4 Ways to Embed the Practice of Gratitude: Effective Strategies to Improve Well-Being and Classroom Culture

Did you know that there are many gifts swirling all around us waiting to be discovered? When you begin to see things as gifts, a natural response is a grateful heart. One of the greatest things I discovered was the remarkable gift of gratitude. It makes a deep impact on our well-being as it alters our perspective and leads us to live a life full of abundance and joy. Gratitude is a way of being. It is a big part of who I am and how I live my life.

I was so honored to have my work published on Edutopia: Teaching and Modeling Gratitude in Elementary School. I share four ways I model and teach students about gratitude as a way of being.

1 – Encourage gratitude with peers
2 – Explicitly model gratitude during Community Circle time
3 – Express gratitude for leadership qualities observed
4 – Share gratitude when you give feedback

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The Gift of Calm: It’s an Art and a Science!

TL;DR:

  • Control and clarity: With self-discipline, we can control emotions. Have the clarity to see that some things are out of our control.
  • Appreciation and attitude of positivity: Be grateful for what you have and choose to be positive.
  • Live and learn: With life experiences, you can see there are things out of your control. Learn from it. Children can learn by watching adults show calmness.
  • Mindfulness: Be able to see the situation as a moment in time. 
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S.P.R.I.N.G. into Savoring Breaks

TL;DR:

  • Savor Breaks – Don’t just enjoy your breaks but truly savor them!
  • Protect your time to take care of yourself by taking more breaks throughout your day.
  • Relationship – Know yourself and ask, “Is this serving me?”
  • Introspection – Dive into yourself, discover who you are, and how you best take care of yourself.
  • Nurture – Cultivate love, joy, and positivity.
  • Gratitude is a gift that is meant to be shared. Develop relationships by sharing gratitude as a way to savor your break.
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