people.” or, “I like how you always take your time and give your best effort.” Model a few times and then toss the object to a student, they pass to another student and this goes on until everyone gets a nice compliment and the object lands safe and sound back in your hands. The nice thing is you always get a compliment at the end which (face it) even we teachers love! 

This is a year-long bulletin board.  There is a leafless tree on the board.  After reading the book, The Giving Tree, we talked about giving to each other.  One way to do this is to give each other compliments.  When a student sees something that they would like to compliment, they can write on a leaf and put it on the tree.  Throughout the year, the tree gets more and more leaves. 

Greet your kids at the door in the morning. My students know they can’t enter the room in the morning on their own.  Look them straight in the eyes (make them look at you), give them a firm handshake (you will have to teach them not to give you a limp fish.

When my students get their lunch trays, they must say thank you to the lunch lady.  I have found the mandating this (and standing there making sure it happens) has caused them to be more mindful throughout the day on saying yes please and no thank you.