Gratitude in the Classroom: Leading Up to Thanksgiving Break
- Dr. Sherri Rochel
- Nov 21, 2024
- 3 min read
As we prepare our homes, classrooms, and students for the quickly approaching Thanksgiving holiday, it's easy to get consumed with all the things that need to be checked off the list, from lesson planning to grading to prepping for the upcoming season of concerts, holiday parties and days off. Still, this time of year also provides a magical opportunity to take a break, reflect, and embrace the multitude of blessings we, as educators, are graced with, from the everyday blessings like hugs, high fives, and smiles to the reminders of meaningful work that we complete - like seeing your students "in the real world" thriving (and the hugs and high fives)!
Reflecting on Wins - Big and Small
Celebrating small wins is not just an exercise for our students but also an essential step for successful educators. As you prepare to leave for Thanksgiving break, take the opportunity to reflect on the victories in your classroom in the first months of this school year. Even the most minor win—such as a struggling student grasping a challenging concept or your class being able to line up quietly for recess—is worth recognizing.
Why it matters:
Recognizing progress reminds us that teaching is a journey, and growth often happens in small, meaningful steps.
How to do it:
Write down three wins from your classroom this fall. Then, think about the impact these wins had on your students, your teaching, or your classroom culture.
Expressing Gratitude to Students
As teachers, we are not the only ones feeling the stress this time of year - our students feel it too - so be mindful as you go about your day that a little appreciation and some extra grace will go a long way to foster a positive classroom atmosphere this holiday season.
Simple ideas for gratitude:
Students love being noticed so a quick little note thanking them for their hard work, participation, or individual contributions to the classroom is a great way to make them feel appreciated.
Take time to discuss as a class and celebrate all the unique reasons you are grateful to have one another both inside and outside of school.
Create a gratitude wall where students can post sticky notes about what they're thankful for - this would be a fun one to do if you have a large enough wall and are willing to invite the entire building to participate!
Acknowledge Your Colleagues
A strong school is built by a team of amazing teachers. These individuals help you through the most challenging aspects of your career and relish in helping you celebrate your wins.
Ways to show appreciation:
Send an email or leave a handwritten note to let a colleague know just how much you appreciate them.
Deliver their favorite treat as a quick little pick me up.
Take your class on a thank you parade and see how many "Thank You's" they can say! The student that says the most gets a note home!
Practicing Gratitude for Yourself
As educators, we often forget to provide ourselves with the same love and grace that we so graciously afford to others. Take this break to pause and recognize your own hard work and growth.
Reflection prompts for self-gratitude:
What is one challenge you've overcome this semester, and how did it make you stronger as a teacher?
What's a moment in your classroom that made you smile?
How have you grown personally or professionally since the start of the school year?
Take time during break to rest, recharge and celebrate the immeasureable impact you have on the lives of your students.
Bringing Gratitude into the Holiday Season
Use the techniques you implemented above to create a classroom culture filled with gratitude.
Incorporate "thankfulness moments" into your weekly routine.
Model gratitude by sharing what you're thankful for with your students.
Celebrate milestones - big and small - throughout the year to keep the momentum going.
Check out my post about The Power of Small Victories to better understand the impact they have on learners.
Leading up to Thanksgiving break, take a moment to embrace gratitude - in our classrooms, with our colleagues, and within ourselves. Teaching a challenge profession that can also be one of the most rewarding. By focusing on what you are thankful for, we can continue to feed our passion for this meaningful work and enter into the holiday season with a full heart.
This Thanksgiving, let's remember that every lesson, every connection, and every small victory is something to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving to all the incredible educators out there - you make a difference every single day in the lives of so many! Thank you for all you do to shape our world. XO Dr. Sherri
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