An Attitude of Gratitude in the Classroom
Gratitude in the classroom has been proven to change the way students act, think, and speak.
“That’s not fair!”
“This ALWAYS happens to me!”
“I hate ______!” (insert: my teacher, this school, [student’s name], homework, my backpack, this pencil, that rule, AND ON AN ON AND ON!)
Any of those sound familiar? Don’t worry…you’re not alone. If I had a nickel for every time I heard those words come from a student’s mouth, I’d have replaced my teacher salary 8 times by now! But what if I told you there’s a way to reduce this type of thinking and speaking within our classrooms? Well, there is. And it starts with an attitude shift. That attitude is GRATITUDE!
Gratitude Research
I recently read some research from Dr. Robert Emmons, who is the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude (cool job, right??), that showed measurable physical, psychological, and interpersonal benefits of practicing gratitude daily. Here are some of the of things Dr. Emmons found in his research.
The Physical Benefits of Gratitude in the Classroom
The physical benefits included everything from better sleep, to less pain, and even a longer life by an average of 7 YEARS! Gratitude can also lead to stronger immune systems, healthy blood pressure, and healthier habits, including an increased motivation to exercise
The Psychological Benefits of Gratitude in the Classroom
Regular gratitude practice has been shown to lead to an increase in positive emotions, increased alertness, and a positive attitude.
The Interpersonal Benefits of Gratitude in the Classroom
The interpersonal, or social, benefits of gratitude are significant. People who practice gratitude consistently have more healthy and rewarding relationships with friends and family members. Regular gratitude practice has shown to cause people to be more helpful, more forgiving, more generous, and less lonely.
What is a Gratitude Challenge?
A gratitude challenge is a set of daily tasks that prompt students to practice gratitude in a different way each day. Just like with any other skill, daily practice gives students a chance to sharpen their gratitude practice and learn how they can incorporate gratitude into their daily routine.
Prompts can include things like:
- Tell someone why you are grateful for them.
- Close your eyes and think of a place you are grateful for.
- Thank your body for all of the things it does for you.
These are simple challenges that are easy to incorporate into the day at school or at home.
You can find everything you need to create this challenge in your own classroom here:
Interested in other classroom challenges? Take a look at my post on Kindness Challenges in the Classroom!
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