Wendy Says

Season’s greetings, teachers! Before this month is over, you will have finished the first semester of your school year. Each day has been filled with its own agenda, and now the holiday season is here in full force. Due to the cultural diversity in the classroom, new challenges have been presented to you on how to talk about them.

In front of many stores are the Salvation Army Santas, and inside places of business, you will find collection boxes for everything from food and toys to hygiene items. We are in the midst of the “giving” season, and what could be more rewarding than to do something for someone else? No matter what anyone’s circumstances are, it is possible to perform an act of service for another individual. The gift of self is a powerful thing, and this is a wonderful time to demonstrate the power of this principle.

What kinds of things constitute the gift of self? There are many gifts that do not require any monetary investment but rather, your time. It is so important for children to learn that they have the capability to make others happy by lending a helping hand, whether that be raking leaves, carrying a newspaper up to the door, or just being friendly with a cheery smile and a wave of the hand. I think we have all noticed that in general, people are kinder and more tolerant of one another at this time of year. What more valuable lesson could be taught than by pointing out to them that we could do this on a daily basis?

Let us all ask this question of ourselves and to our students, “Have I done anything nice today?” You might just start a revolution of “niceness” without ever knowing it, and those simple acts could change your world!

THE GRATITUDE CHALLENGE

Happy fall season, teachers! Besides me, has anyone noticed that the end of the year is almost here? Now is the time when we hit the ground running as fast as we can so that we will be prepared for the upcoming holidays. We look forward to creating some great memories with friends and family, but can we do everything that is expected of us and keep our sanity? The good news is that we can!

For those of you who manage to check out Facebook once in a while, there has been a game going around, referred to as the Gratitude Challenge. For a period of 5-7 days, you are asked to post three things each day for which you are grateful. At first, it seems a little silly, but by Day 3, you find yourself thinking harder about those things you appreciate in life. Come the end of the allotted time, you realize that there is much to be grateful for, and those things take precedence over all else. 

What this little exercise accomplishes is that it encourages us to think about what’s positive in our lives. The unexpected benefit is that it frees us from much of the negative pressure that surrounds us, and we feel better able to handle the stress of each day, thereby allowing us to be more productive. Who can’t do with a little less stress?

Have you ever thought about doing a Gratitude Challenge in the classroom? I know it is a common practice for many teachers to have their students keep a daily journal, and it would be very simple to have them write down three things (or even one) each day for which they are grateful. Do this the week prior to the Thanksgiving break, and encourage them to share their lists with their families. You could even take it a step further and invite them to share their experiences when they return to school. 

Let’s make it a personal goal to play our own Gratitude Game so that we can enjoy the things we have, as well as do, in our lives. The positive feelings will spill over into all facets of our goings-on, and we will be able to conquer the stress monsters that would rob us of our joy. We can do this!