Over the last 3 weeks my students and I have been keeping a gratitude journal, but instead of writing things down on paper we post pictures on to a Schoology album and caption them in 140 characters or less.  They post all week and Friday we share.  We look forward to it, as soon as they walk in the door on Friday they remind me that we have to look at the class journal.  We scroll through pictures, some funny and some serious, and share moments and memories that mean a lot to them.

Gratitude Photo(video) Journal from 1st Period Church History

I think that this exercise helps me to remember the little things that matter; every day I walk into our doors I feel like I’m home.  Every day I walk into my classroom and it’s clean despite the fact that I know I didn’t necessarily leave it that way makes me SO grateful.  Over hearing students talking about teachers and by and large it’s POSITIVE is an awesome thing!

I see my girls more aware of the little things too.  After Corazon my students were writing thank yous to Sister Joann, Sister AB, and their leaders.  One girl said out loud that she wished she could thank our crossing guard because she’s so nice.  Everyone instantly agreed, and that was that.  They made a poster.

The road in the poster is full of #hashtags describing all the ways Alisha makes their day better and keeps them safe.

The girls brought it to Alisha right before lunch.  It was such a fun and meaningful moment.  We really do have an awesome staff.  Afterwards girls shared other people they wanted to thank and we decided that as a class that we would create a project during Lent to recognize people in the school who have a huge impact on them who are not their teachers.

It got me thinking… could we make a gratitude photo journal as a staff and faculty?  I can’t believe how much I got to learn about my girls from getting to see glimpses into their lives at home, with their friends, and on their teams.

Could we start faculty meetings from now on by taking 5 minutes for anyone to recognize a colleague for something awesome that they see them doing around campus?