Kim Frencken: Teaching gratitude

Do you teach gratitude in the classroom? Isn't that something that parents should be teaching at home?

Yes to both questions. 

 We should teach gratitude in the classroom and parents should be teaching it at home. It is up to us to model and practice gratitude to all, but especially to those who don't live in 'thankful' environments.

There are days when I don't feel very grateful. I have more on my plate than humanly possible to complete and everything seems to be going wrong. I feel like I'm barely hanging on. That is when I stop and remember to be grateful in all things for this is God's will for me (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and to be content where I am. Not always easy to do, but it does make a difference.

Not all of our kids are living in good circumstances. Some of them are barely hanging on. If they watch how we deal with difficulties, they will have a positive role model to follow. But if they see us give up or lash out, they will learn how to negatively deal with problems. They are watching every move we make. Listening to every word we say (even if we don't think so).

Find something in each day to be grateful for: the air you breathe, you are going home today, you accomplished one task, you're vertical... It doesn't have to be enormous. Being grateful for the little things in life, makes you more aware of the big things. A shift to a thankful heart can alter your outlook on the rest of your life.

Teaching gratitude to our students isn't a lesson taught, but a life lived. Gratefully.
(For more of Kim Frencken's writing and information about her educational products, check out her blog, Chocolate For the Teacher.)