While most of us recently went around the table to share thanks, being thankful is certainly something we should encourage children to practice all year.
With the use of technology growing every day, a child’s attention to politeness and good manners can sometimes be slim. But imagine if we used technology to teach students to be grateful and kind. Imagine if our efforts were so successful that gratitude became first nature.
As cyber-bullying incidents increase, we could certainly use more positive posts on social media. Encourage students to take a pledge to post positive messages. You can even make this a class effort by starting a discussion board or using a social wall for students to use classroom time to begin their practice of positive posting.
If we want students to be thankful more than one week out of the year, start by having students create a gratitude journal where they spend 2-3 days a week blogging about what they are thankful for. You can even join them on this journey. After all, it’s never too late to start reflecting on the positives in your own life.
Video Thank You Notes
The idea of a handwritten note may seem outdated. But thank you notes should not lose their personal touch. Start a kindness campaign and encourage students to take initiative to be more thoughtful and kind to each other with random acts of kindness. When students receive a random act, let them say thanks by recording a video to share.
Many things go viral—cute things, funny things, and even disgraceful things. If we begin the process of being kinder and more grateful, imagine the impact on our students and our communities. The use of technology simply meets students where they are by incorporating tools that interest them.