First Impressions can make the difference

Included With Each Module

• A Comprehensive Teacher's Guide
• Videos presenting entertaining "Video Modeling" scenarios
• Convenient Storage Album

Series Rationale

Why “First Impressions”?

Whether you're applying for a job, meeting a member of the opposite sex, trying to get service in a department store, or simply looking for respect, how you "come off or "present" yourself in the first few minutes (or seconds) of meeting someone will play a deciding role in your future relationship with that person.

First impressions are unavoidable: We all make snap judgments about other people - their personality, their character, even their values-based on nothing more than their superficial appearance.

First impressions matter: Employers make up their minds thirty seconds after a job interview begins. You won't get the job, regardless of your skills, if you get off to a bad start.

First impressions last: Studies show that, in most relationships, the first impression you make is permanent - no matter what you do later to change it. If someone thinks you're a slob when they first meet you, chances are they will always think you're a slob!

First impressions can make the difference: Between getting hired or not getting hired...between going out on a date or staying home... between a satisfying relationship and a missed opportunity.

First Impressions can be controlled: There are a lot of things your students can't control in winning social acceptance. One thing they can control is how they present themselves... and that's half the battle!

First Impressions and the Student with Special Needs

Without awareness and training, many students with developmental, learning, and emotional challenges are especially vulnerable to the "First impression Effect. People will usually undervalue or dismiss anybody who does not present themselves as nominally "together unless, of course, they know that non-conforming individual to be talented, rich, powerful, or especially intelligent. This fact of life makes teaching "personal presentation management skills" to people with special needs especially important. They can't overcome a bad impression as easily as someone who is exceptionally competent. They can't trade competence for social deviance. But looking "together" is not hard, presenting a good attitude is not hard, and behaving with manners is not hard.

Learning simple "First Impression" skills could be enough to tilt the odds in their favor and convince others to give them a chance to prove themselves.

Our purpose is to give your students practical information that they can immediately apply to their own lives - to look their best, dress their best, and act their best.

• Do your students know which three key areas of their bodies to wash in the shower so they don't have offensive body odor? "FIRST IMPRESSIONS" will tell them.
• Do your students know how to dress to impress? They can, it’s easy "First Impressions will show them how.”
• Do your students know how to treat someone they're meeting for the first time with respect FIRST IMPRESSIONS" will provide them with models.

Not Your Father’s Hygiene 101

"First Impressions" strips away misconceptions and myths:

• Is it a good idea to brush your hair one hundred times before you go to sleep at night? (No! That’s one of the most damaging things you can do to your hair.
• To be really clean, you need to use a lot of soap? (No! Soap is irritating to the skin. The less you use, the better.)
• Bathing is important to your health. (No! Bathing has little to do with health...it's about being accepted socially.)

"First Impressions" takes on media hype:

• TV commercials promote hair conditioners for everyone, but only certain people should use them. (Are you one of them?)

"First Impressions" brings you the latest research:

• Are you still brushing your teeth the old-fashioned way? Or do you know what dentists are recommending now?

Featuring members of a nationally-known improvisation group, "First Impressions" uses humor to illustrate the wrong way to make a first impression, then models the correct way to make a good impression. By the end of each lesson, your students will know what to do - and what not to do - in making a good First Impression.