18 Comments
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Robert Springer's avatar

Over two-thirds chose to call their parents — that's the detail that got me. And the panic-to-tears pivot is so perfectly human. Six years and 800 students with a 100% mood increase is hard to argue with. Simple, powerful experiment. THank you great read!

Nicholas Westfall's avatar

Thank you Robert! Everyone involved loves this experiment. So far, gratitude just works man!

Brain Candy | Hilary Russo's avatar

Fantastic lesson and experiment. As a college professor and also a holistic mental health practitioner, I did something similar with my students which lead me to studying the impact of gratitude. We need more conversations like this.

Nicholas Westfall's avatar

Yes! And more interventions that work in a public school setting.

Brain Candy | Hilary Russo's avatar

I’m working on it, Nicholas. May we be warriors for the cause! Connecting with like minds!

Audrey Lefler's avatar

I love this so much. My best friend and I for years now will randomly text each other to say how much we love the other one. It’s one of the only people I do this with besides my husband. We never think it’s weird, it’s always a nice gesture on a day that normally seems ordinary.

Nicholas Westfall's avatar

Love that! And it costs very little effort.

Audrey Lefler's avatar

Absolutely! It takes so little effort to make someone’s day better and to tell them they are loved

Tracy Friedlander's avatar

If they did nothing else but this is school it would be way more valuable than most of the stuff they do. LOVE THIS STORY

Maxim Spasskiy's avatar

Nicholas, great experiment! Thanks for sharing:)

Nicholas Westfall's avatar

Thanks for reading!

Shannon Bindler's avatar

You are the most amazing teacher. Such a powerful lesson!!!!

Nicholas Westfall's avatar

I try really hard! I just care so deeply about the craft of PE.

Juliette Ryan's avatar

What a wonderful experiment!

I suspect such a lesson will be carried with your students (and their parents!) for many years.

Saima Durrani's avatar

Wow Nicholas, what a fantastic read! It’s an excellent plan for teaching gratitude to students and it really takes me back to my teaching days. 👏

Nicholas Westfall's avatar

Saima, as a parent, you are a 24/7 teacher! :) Thank you!