Introduction

With the rise of smartphones and digital communication, texting has become a popular way for students to connect with their friends and family. However, it’s essential for students to understand the proper etiquette when engaging in text conversations. These rules not only ensure that students maintain respectful and mindful communication, but also help them develop strong social skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

No-Prep Activity

Here’s a simple, no-prep activity that educators can use to teach students about texting etiquette:

1. Divide the students into pairs and have them sit facing each other.
2. Ask each pair to pretend they are texting each other using only verbal communication, simulating a text conversation. They should take turns speaking their “texts” aloud, following the rules of texting etiquette (e.g., not texting too early or too late, waiting for a response before sending another message, etc.).
3. After a few minutes, have the pairs switch partners and repeat the activity.
4. Once everyone has had a chance to practice, bring the class together and discuss the experience. What did they learn about proper texting etiquette? Were there any challenges in following the rules?

Discussion Questions

Below are some discussion questions to help students reflect on their understanding of texting etiquette and its importance in maintaining healthy relationships:

1. Why is it important to follow the rules of texting etiquette when communicating with friends and family?
2. How can not following these rules affect your relationships with others?
3. What are some strategies you can use to ensure you’re following proper texting etiquette?
4. How can you handle a situation where someone is not following proper texting etiquette with you?
5. What are some other forms of digital communication where etiquette is important? How do the rules differ from texting?

Related Skills

Teaching students about texting etiquette not only helps them communicate respectfully and mindfully, but also develops other related social-emotional learning skills:

• Active listening: Understanding and responding appropriately to others in a conversation.
• Empathy: Considering the feelings and perspectives of others when communicating.
• Self-awareness: Recognizing one’s own emotions and reactions in various social situations.
• Self-regulation: Managing one’s emotions and behavior in response to social cues and expectations.
• Conflict resolution: Resolving misunderstandings and disagreements in a respectful and constructive manner.

Next Steps

Teaching students about proper texting etiquette is an important step in fostering respectful and mindful communication. To further support their social-emotional learning, consider exploring other related skills and resources. To get started, sign up for free sample materials from Everyday Speech, which offers a variety of resources designed to help educators teach essential social-emotional skills to their students.