An Attitude of Gratitude
Beyond the Classroom Walls
A Powerful Tool For Your K-12 Classroom
Big Idea
Through school-family communication, we can provide students, parents, and/or guardians with an opportunity to live out the values of inclusiveness and equity. A gratitude classroom journal can create student and family connections beyond the classroom walls, it can invite families to share information about family cultures and traditions, and it can allow us to recognize and respect differences in family structures.
Directions
- Create a 'Classroom Family Gratitude' journal.
- Choose one student to send the journal home with weekly. Send it home on Friday and have the student/family write in it by Thursday on the following week.
- Share and reflect.
After all students have written in and shared their family gratitude page, share and reflect. Make a copy for each student or create a digital copy to be shared via digital portfolios.
When To Use
Strategy Variations
- Have a class meeting to discuss the journal. Send home a parent note or video (via) email explaining what to do.
- Give your families some ideas (birthdays, family time, a nature walk, game night, etc.). I LOVE to provide an example of what my family finds thankful in the journal for them to see.
- Encourage everyone in the family to write or draw.
- You could create a gratitude journal of family traditions/holidays. The possibilities are endless!
The effect of this journal can be POWERFUL and build connections between students and families. It will allow all students and families to seek out the good, beautiful, kind and wonderful!