Thankful Thursday

“I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.” ~ John Steinbeck

If you have been reading our reflections for a while, you may have noticed that I often return to the practice of gratitude. I believe there is a lot of power in the discipline of being aware of who and what is around you and being thankful. As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I hope you have received many words of gratitude. This week is also an invitation for us, as teachers, to consider what we appreciate about each other and the profession we are in. 

Now, I recognize that depending on how your school year has progressed, this may be easier said than done! There is a lot of work to do in uplifting and improving our education systems. However, if we don’t take the time to consider the beautiful pieces of what we do, where we work, and who we work with, we won’t be able to identify the valuable parts of our profession. 

So today, I invite you to take some time to write down ten things you are thankful for about teaching. Maybe you will jot down some ideas as you teach today, looking at your school day with a new lens. Or maybe you will set aside time tonight or this weekend for reflection. Whatever the case may be, you can use this list to look back on as a reminder of the people, actions, and experiences that we may otherwise take for granted.