How to support students during the holiday season

The end of the calendar year can be one of the busiest times for educators and staff. Yet, it’s also a time when the bonds between teachers and students matter most, providing a foundation of stability and encouragement that keeps students engaged and feeling supported. The holidays can be a time of gratitude but also a time of loneliness or disconnection for students. 

Building and nurturing these relationships can transform a classroom into a place where students feel truly valued. By offering a way to connect and express gratitude for the good things in their lives, teachers can ensure that students experience a holiday season full of connection and closeness.

Research suggests that gratitude may be associated with many benefits for individuals, including better physical and psychological health, increased happiness and life satisfaction, decreased materialism, and more. Those who routinely list what they’re thankful for are more likely to be physically healthy and less stressed. Studies also show that students who journal about their gratitude tend to be happier and have positive social interactions at school. 

The Along Content Library has many reflection questions about gratitude. Here are a few to help you foster gratitude in your classroom:

• What is something, or who is someone, in your life that you’re grateful for?
• What is something that you really value? Why do you value it?
• What is something that you’ve recently felt thankful for?

These questions allow students to recognize the good in their lives and focus on appreciating what they have. Another great way to promote gratitude is to ask students to reflect on 3 good things for 10-15 minutes.

As we become immersed in the holiday season, remember to take time to support students through potentially difficult times and encourage them to foster gratitude and thankfulness, which can make a difference in students’ well-being.