PATHS Lesson Plan

Title: Accepting Criticism in the Workplace

Name: Carley Rector & Natalie Hayes
Subject/Grade: PATHS

Date Taught: October 12, 2015

Lesson Plan
Objective: When given criticism in the workplace, the student will be able to respond in an using positive body language,
facial expressions, and verbal recognition in 4 out of 5 trials.
Background Information: Students understand expectations in the workplace and professional behavior.
Materials: Strips of paper with criticism on it
Equipment: Projector
Classroom Management/Environment: The students will be at their desk for the majority of this lesson. They will raise their hands
and once we call on them they will give their responses, as directed. They can push their desks together during the group activity, but
will move them back for classroom discussion. The students will actively participate throughout the lesson. They will fill out a
handout to keep them focused throughout the lesson.
Engagement/Focus: CARLEY
1. Good morning students.
2. Introduce ourselves
3. This last week you have been discussing professionalism with your PATHS mentors.
a. What does it mean to be professional? [Being on time, doing your job, dressing appropriately, communicating]
b. When should you be professional? [all the time! (email, workplace, at school)]
c. Why is it important to be professional? [to be successful in the workplace, make a good impression, put your best foot
forward]
4. Today we are going to discuss a specific aspect of professionals; accepting criticism in the workplace.
a. How many of you want to have a job when you graduate from A&M?

b.
c.
5.
6.
7.

How would you feel if your future boss said You are not performing in your job as efficiently as I hoped you would?
It can be hard to respond when someone says something negative about you.
Act our scenario with Natalie and Carley!
By the end of this lesson you will be able to appropriately respond to criticism.
Please raise your hand and let me call on you before you give me any answers.

Explanation/Procedures:
1. What is criticism? NATALIE
a. An evaluation of work
b. What is not criticism: mean comments that are not helpful and are aimed to hurt you
2. Activity: sorting comments into mean versus helpful CARLEY
a. Have the students raise their hand to indicate if they believe a comment is mean or helpful
b. We will explain what makes the comment a constructive criticism or what makes it just mean
c. Explain criticism is always helpful and tells you how you can improve!
3. Body Language NATALIE
a. Body language is the way you appear when talking to someone. This includes the way you sit, what you do with your
hands and feet, and holding your head up.
b. You should sit up straight, keep your hands in your lap, keep your legs still, and hold your head up high.
c. Nodding your head shows that you listen.
d. Have students demonstrate good and bad examples
4. Facial Expressions CARLEY
a. Show pictures and have them guess what emotion their face is showing
b. Facial expressions tell the person you are talking to how you are feeling.
c. Even if you are upset, you should keep a neutral expression or a slight smile. [have them demonstrate]
5. Verbal Responses:3 easy steps! 1: What I hear you say 2: I will fix this by 3: Thank you. NATALIE
a. Always say yes sir or yes maam.
b. You do not have to make excuses to your boss, just accept what they are saying,
c. Do NOT talk back to your boss.
d. Ask what you can do better or how you can fix it.
e. At the end of the conversation, repeat the problem and solution back to your boss. Always say thank you!
f. Natalie and Carley show an example

6. Partner Game NATALIE

a. Number off partner 1 & 2
b. Pass out strips of paper when criticism on it.
c. Have partner deliver criticism, and partner 2 respond. [5 minutes per strip]
d. Switch paper with a group next to you, reverse roles.
e. Natalie and Carley will walk around and monitor conversations. [call out specific groups with good ideas]
f. What was hard about accepting criticism?
g. What is one way you could improve the next time you are criticized?
h. Which group had a great response to criticism?
Extension:
Extension: Have students demonstrate the scenarios from the partner game.
Closure: NATALIE
1. Praise the students
a. You all did a great job today with accepting criticism in the workplace.
2. Review
a. What is criticism?
b. What is NOT criticism?
c. What should your body be like when you are accepting criticism?
d. What should your face look like? {everyone show us}
e. How do we verbally respond to criticism?
f. Refer back to intro scenario and answer how Ms. Hayes should respond
3. Anticipate
a. This week you will be working with your PATHS mentors over enthusiasm and attitude. Accepting criticism in an
appropriate way shows that you are enthusiastic about your job and have a good attitude.
Assessment: We will be continuously assessing students knowledge throughout the lesson with emphasis on the partner game and
concluding questions.