“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”
― Melody Beattie
How We Define Gratitude
/ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/
Noun
- the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
- A strong feeling of appreciation
Simply put, gratitude is the quality of being grateful. It is giving thanks for all you have. Gratitude is an emotional state as well as a virtue. Gratitude is an emotion we all experience at times, but being a grateful person is virtuous. Gratitude has the power to uplift, transform, and even heal. An attitude of gratitude can bring positivity to an otherwise negative experience.
Why We Value Gratitude in Education
Gratitude is like a muscle that can be strengthened through practice. The more it is taught and emphasized in school, the stronger the students gratitude muscle will be. There are many ways to practice gratitude in the classroom such as gratitude journaling, writing thank you letters,keeping a classroom gratitude jar, and reading books on the power of gratitude.
“There is a limit to how much you can embrace a moment. But there is no limit to how much you can appreciate it.”
― Armin Houman
How We Define Appreciation
/əˌprēSHēˈāSH(ə)n/
Noun
- recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.
- a full understanding of a situation.
- an increase in value.
Appreciation involves acknowledging and understanding what something is and finding joy and beauty in it. Appreciation can also mean an increase in value. While this is typically a monetary value, we find that significant because when we appreciate something, it becomes more valuable to us.
Why We Value Appreciation in Education
We want to educate in such a way that our students not only feel appreciated for who they are, but learn to appreciate themselves and the world around them in an enhanced way. We want our students to develop a greater appreciation for learning and take value in their education.
