• Complementary practices:
  • Thank you, God! (Positive motivation and perseverance)
  • Kindness wall (Healthy relationship skills)

• Alternatively, ask students: What does gratefulness mean to you?  Give one example. 
• Rather than sharing gratitude out loud, you may choose to have students write one to three things they are grateful for in a journal at the end of each day.
• This can also be done at the end of the day, either on a sticky note or verbally, and can be added to a classroom kindness wall or gratitude wall.

Gratitude is a concept related to the positive psychology movement and reflects the value that has been shown in holding an optimistic worldview. Many evidence-based programs that are designed to enhance optimism and reduce depressive symptoms have activities that help students to “find the silver lining.”

Identifying gratitude and sharing it with another was found to benefit not only the individual but also the receiver (Kleinman, et al., 2013). Experiencing gratitude makes someone more likely to help others, possibly creating more opportunities for others to experience gratitude (Bartlett & DeSteno, 2006).

Bartlett, M. Y., & DeSteno, D. (2006). Gratitude and prosocial behavior: Helping when it costs you. Psychological science, 17(4), 319-325.

Kleiman, E. M., Adams, L. M., Kashdan, T. B., & Riskind, J. H. (2013). Gratitude and grit indirectly reduce risk of suicidal ideations by enhancing meaning in life: Evidence for a mediated moderation model. Journal of Research in Personality, 47(5), 539-546.

As Catholics we are reminded that we receive blessings from God and each other on a daily basis.

(3c) A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who creates, adapts, evaluates new ideas in light of the common good, and who thinks reflectively and creatively to evaluate situations and solve problems.

Self-regulation and well-being: to develop regulation of one’s emotions