Teacher Tea
Cultivating Gratitude: Building Joyful and Supportive Learning Environments
Moments of gratitude can support a positive learning environment and enhance relationships amongst students and colleagues. Gratitude practices are also a part of general stress reduction techniques, so when teachers model gratitude and encourage students to express it, they cultivate a more joyful learning experience for everyone involved.
But are teachers really given enough time in their workday to reflect on their practice in a meaningful way? When do teachers have the opportunity to cultivate gratitude?
In Leadership Freak’s “How Gratitude Transforms Burden Into Opportunity,” leadership expert Dan Rockwell reminds us that gratitude has the power to truly transform perspectives. It shifts the focus from burdens to opportunities and sets the stage for real growth.
This post highlights some key moments for practicing gratitude. For instance, Rockwell suggests that we stop dwelling on an unchangeable past and focus on positive aspects, such as supportive people or lessons learned from adversity. We should use gratitude as a response to discouragement, and to recognize the value of overcoming problems. Rockwell also adds that gratitude is a powerful antidote to an attitude of entitlement: appreciate what you have and celebrate others’ successes. Gratitude neutralizes bitterness and allows safe, trusting relationships to develop.
As teachers, expressing gratitude strengthens our connections to colleagues, students, and families. It’s not enough to simply feel grateful, says Rockwell; expressing it changes both the mindset and the environment.
The greatest power of gratitude lies in its ability to change the person who feels it. During periods of stress, or when it seems like there is a lack of support, it can be difficult to shift our perspective. Including gratitude practices and time for independent reflection in professional development opportunities might be a helpful way to encourage more positive mindset practices.