'gratitude and rust' photo (c) 2010, Shannon Kringen - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

I’ve previously posted in blog, and written in my books, about how I use the concept of “gratitude” with students. With Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow, I thought I’d bring those resources together in a short “The Best…” list to make them more easily accessible.

You might also be interested in My Best Posts On Why It’s Important To Be Positive In Class.

Here my choices for The Best Resources On “Gratitude”:

I’ve written three posts on the subject:

New Gratitude Interactive

On Gratitude

Gratitude Letters and Student Achievement

A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day was just published by John Tierney in The New York Times. It provides a good overview of recent research, along with recommendations.

Why Your Negative Outlook is Killing Your Career is a very useful article reviewing research on the issue, and how showing more “gratitude” can impact a person’s life.

The Neuroscience of Why Gratitude Makes Us Healthier is another useful review of research.

The Benefits of Thanks comes from Scientific American, and gives a brief overview of gratitude research.

What Are You Grateful For? is from The New York Times Learning Network.

You could end a lesson on gratitude with video (I’d suggest beginning at the 4:20 mark). Thanks to Nancy Flanagan for the suggestion.

Why you should give thanks Thursday—and always is a review of recent research on gratitude, and appeared in Scientific American.

After the Turkey, How to Cultivate Gratitude in Kids is from TIME.


“ your Good News, and You [ & Others ] will be Better Off”

Fostering A Culture Of Gratitude comes from The Harvard Business Review.

A Simple & Effective Classroom Lesson On Gratitude

How to Teach Kids to Be Grateful: Give Them Less is from The Atlantic.

The Science of Gratitude is from Nautilus.

Raising Children With an Attitude of Gratitude is from The Wall Street Journal.

Gratitude: a free downloadable lesson is from ELT Resourceful.

Study: Gratitude Increases Self-Control

My ELL Gratitude Lesson – With Student Handout

A Different Take On Gratitude

Quote Of The Day: Gratitude Isn’t Enough

Here’s a useful TED-Ed lesson and video on gratitude:

Another Study Finds That Gratitude Increases Self-Control

The Power of Casual Gratitude is from The Atlantic, and you can see an associated comic here.

What happens in your brain when you experience gratitude? is from Scientific American.

The Surprising Benefits of Gratitude comes from Fast Company.

Now There’s A Surprise – Study Finds That People Like To Receive Thank You Letters

Character Lab has come out with new resources on encouraging curiosity and gratitude.

If You Feel Thankful, Write It Down. It’s Good For Your Health is from NPR.

Gratitude opens the door to self-control. is from Character Lab.

How Writing Down What You’re Thankful For Can Be Good For Mental and Physical Health is from MindShift.

‘Performance-enhancing substance’: How Thanksgiving gratitude may improve your health is from USA Today.

Study shows keeping gratitude journal reduces gossip, incivility in workplace is from Eureka Alert.

The Psychology of Giving Thanks is from Scientific American.

Learn How to Appreciate What You Already Have is from The Via Institute on Character.

Count your blessings: Short gratitude intervention can increase academic motivation is from Science Daily.

How to Start Practicing Gratitude in the Classroom is from Learners Edge.

Be thankful: Science says gratitude is good for your health is from Today.

Research: More Powerful People Express Less Gratitude is from The Harvard Business Review.

A Quick Gratitude Trick That Builds Lasting Motivation is from PsyBlog.

3 Gratitude Practices That Don’t Involve Journaling is from Edutopia.

Gratitude Practices at School That Work (and Why Some Don’t) is from Ed Week.

Promoting Gratitude in Your Classroom is from Edutopia.

Gratitude Really is Good for You. Here’s What the Science Shows. is from The NY Times.

Why a Gratitude Journal for Students Is a Good Idea is from Ed Week.

When the World Feels Dark, Seek Out Delight is from The NY Times.

Feedback is welcome!

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