Week #5: Happy Thanksgiving - "Attitude of Gratitude!" -

Dear Families,

Thinking of you all and wishing you a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving long weekend with your loved ones!  I trust you will all be surrounded with love and make the most of your family's traditions.  

This sign is from Parker's home, I love it!

In class, I look forward to hearing about your family's 'Thankful Stone' sharing experience.  Students were extremely excited to bring home their 'Thankful Bags' and share the contents that are placed inside with you!  

Many of you will also LOVE your child’s Letter of Gratitude.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as your child enjoyed writing it this week!  Their hearts and souls went into it.  They worked extremely hard and I know you'll appreciate this dearly :)

As I conferenced with students to offer feedback, I was so touched by their thoughts, words, and actions in their heartfelt message to you!  It brought such JOY TO MY HEART!  Parents, you're all raising such caring and compassionate children :-)

Before we left for the long weekend, we did a Thankful Stone sharing as a class family about the people we're grateful for in our life.  Students' peers and parents were a constant in the hearts and minds of your child(ren).  

Gratitude Placemat:

Your child has created a placement which is intended for you and your family to write down your thoughts and words about what you're grateful for.  You will notice that your child has did his or hers already in class to help guide the rest of the family in this friendly and meaningful task.  Enjoy the process and I hope you can keep this activity going for years to come :-)

When I was a child, this was a tradition that I used to do :)  I look back on it now and am ever so grateful as it's helped shape me into the person I am today - always striving to be POSITIVE and GRATEFUL for my life.

Gratitude:

We have been doing A LOT of meaningful thinking, learning and reflecting about the word and importance of GRATITUDE.  Ask your child what this term means :)  

We have also learned a variety of ways to say thank you in different languages.  In class, we are always finding ways to honour and celebrate different cultures, faiths, and regions!

I am a proud Sikh-Canadian (East Indian, Punjabi) and perhaps your child's shared with you that I have been teaching them about my cultural practices and language :)  

In your child's thankful bag, you will find he or she has written various ways to say THANK YOU from different cultural backgrounds.  

"Meegwich" (Algonquin), "Teniki" (Cree), "Danke" (German), "Merci" (French), "Dhanyavaad" (Hindi, Indian), "Gracias" (Spanish), Dakujem (Slovak), "Dziekuie" (Polish), "Tak" (Danish)

Throughout the school year, there will be a regular emphasis on expressing an 'ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE" in our thoughts, words, and actions!

Inside your child's thankful bag, you will find a pink note about the science behind gratitude and how it empowers our brain!  Take a moment to go over this with your child :) 

Thank you to Tessa's Mom who provided this note in 2018 when I taught her older son Parker when he was in grade 3.  I've kept it and will always share it with my students year after year :)  

In this gratitude note, you'll find that SEROTONIN which is known as the 'HAPPY HORMONE as it contributes to a feeling of happiness and well-being, though it acts as a hormone and neurotransmitter.  95% is found in the gut, though it's also in the brain, blood platelets, and central nervous system.

Below, I have posted a read aloud that I shared in class about giving thanks (gratitude) from an Indigenous perspective.  Students learned all about appreciating and valuing nature and all that Mother Earth provides for us.   

There is science research behind gratitude and how it helps our brains.  The research tells us that gratitude is awesome for our health and well-being!  Gratitude actually changes our brains.  Practicing gratitude increases neuron density and leads to higher emotional intelligence so we actually get smarter.  Gratitude is like a secret sauce for happiness :)

Being in a state of gratitude feels GOOD and it increases:

• optimism
• caring, cooperation and friendship
• motivation to work hard at school
• happiness
• calm and ready to learn!

LOOK AT ALL THOSE CHARACTER TRAITS!!

Emily:

Last week, Emily brought in a read aloud that relates to what we've been learning in class (GRATITUDE) and it links beautifully to the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving.  

I saved the book to share with the class especially this week and we were able to sit in our outdoor classroom to listen to its' meaningful message!

About the Book:  

"There is so much to be grateful for.  Using charming illustrations and simple text, we learn to look at the world around us through the lens of gratitude." 

Every day experiences become something to be thankful for.  This story inspires discussions between parent and child about gratitude, helping both focus on gratitude as a practice, learning that we should not take the world around us for granted. 

Perfect for even small children, The Grateful Book simplifies the concept of gratitude and grounds it in tangible and universal experience, reminding us all that we have so much to be grateful for!

Use the video below to listen to the story :)

Evie & Rose:

Awww, thank you SO MUCH girls for thinking of me and making me these heartfelt cards.  Your thoughts, words, and actions are something I'll always cherish!

Mmm, the cookie was delicious Rose!  Was it from your family's business at Espresso Post?!  I appreciate it :-) One of these days, I'll have to pop into the shop and get a latte (coffee), yours are the best in town!!!

Mindful Nature Walk:

Earlier this week, we went for a mindful nature walk and looked for things we're grateful for.  

As we were walking the trail by our school, I stopped and turned to the boys and girls and shared with them how fortunate we are to be HERE in Nottawa which has the brightest and most beautiful school yard and surrounding area!  

They all agreed and asked if we could take a picture outside to show our appreciation :) 

 

Living is Giving:

It is with tremendous gratitude that I extend my love and hugs to all the families who were able to contribute to our class' food drive for the Collingwood Food Bank.  In total, we have 57 items to donate!!  AMAZING :-)

It brings tears to my eyes when I think about your GENEROSITY and EMPATHETIC WAYS!!  Together we CAN, WILL, and ARE making a SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE in the lives of those who need it the most.

I am looking forward to taking our donations to the Food Bank this weekend :)  From my heart to yours --> Meegwich, Teniki, Danke, Dakujem!

Math:

In math, we continue to work through challenging tasks using the 4-Block Method.  See below :)  This one links to our Canadian Hero, Terry Fox!

To start of our week, I provide students with guided instruction, where we work through the problem step by step to UNDERSTAND --> PLAN --> SOLVE --> EXPLAIN.  This is to set them up for success in organizing their thinking.

Once this is complete, the following day, your child will work independently to complete a similar word problem using the strategies they learned!  This is working out well and I am proud of the kids efforts :)

Please note, when math work does come home n the agenda, I encourage you to please sit with your child and allow them the opportunity to THINK, PAIR, SHARE (they know what this means ;) with you to help reinforce and consolidate learned concepts.  

By talking about math at home, I have every confidence that this can, will, and does make a significant difference helping your child increase their confidence in this subject areas and for their "HIPPOCAMPUS" to learn & grow!

Thank you in advance for your involvement and support, please know I recognize you have a lot on the go with your home, work, and personal responsibilities!

Mindfulness:
What are you grateful for and why?  Instead of counting "sheep" before going to bed, TRY to count all your "blessings" you have in your life :)  Increase that serotonin!

You'll be amazed at how many things you're blessed with!  It is my belief that reflecting upon things we're grateful for will help and can improve your sleep and fully energize your body for the next day.  Give it a TRY!

Meegwich,

Ms. Gill