What are you thankful for?

All too often we hear so much negativity. But how often do we hear words of thanks and gratitude? The negativity in the world overpowers all the positive things that are going on. It can be hard to stay positive and look for the good when all you hear is the bad. Sometimes you have to search for the good when the bad is right in front of you.

But there is so much to be thankful for. As for me, I am thankful for my faith, family and friends. I am thankful for a good job that I enjoy going to every day. I am thankful for all the smiling faces that I pass in the hallways every day at Grimsrud.

This summer I watched a Ted talk about a young woman named Hailey Bartholomew who was married and had a couple little kids. She described herself as being depressed and was struggling to enjoy her life. She went to visit a nun who challenged her to do a 10 day project to find things for which she was grateful. She started seeing things that she would not have seen without refocusing her mindset.

This video got me thinking, if we don’t look for the good in the world, it’s going to slip right past us. This video pushed my thinking and provided the idea that sparked my action research project focused around random acts of kindness, gratitude and empathy in kindergarten. To begin my research I decided to interview students and hear what their perspective was right before the thankful season of the year.

I interviewed at least 2 students from every classroom at Grimsrud and I asked them all the same question “what are you thankful for at school?” All of their answers were incredibly inspiring. Many students were thankful for their teachers. And, I have got to say that I agree with them. I am fortunate to have the most amazing co-workers. One student said she was thankful for the janitors who help clean our school. Right? I am so thankful for our amazing custodians at Grimsrud who keep our school clean. Another student said he was thankful for the classroom. He is thankful for the physical classroom space to work in. I mean come on, it’s as simple as that. He is thankful for a cozy classroom to feel comfortable learning in. One of our staff members said she was thankful for the food bags that get sent home every week for students who need it. Our public school system in Bismarck is looking out for our students most basic needs even on the weekends. That is something to be thankful for.

This November, I challenge you to think about what you are thankful for, whether it be a short line at the Starbucks drive through or a helping hand from a colleague. Some days it might be right in front of you while other days you might have to search for it. But it’s worth the search and the good is there. So… what are you thankful for? Feel free to leave your “thankful thoughts” in the comments below this blog or join me to chat more next Tuesday the 6th at 8:30 for Twitter Tuesday on #learnbps.

Twitter Tuesday questions:

1. What are you thankful for at school?

2. Do you see your students being thankful for things at school?

3. What are your students thankful for?

4. How can we teach this concept of being thankful to our students?

5. How will searching for the good, change our school environment?