November invites us to slow down, reflect, and express gratitude about what brings warmth to our lives. Gratitude is both a feeling and an action that has the power to transform our outlook, nurture emotionally healthy relationships, and cultivate a sense of peace.
When you incorporate gratitude into your daily routines, it creates a ripple effect that spreads kindness and positivity wherever you go. Educators, we challenge you to use this month as a springboard to teach the art of gratitude as part of your social and emotional learning strategies in the classroom!
Why Gratitude Matters
Gratitude is more than simply saying “thank you.” It’s a mindset—a way of seeing the world that focuses on the positives, no matter how small. Research shows that practicing gratitude has the following range of benefits (Ackerman, MA):
By incorporating gratitude into your social and emotional learning activities, you can contribute to better mental health and well-being in schools!
Gratitude Exercises In the Classroom
Our Harmony EAG members are excited to share how they help students understand and practice the importance of gratitude. By making it a regular part of their classroom lessons, they’re equipping young minds with skills that last beyond the holiday season!
Anderson Manuel
First Grade Teacher
Sudbury, Massachusetts
“November is a wonderful time to focus on gratitude as we approach the holiday season. Personally, I like to start each day by listing three things I’m grateful for. This simple practice helps me shift my focus to the positive and appreciate the blessings in my life.”
Cristy Fernandez
Fourth& Fifth Grade Teacher,
Reno, Nevada
“As a class, we create ‘Gratitude Jars’ in November. Students create their own gratitude jar and fill it with sentence strips describing what they are most grateful for. When my students write about things they are fortunate to have, it helps them account for the positive things that make them feel happy.”
Ashley Rhoads
Transformative SEL Facilitator
Long Beach, CA
“We have “Thankful” notes that staff, families, and students fill out and give to each other. I use our weekly parent newsletter to highlight family conversation starters. Students also work on community projects and brainstorm ways they want to give back to their school community.”
Connie Michael
Fifth Grade Teacher
Billings, Montana
“The Harmony lessons in empathy and critical thinking are wonderful for getting my students to Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes, helping them to see them through their mistakes and their background. The Harmony game Change Like a Caterpillar is also great for supporting these skills. By helping my students to develop empathy, I think it makes them more open to true gratitude. My students now understand how to be thankful.”
Want More Gratitude Tips?
Now included in Harmony Plus, our new peer-to-peer networking platform, Harmony Connect, provides an online collaborative space for educators and school leaders to share ideas, goals, and best practices. Reach out to harmony@nu.edu to learn more!
Gratitude Beyond the Classroom
- Keep a Gratitude Journal: Establish a daily practice to recall moments of gratitude and reflect on what the valued individuals bring to your daily life. Taking just a few minutes each day to write down what you’re thankful for can shift your perspective and help you recognize the abundance around you.
- Share Your Gratitude with Others: Research has found that expressing gratitude helps strengthen your relationships. Whether it’s a quick text, a handwritten note, or a heartfelt conversation, letting others know how much you appreciate them can deepen your connections.
- Use Visual Reminders: Surround yourself with visual cues, like sticky notes or photos, that prompt you to appreciate the good things and people in your life. These reminders can serve as gentle nudges to keep gratitude top of mind throughout the day.
- Go Through the Motions: Gratitude isn’t always about grand gestures. It can be expressed through simple actions like smiling, saying ‘thank you’, and writing letters of gratitude. These small acts can make a big difference in how you feel and how others perceive your appreciation.
- Get Creative With Your Gratitude: Flex your gratitude muscles and think of different ways to express it more often. Share how you make gratitude a part of your everyday life—whether it’s through volunteering, sending surprise messages to loved ones, or taking time to savor special moments.
The lessons these teachers share aren’t just for students. As adults, we can also benefit from nurturing a spirit of gratitude in our own lives. Here are some simple reminders to keep that attitude of gratitude alive:
Thank You, Educators!
We are SO grateful to our entire educator community! While November is a natural time to focus on gratitude, it doesn’t have to end this month. Let’s ensure these practices carry on through the winter holidays and beyond, nurturing a lifelong habit that enriches lives!
Join Our “Art of Gratitude” Webinar!
Join our November webinar to learn more practical ways to integrate gratitude in your daily classroom practices. Register today!
Citations:
- Ackerman, MA. (2024). The Benefits of Gratitude: 28+ Surprising Research Findings. Retrieved from https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-gratitude-research-questions/
- Mindful Staff. How to Practice Gratitude. Retrieved from https://www.mindful.org/an-introduction-to-mindful-gratitude/