For the next couple weeks I will be posting the Gratitude Journal prompts that are being given to my students and my response post.

I say “thank you” continually as a courtesy to my students, in part to show respect and acknowledgment and as an example of how we can treat each other. Even after those moments when voices are raised, I can say, “thank you,” when they do something simple that I’ve asked them to do (like pick up something off of the floor or when they return the bathroom pass directly to me). We do tend to move at a rapid speed, trying to get things done and there are passing bells and it doesn’t hurt to go slowly enough to say, “thank you.” One of the most important lessons in education is how to work with each other and saying “thank you” is all a part of working together. And sometimes you get thank you donuts.