Bright Spots: How to Share Gratitude in Five Minutes or Less
Dear Educator,
We celebrated Thanksgiving early with my family this week to accommodate schedules but no matter the date, I am always grateful when we can make time together (and that everyone brings food so I don’t have to cook!).
Practicing gratitude year-round is ideal, but if you are out of practice, Thanksgiving is a perfect time to pause and reflect on what you're thankful for. Cultivating a practice of gratitude can enrich our lives, our work, and the communities we serve.
We find moments of joy and foster resilience and connection by pausing to reflect on what we appreciate. This week, I wanted to pass on a quick strategy to reflect and share your gratitude this holiday season.
With Gratitude,
P.S. We just published a brand new tool that helps educators identify and leverage local resources, skills, and networks to enhance their teaching practice. Check out the Community Asset Map tool and elevate your ability to create meaningful learning experiences that connect classroom content with the real world.
BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK
How to Share Gratitude in Five Minutes or Less
My colleague, Zoe Randall, kicked off a recent team meeting with a gratitude choice board that allowed us to reflect in a way that worked best for each individual. With five minutes on the clock, we could make a call, meditate, or send a message.
It seems so simple, and it was, but providing structure, time, and a few options allowed our team a moment to lean into gratitude and start the meeting with full hearts. This practice has the power to transform our perspectives, strengthen relationships, and amplify the good we see around us. I hope you find some time this week to practice gratitude in your context with students, colleagues, or family.
What are you grateful for this holiday season? Let us know in the comments :)
NEW FROM LEARNER-CENTERED COLLABORATIVE
📖 Building Community Partnerships: A Strategy for Sustaining Learner-Centered Education. "When we forge partnerships with our local community, we expand learning and assessment beyond the classroom. These connections tap into an organic network of resources that provide real-world contexts where students can develop and demonstrate lasting competencies." Let's start building.
🎯 Nurture Gratitude. "Gain inspiration from authentic examples of this strategy shared by teachers who have used them with their learners." Access the strategy.
👩💻 Cultivate a Sense of Belonging. "Create a sense of belonging for all learners, ensuring their cultures, identities, experiences, and perspectives are represented and honored." Start learning here.
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