Gratitude and reflection journals

I firmly believe that having a grateful stance makes me more positive and happy.  If you're not in agreement with me, check out this article, "Giving thanks can make you happier."

Another belief of mine is that reflection strengthens my learning muscles.  An article from Harvard Health highlights reflection as a strategy in its article, "4 Ways to Become a Better Learner."

This year I decided to take these beliefs into my classroom in a systematic way.  Here's what I did:

1.  My students worked collaboratively in Book Creator to create a template.  I gave them questions to choose from and they could also create their own questions.  
2.  I created a Gratitude and Reflection Journal Library in Book Creator.  Every student made a copy of the template and made it their own.
3.  During a "dead" period right after recess, students write in their journals.  They can write, draw, speak, or take a video.  

It has become a habit of action, and I hope it is becoming a habit of heart, too.

Here is our template as an ebpub book!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1p_3InexgDceDQhaqzL9ck7Ruo44FUXFk