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Tired of being told to “just be grateful” while you’re juggling a crowded class, endless testing, and a to-do list that never ends? I open up about gratitude without the guilt—how to honor real exhaustion and real care at the same time—so you can model emotional health without faking it. Instead of platitudes, I break down the difference between a scarcity mindset and actual scarcity in schools, and why empathy—not forced positivity—is the thing that helps.

I share classroom-ready ways to make gratitude meaningful: a quick daily journal that trains students to notice specifics, hands-on craft reflections that slow the pace and deepen thinking, and story-driven STEM stations that weave kindness and empathy into problem solving. You’ll hear easy discussion prompts that hold two truths at once—“What felt hard?” and “What are you still grateful for?”—so kids learn to name the mess and the meaning without pressure to produce silver linings. Along the way, I talk about boundaries, breath, and the right to want systems that work while still showing up for students with a full heart.

If you’re craving practical, human-sized steps that build connection and calm in November and beyond, this conversation is for you. You’ll leave with simple routines, kid-friendly language, and a new lens on gratitude that doesn’t erase the hard parts. Subscribe for more honest teaching talk, share this with a colleague who needs permission to rest, and leave a review telling me one small thing you’re grateful for today.

Links Mentioned in the Show: 

Gratitude Journal for Kids

Gratitude Craft for Kids

Thanksgiving STEM Story Stations

Kindness STEM Story Stations

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