Think about it- we have so much to be thankful for. The food we eat, the water we drink, our homes, our friends, family and mentors, our education, and even the very device you are reading this on. Yet, sometimes, we forget all this and instead worry about the things we don’t have. It is so important to step back sometimes and be grateful.
Gratitude is defined as “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness:” but when you practise it, it is so much more than just that. Gratitude is the positive feeling you get when you show thanks and appreciation to the people around you and the things you have. It’s a powerful emotion that promotes happiness and even forgiveness in our lives.
Being grateful can bring many benefits to our lives. Gratitude makes us happier and helps us feel more positive. It makes you relish the experiences in your life and improves your mood. Practising gratitude can benefit your health, as studies have shown that regularly being grateful can reduce blood pressure and stress levels. Moreover, gratitude can also strengthen our relationships. It helps us appreciate others, fostering a sense of empathy and connection. This is why gratitude is so powerful in our busy lives.
There are so many ways we can practise gratitude in our daily lives. For example, create a gratitude journal or jar to write or add one event or person you are grateful for daily. You can also practise gratitude meditation- spending 10-15 minutes daily to sit back and calmly connect with your emotions. Most importantly, you can tell others how thankful you are to them. Could you write a note or give a compliment to show your gratitude? This is simple: affirm someone you genuinely care about.
Practising gratitude is a beautiful thing that has many benefits in our lives. It is showing our thanks for what we have and being grateful. So, take a step back, think of what you are thankful for, show gratitude, and watch the magic of gratitude unfold.
Ira Dwivedi,
Grade 7A,
Ekya Schools, Byrathi
As educators, we play a pivotal role in shaping the attitudes and mindsets of our students towards learning. The attitudes and mindsets students develop greatly influence their motivation, resilience, and overall success in the classroom. This blog post will explore the importance of fostering positive attitudes and mindsets for learning and discuss practical strategies to cultivate them in our students.
Emphasise the Power of "Yet":
One of the key mindsets to instil in students is a growth mindset. Encourage students to embrace the phrase "I can't do it yet" instead of "I can't do it." This simple shift in language opens up possibilities and fosters a belief in the ability to learn and improve over time. Help students understand that intelligence and skills are not fixed traits but can be developed through effort, practice, and effective learning strategies.
Promote a Positive Learning Environment:
Create a classroom atmosphere that supports and encourages students' efforts and achievements. Celebrate mistakes as opportunities for growth and learning rather than failures. Encourage peer collaboration, where students can learn from and inspire each other. Provide constructive feedback that focuses on improvement rather than highlighting shortcomings. By fostering a positive learning environment, you help students feel safe to take risks, ask questions, and explore new ideas.
Set Realistic and Specific Goals:
Guide students in setting realistic and attainable goals that align with their interests and abilities. Teach them how to break down significant goals into smaller, manageable steps. When students experience the satisfaction of achieving their goals, it reinforces their belief in their abilities and fuels their motivation to continue learning.
Encourage a Love for Learning:
Nurture students' curiosity and intrinsic motivation by creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences. Connect the curriculum to real-life examples and students' interests. Introduce various teaching methods, including hands-on activities, group discussions, and multimedia resources. Please encourage students to ask questions, explore perspectives, and pursue their inquiries. Making learning enjoyable and relevant can instil a lifelong love for learning.
Teach Resilience and Perseverance:
Learning sometimes takes work, and setbacks are a natural part of the process. Teach students the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges. Help them develop problem-solving skills, coping strategies, and a positive attitude towards failure. Please encourage them to view obstacles as growth opportunities and seek support when needed. Students will become more determined, adaptable, and confident learners by cultivating resilience.
Foster a Growth Mindset Towards Feedback:
Help students view feedback as a valuable tool for growth and improvement. Teach them to see feedback as guidance rather than criticism. Please encourage them to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and set goals based on feedback received. By embracing feedback, students become active participants in their learning journey and develop a continuous improvement mindset.
Nurturing positive attitudes and mindsets for learning is a powerful way to support our student's academic and personal growth. By promoting a growth mindset, creating a positive learning environment, setting realistic goals, fostering a love for learning, teaching resilience, and embracing feedback, we can empower our students to become enthusiastic, self-directed learners. As educators, let us inspire and guide our students towards a lifelong journey of curiosity, growth, and success.
By Ms. Michelle Clarke English Educator Ekya School, Byrathi
Tip 1:
Draw your tasks Grab a Post-it note and sketch out your tasks for the day as colourful doodles. Arrange these doodles in the order of priority, with red representing high-priority tasks, yellow for medium-priority ones, and green for low-priority ones. Enhance your doodles with details that provide a glimpse into the specifics of each project. For example, if you aim to complete a writing assignment, you could draw a sheet of paper with a pen poised above it and add a title to signify the project's topic. This format of creating a task calendar effortlessly has not only taught you about time management but turns you punctual, keeps you excited to map out work every day, alerts you of pending and priority tasks and helps you complete them on time. “Punctuality will artfully follow you.”Tip 2:
Dance Your Way Into the Morning Kickstart your day with an energising song that awakens your body and mind and leaves you joyful. A simple habit like waking up early is critical to start the day right. Creating a positive routine/ritual keeps you from falling back into old patterns and allows you to explore new ways to improve your punctuality. Nonetheless, waking up early might seem unappealing since a good sleep can be soothing. But what if waking up was fun? Your alarm can be set to your favourite dance music so you can get up and dance right out of bed. Spend just 15 minutes reviewing your timetable and refreshing key topics before heading to school. Arriving at school punctually and mentally prepared will set you up for meaningful interactions and a productive-filled day. “What better way than starting your day dancing!”Tip 3:
Graph Your Success Story Design a fun visual chart with colourful rewards! Imagine a ladder-style graph with the y-axis divided into achievement steps. At the bottom, draw a cheerful character; as your accomplishments grow, the character climbs up. The graph's x-axis allows for a range of achievements. You can choose the characters based on the activity - a book for reading achievement. Here’s how to map: 1. Playful character starts from the bottom of the chart 2. The higher the step in the y-axis, the bigger the achievement 3. Unlock accomplishments as you move up the ladder 4. Attach rewards to certain steps or accomplishments By the end of every month, this chart turns into a beautiful visual representation of those small steps you took toward achieving big goals. “Climb to success in the most rewarding way.”
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