We often spend time in November to share our gratitude. I want to thank all of you for oving our 740 amazing children everyday. It is a privilege to work with adults who show deep care for our students and support them in growing as learners and people. I am grateful to be a part of a school staff that does whatever it takes to support each individual. I am grateful to be working in a community that values education and which families who partner with us in supporting our students. Please add your responses on our school gratitude survey. Please go to https://www.menti.com/ef8924c1 to share your gratitude.

Here are some ways to show gratitude with your students:

Read Books or share Videos

Gratitude Photos. Have each student write what he or she is thankful for on a large piece of paper and then take a picture of the child holding up his or her paper. Frame the photo and send it home as a holiday gift.
Gratitude Letters for the Community. Write letters of gratitude and deliver them to people in the greater school community, e.g., janitor, food staff, school administration. Expand this exercise to include the local community, such as police, fire station, bank, grocery store, hospital, electricians, etc.
Gratitude Quotes. Give students their own gratitude quote (here’s a great list of quotes) and have them reflect upon and write about what their quote means to them
Make a mentimeter like we did above.
Have students videotape on Seesaw their gratitude.
Make a gratitude Flipgrid for your class.

Exploring the truth about Thanksgiving

Articles

Teaching A People’s History: Zinn Education Project

https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story/

Why Do Schools Still Teach an Oversimplified Thanksgiving Story?

https://www.good.is/articles/why-do-schools-continue-to-teach-an-oversimplified-thanksgiving-story

The Real Story of Thanksgiving

https://www.manataka.org/page269.html

Thanksgiving truth

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-schiffman/the-thanksgiving-truth_b_1105181.html

Responsive Reads

With Thanksgiving coming up, what types of books or activities do you use to talk about this holiday? How responsive is your Thanksgiving literature and discussions? Check out Responsive Reads latest Blog Post for some great ideas and book recommendations.