Gratitude for the Wider School Community
Use this practice at the beginning or end of a meeting to express gratitude for members of the school community.
Level:
Duration:
Planning For It
When You Might Use This Practice
- At the beginning or end of a staff meeting
- Other types of collegial meetings or at parent meetings
Time Required
- 15 minutes
Materials
- Writing materials
Learning Objective
Staff will:
- Express gratitude for members of the school community who have been helpful
Additional Supports
- Making Practices Culturally Responsive
- Adapting Practices for Students with Special Needs
- Making Classrooms and Schools Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered
SEL Competencies
- Relationship Skills
How To Do It
Reflection Before the Practice
Take a moment to reflect on the many helpful ways individual staff members contribute to the school. How did this this person’s act make you feel?
Instructions
- Ask everyone to journal for a few minutes as they think, beyond their closest colleagues, about the many people in the school community they depend on in order to do their best work. Think broadly and specifically about what each person contributes.
- Begin to list individuals and their contributions. For example, the custodian for cleaning up the mess your class made during a science experiment or the school secretary for comforting students when they’re upset.
- Return to the whole group and share some of these contributions.
- Think about ways you might be able to show gratitude to these people.
- Get into groups of three and share someone in particular you’d like to thank. Make a commitment to do so in the coming week and describe what you will do.
Source
Leading Together, a program that strengthens relational trust among school staff from the Center for Courage and Renewal
Reflection After the Practice
Do you notice a shift in how the adults talk to each other during the school day and/or staff meetings? Do they express more gratitude or kindness to one another?
The Research Behind It
Evidence That It Works
Research on gratitude in the workplace links gratitude to more positive emotions, less stress and fewer health complaints, a greater sense that we can achieve our goals, fewer sick days, and higher satisfaction with our jobs and our coworkers.
Why Does It Matter?
How often do the adults in a school say “thank you” to each other? Part of cultivating a positive school climate is becoming more aware of and expressing gratitude to the individuals who contribute to the running of the school, whether or not we interact with them directly. When we do, we ultimately are acknowledging others’ worth and building trust with them.
“May the work of your hands be a sign of gratitude and reverence to the human condition.”
Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Enroll in one of our online courses for educators!
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An instructor shares her experience teaching older adults the science (and practice) of gratitude.
Two Gratitude Practices for Building Trust Among School Staff
Foster kindness and goodwill at your next meeting by saying “thank you.”
Episode 7: How Gratitude Benefits Your Brain
Can you train your brain to be more grateful? Todd Zwillich, host of The Takeaway takes on the challenge.
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