Giving Thanks and Giving Back: Cultivating Gratitude in Classrooms and Communities

by Joann Taylor, Chief TxCEE Officer

It’s finally fall in Texas! The temperatures have fallen below 90, and now is the time to think about the upcoming holidays. For many of us, this time can be stressful as we consider the hosting, cooking, and cleaning for our Thanksgiving gatherings.  Despite the frantic grocery shopping and meal prepping, November brings us an opportunity to reflect on our blessings and share our gratitude. 

Research tells us that expressing gratitude benefits both you and others.  Those expressions help you feel less stressed, feel greater happiness, improve your health, and deal with life’s challenges.  While improving our lives, gratitude also helps us cultivate stronger relationships and motivates others (Harvard Health Publishing, 2021).

We here at TxCEE are grateful for many,
many things, including…

  • Dedicated school district partners who are willing to try new things.
  • Remarkable teachers who impact student lives each and every day.
  • USDE and TEA for providing opportunities to innovate with funding.
  • Research partners who are smart and diligent.
  • A home office that encourages innovative ideas and practice.

Personally, I am grateful for the most amazing team of educators who remind me every day what joy, dedication, and innovation look like.  During this season when things get to be too much, take a moment to write a note (or a text) to someone who makes your life better.  Keep a gratitude journal or count 3-5 things that you are grateful for (Harvard Health Publishing, 2021).

For our fellow educators, students can benefit from sharing their gratitude as well.   Below are some gratitude activities from a couple of resources linked in the references. 

Gratitude Activities for Students

  • Brainstorm examples of kindness and gratitude
  • Write thank you notes
  • Set up an appreciation station or mailboxes
  • Share what you appreciate about your students with them
  • Read a story about gratitude
  • Create a gratitude web or wall (Breiseth, n.d.).
  • Classroom gratitude book
  • Gratitude photos
  • Gratitude paper chain
  • Gratitude bulletin board or collage
  • Gratitude quilt
  • Gratitude graph
  • Gratitude surprise sticky notes
  • Gratitude letters to the community (Zakrzewski, 2013).

If you are interested in any of the innovative projects that TxCEE is engaging in, please visit our grants and resources pages.  We are currently recruiting for a new project focused on Middle Schools with 20% Emergent Bilingual students called MS CLASS.  If you are interested, we would appreciate it if you filled out our interest form. We hope that you have a beautiful November and find ways to share your gratitude this Thanksgiving!

References

Breiseth, L. (n.d.). Making space for gratitude: 15 ideas for schools during challenging times. Colorin Colorado. https://www.colorincolorado.org/gratitude

Harvard Health Publishing. (2021, August 14). Giving thanks can make you happier. Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier

Zakrzewski, V. (2013, November 19). Gratitude activities for the classroom. Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/gratitude_activities_for_the_classroom

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