I Am Thankful

Gratitude journal for kids

 

It is that time of year when we want our students to be thankful for what they have in their life, classroom, and school.  

How can we help our students to feel a sense of gratitude?  If we want to make a powerful impact on their ideas about showing thankfulness, we have to model it for them.

Just like we model reading strategies for our kiddos, we must also model being thankful.

One of my favorite strategies when modeling ANYTHING…is reading picture books aloud.  Yes, I even do this when I am working with sixth graders.  

Try sharing one of these picture books every day between now and the Thanksgiving break.

Here is a book list that you will find helpful with teaching your students the importance of gratitude.

Here are a few favorites:

  • The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
  • The Most Thankful Thing by Lisa McCourt
  • The Awesome Book of Thanks by Dallas Clayton
  • Day by Day by Susan Gal
  • Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
  • Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
  • Grace’s Thanksgiving by Lisa Bullard
  • Splat Says Thank You by Rob Scotton
  • It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach
  • Thanks a Million by Nikki Grimes
  • What is Thanksgiving? by Elaine Landau
  • All the World by Liz Gorton Scanton
  • Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen
  • Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss
  • Grateful, A Song of Giving Thanks by John Bucchino
  • Thanksgiving is For Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland
Below is a printable list of “spot-on” books for encouraging students to be grateful for what they have.
 
This book list is included in my freebie. Keep reading.  🙂
 
List of books for teaching students to be more thankful. TeacherKarma.com
Being Thankful and Grateful

After sharing a few of these thankful books with your students, be sure to model your thoughts and ideas.

Hey kiddos, it’s really NOT just about turkey and dressing.  We have to take our students beyond the basic and literal understanding.  

Give your students an opportunity to write about the things they are thankful for. 

It makes me so sad, but every year I have at least one student tell me they don’t have reason to be grateful.  

Students that feel like they don’t really have anything special enough in their life to be thankful for are going to need some extra encouragement.  

Some folks focus on what they don’t have, instead of what they do have…and kids are no exception.


Everyone can focus on friendship, school, health, family, community, etc.

Also included in the freebie I have for you, My Top 10 Thankful List.

Freebie: My Top 10 Thankful List to use in your classroom. TeacherKarma.com
My Top 10 Thankful List for the classroom

I LOVE having students write in a daily Thankful Journal or Gratitude Journal.  In fact, I LOVE writing in a gratitude journal myself.


Gratitude journals don’t have to be a huge ordeal. You can make them very simple. Try notebook paper, a composition book, or even have your students design their own.

I have a printable I Am Thankful Journal that I absolutely LOVE using {sorry, it is NOT included in the free download.}

Here is a peek in case you do not have time to create your own.

I Am Thankful Journal for kids to use this season. TeacherKarma.com
I Am Thankful Journal ~ Gratitude Journal


The I Am Thankful Journal inspires students to express their gratitude in the following areas:

  • I am thankful for my family because…
  • I am thankful for my school because…
  • I am thankful for my friends because…
  • I am thankful for my community because…
  • I am thankful for my home because…
  • I am thankful for _________ {blank for students to add their own}

You will also find a complete journal set that I left blank.  Older or advanced students can add their own topics they are thankful for.
 
The book is completely interactive.  The journal tabs are preprinted with the thankful topics.  If you are interested in looking at my set of Thankful Journals, click on the graphic below.

 

Teach kids to be thankful by using a gratitude journal. TeacherKarma.com
I Am Thankful Journal ~ Gratitude Kit

To get your freebie, please click here.  I would LOVE to hear how you encourage your students to be thankful.

All the best!

Jen

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