"To show special care for people."
Expanded Definition
Respect is the act of seeing the good in others and showing them great admiration. This high regard manifests in acts of politeness and care, such as valuing others' feelings and treating them with dignity. Above all, it shows appreciation toward others regardless of differences.
Etymology
The word "respect" originates from the Latin respectus, which signifies the act of looking back. It originates from the Latin verb respicere, meaning "look back at" or "regard," and signifies the attention or consideration given to someone or something. Overtime, the word develops to denote high regard for someone or something due to admirable attributes or personal power.
Classroom Strategies
Respect — for the elders, authorities, and others — is one of the most fundamental skills that children learn at an early age. That is, it has come to common knowledge that this attribute promotes kindness, compassion, and discipline. As educators, you can further reinforce the value of this skill in students, regardless of their age, by implementing the following helpful strategies in your classroom:
Facilitate student presentations about heroes and idols: Ask students to create a presentation about their life heroes and idols. Keep the presentation focused on what admirable qualities or achievements make the students appreciate them. Discuss afterward how seeing the good in others is an act of respect and why it is important for creating a positive world.
Discuss how respect is shown in different cultures: If possible, engage students in a fun and engaging discussion on how different cultures show respect to others. Conduct a research and invite your students to participate in the conversation.
Teach students about the golden rule: Introduce or remind your students of the golden rule — treating others the way they want themselves to be treated. Ask them to imagine themselves in certain situations and think how they would want to be treated in those scenarios.
Conduct the “Getting to Know You Better” activity: Ask students to do individual presentations about themselves, discussing their likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, joys and struggles, and more. The goal of this activity is to allow your students to get to know each other better, and with that, they can respect each other's boundaries and limitations.
Explain the connection between empathy and respect: Seeing the good in others is only possible when one understands their experiences. Discuss with your students how empathy and respect go hand in hand, and encourage them to consider the perspective of others. Teach them to see beyond differences and connect with others on an emotional level. From there, they'll learn to admire and care for other people.
Introduce the concept of personal space: Help students become aware that every individual has a personal space that they don't share with anyone else. Tell them that they and others need this personal space and privacy to recharge and improve. Showing care for others and expressing respect means honoring this space.
Establish classroom rules on respecting others: Set classroom rules on respecting others, may they be classmates, teachers, or school staff. Enforce these rules to encourage students to practice respect at all times. Involve students in creating the classroom rules, such as, "Do not interrupt when someone is speaking” or "Return the books on time.”
Invite students to nature walks: Teach respect for the environment by observing and discussing nature. In doing nature walks, discuss with students the health benefits of immersing themselves in the outdoors and the importance of the ecosystem to their quality of life. Teach them the different ways to care for their environment, such as reducing waste, using reusable bags, and planting trees.
Watch movies in class: Watching a movie is a fun and immersive activity, especially when with friends and classmates. Depending on your class' time availability, present a film in class that features a valuable lesson on respect. You can ask them to write a reflection essay or a movie review afterward.
List the qualities of a respectful person Ask students to list the qualities of a respectful person. They can take inspiration from a person they know in real life or a person they have seen on the news. This activity will teach students what respect truly means and how to show it.
What a comfortable life and positive future it must be when all people learn to support each other, respect personal spaces, and look beyond differences. While this may seem out of reach, it is not impossible. Together, let's create a future full of possibilities by equipping students with respectful behavior and attitude. Integrate these classroom strategies into your lesson planning and help students develop essential skills while having fun!
Resources
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