{"id":20456,"date":"2018-10-30T11:51:21","date_gmt":"2018-10-30T15:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/strobeleducation.com\/?p=20456"},"modified":"2024-04-02T19:45:20","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T00:45:20","slug":"gratitude-in-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/strobeleducation.com\/blog\/gratitude-in-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Gratitude in Action"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seeing Visible Change Inside and Outside the Classroom<\/h2>\n

So \u2026\u00a0we know that <\/span>gratitude is an important practice for both students and teachers<\/a>. And that there are a lot of <\/span>activities that can be incorporated in the classroom to implement this practice<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But without results, then what\u2019s the point? Luckily, implementing gratitude activities in the classroom presents visible change in a variety of ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

Research Shows: Gratitude Improves Lives<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s true! Practicing gratitude has real, visible results. <\/span>Research by some big names in the field of gratitude and education proves it!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Robert Emmons, PhD, and his colleagues conducted an experiment in which some participants kept a gratitude journal and performed other gratitude activities\u2014while the other participants did not. They then compared several variables between the two groups.<\/span><\/p>\n

Their findings were amazing! <\/span><\/p>\n

Emmons and his team found that the participants who kept gratitude journals and used them weekly \u201cexercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

These same results applied to students in the study, too. Young adults who performed a daily self-guided gratitude exercise showed higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, and energy. And children who practiced \u201cgrateful thinking\u201d exhibited more positive attitudes toward school and family.<\/span><\/p>\n

What teacher wouldn\u2019t like to see that kind of positive energy in the classroom?<\/span><\/p>\n

Gratitude in Real Life<\/h3>\n

I\u2019m a follower of author and psychologist Shawn Achor\u2019s work in the science of happiness. And practicing gratitude is one of his cornerstones for injecting more happiness in your life. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Something as simple as writing down three things you’re grateful for every day for 21 days in a row significantly increases your level of optimism, and it holds for the next six months,” Achor says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Practicing gratitude is certainly a top priority for me (<\/span>and one of my top 5 \u201chappiness habits\u201d<\/span><\/a>). And it\u2019s surprisingly easy to work it into my crazy, busy life!<\/span><\/p>\n

Each night before I go to bed, I jot down 10 things I\u2019m thankful for in my gratitude journal. I\u2019ve been doing this every day for the last 10 years, and I\u2019ve retrained my brain to more easily pick out the positives in my environment. My brain is programmed to be more optimistic<\/a>\u2014and the lens through which I view the world is so much rosier!<\/span><\/p>\n

When I\u2019m taking a run and I pick up the scent of fresh flowers, I give a mental \u201cthank you\u201d to Mother Nature. When I see my son smile, I take a moment to appreciate that he has joy in his life. And when my husband changes the toilet paper roll \u2026\u00a0hoo boy, you can bet I say a great big THANK YOU for that little miracle!<\/span><\/p>\n

And all of these little things usually end up in my gratitude journal. By putting pen to paper and recording these events, I\u2019m able to stay in a state of thankfulness for all that is good in my life!<\/span><\/p>\n

Bring Gratitude to the Classroom<\/h3>\n

Gratitude is a practice. And like any practice, it can be taught. We owe it to our students to start training them in this very important life skill.<\/span><\/p>\n

The time is now to start cultivating a gratitude practice in your classroom and experiencing the positive impact it can have.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where to begin?<\/span><\/p>\n