Gratitude Project Spotlight: Janiece Littlejohn and Hamlet Elementary
Literacy fellowship teacher Janiece Littlejohn and her students at Hamlet Elementary recently participated in The Gratitude Service Project. The Gratitude Service Project is an initiative that teaches students about the importance of gratitude while also promoting literacy skills. After learning about gratitude through The Leaders Readers Network (TLRN) read-aloud event, students participate in activities that encourage them to reflect on what they are grateful for and the people in their lives who make those things possible. Students discover the value of expressing gratitude by working together to write thank-you-letters, create appreciation posters, and perform acts of kindness for other people within their schools and communities. Not only do these activities help students understand the important role gratitude plays in building relationships, strengthening communities, and expressing appreciation for others, but they also help students recognize the people in their communities whose work can often go unnoticed.
While participating in the Gratitude Service Project, Janiece Littlejohn’s students were able to engage in activities where they could use their literacy skills and compassion to express their gratitude to those around them. The students made handwritten letters of appreciation for the people in their lives to whom they were thankful. Many of these letters were hand delivered to school educators and faculty members by students who wanted to express their gratitude for the hard work, care, and support these individuals offered. Other letters were hung around the library to spread gratitude awareness across Hamlet Elementary. Not only did this allow opportunities for other classrooms to learn about the power of gratitude, but it also exposed other educators to valuable programs like TLRN that provide underserved schools with the resources and support necessary to promote literacy.
As the holiday season draws near, participation in initiatives like The Gratitude Service Project provides the perfect opportunity to teach students the value of expressing their thankfulness. Janiece Littlejohn’s efforts to involve her students in TLRN and The Gratitude Service Project helped her promote empathy, mindfulness, and a value for community engagement in her students that will extend well past their time in the classroom. The Gratitude Service Project inspires students and adults alike to recognize the blessings in their own lives and express their appreciation to ensure blessings for those around them.
