With technology overload and jam-packed schedules, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s truly important in today’s world. Quite often I talk about being thankful to my students. Reflecting as a class about what we are thankful for as a whole and as individuals is important. Not only does this help build our classroom community, but it also helps students build their self-worth and reflect on things or people in life that we should give thanks to every day. Teaching, modeling, and practicing thankfulness create a community of grateful individuals.
During our reflections, we remind ourselves of these principles:
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We are not entitled to anything. We are entitled to what we work hard for and earn.
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Each day is a gift.
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Be thankful for and accept struggles because we learn from them.
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Showing gratitude is good for our hearts and our souls.
8 Quotes of Thanks & Gratitude
Life is so busy and filled with daily noise that we need some help reminding ourselves to be thankful and express our gratitude. And you could never have too many reminders about being thankful. We post these quotes from inspirational people who express thanks and gratitude in our classroom.
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” -John F. Kennedy
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” -A.A. Milne
“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.” –Henry van Dyke
“Many times a day I realize how much my own life is built on the labors of my fellowmen, and how earnestly I must exert myself to give in return as much as I have received.” –Albert Einstein
“Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect.” –Jean Jacques Rousseau
“Our favorite attitude should be gratitude.” –Zig Ziglar
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” -Harold Kushner
“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” –Buddha
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There are so many things we should be thankful for and there are so many ways way that we can express our gratitude. Do some reflective activities as a class or individually, reminding students that we all have many things that we should be grateful for, including our personal struggles. It is our experiences that make us the person we are today and who we will be tomorrow.
Imagine if we reflected all year round about giving thanks and expressing gratitude. Teaching and modeling students to be thankful and to express gratitude shapes our students to be grateful adults and citizens.
How do you teach your students to give thanks and express gratitude?
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Christine Weis is a passionate educator, classroom management coach, wife, and mom of two busy boys. She enjoys teaching, writing, and creating resources for teachers.
I believe that all children are indeed entitled to have food, shelter, basic clothing, and love. The law requires parents to provide the first three, but it ends there. Unfortunately, in today’s world, many do not get the basic needs that they are entitled to.
Speaking of giving thanks, I need to express a “lack of” that has bothered me all week. Last Thursday, I helped a librarian friend by reading to a first grade class in her school. Although the librarian thanked me repeatedly and even sent me a thank you note through the mail, I did not receive thanks from the teacher or class. As a teacher, whenever anybody came to the room, it is the teacher’s job to say to the kids, “What do we say to Mrs. ——-.” Not only did this not happen, but she herself never said anything, either. That bothers me for what she is teaching (or rather not teaching) the kids.
Thank you Joyce for reading this post and for sharing your thoughtful comments. You made a good point in which I completely agree with…all children are entitled to food, shelter, clothing and love. I always assume that is a given, but sadly in some cases it is not. 🙁
Thank you for sharing your story. It disappoints me that adults are not modeling and teaching giving thanks and kindness, for it those actions and words which mold children into kind, respectful and thankful humans. When something like this happens I say to myself that maybe that adult/teacher is going through something that made them lose sight or awareness of expressing thanks and gratitude towards others. I’m glad you received words of thanks from your librarian friend. I like the quote, “Be kind to unkind people, for they need it the most.” Words that I keep close to my heart and mind everyday.
Thanks for reading Joyce!!!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I really love these quotes. They are inspiring and thoughtful. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude is key!!!
Thank you! I love these quotes too and often use quotes as a go to for inspiration and positivity. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is such a great post, especially for this time of year. Children as well as adults can always use a refresher lesson on the importance of gratitude, and how it plays such an important role in our overall happiness and satisfaction with our lives.
Thank you! I completely agree…children as well as adults…for sure! Thanks for reading and for your thoughtful comment!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Love, Love, Love everything about this post! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays (despite the hours laboring in the kitchen). Thank you for the inspiration.
Thanks Lori! I love Thanksgiving too. I love all of the fall and winter holidays! My favorite time of the year, especially with the kiddos.
Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is such a great post! It’s so important to teach kids to be thankful and not entitled! I remember doing stuff like this for Thanksgiving too
Thanks Amanda! I hoping giving thanks and expressing gratitude is taught all year round, not only at Thanksgiving. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Love the John Kennedy one! Thank you goes a long ways 🙂
Me too! 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
What a refreshing framework to teach from. It seems all kids learn lately is how to blame everyone else for all their problems… This is great!
Thank you! I hear that a lot about students (and sometimes parents) blaming others for their problems! That makes me sad! We have to change that mindset early on. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Love that you’re teaching children such valuable lessons, ones to be cherished 💚
Thank you!! Me too! These are my favorite kinds of things to teach to develop students into kind and grateful humans!
Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
what lovely quotes. I think this could make teenager-hood a bit easier if they kids learned gratitude exercises when they were young.
I agree! Teaching giving thanks and gratitude at a young age goes a long way! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
My mom always tells me that gratitude opens you up to receive. Without it, nothing will ever be ENOUGH!
I completely agree! Mama knows best! Thanks for sharing and for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Love the 5 principals. I completely agree that it’s important to take a step back and express our gratitude.
Thanks Gaby!! Taking a step back to give thanks, reflect and express gratitude is what we need to teach, model and practice!
Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers