This article was written by Terry Keller, a special education teacher and The Positivity Project (P2) coordinator at Lynnwood Elementary. Each November, Lynnwood honors local veterans with a breakfast and assembly, and in the fall of 2024, all three fifth grade classes also kept gratitude journals for three weeks.
Each year, Lynnwood Elementary (Guilderland Central Schools, NY) honors local veterans during the November Veterans Day assembly. This cherished tradition allows students to express their gratitude and recognize the brave and selfless acts of our veterans. Veterans are invited to a special breakfast before the assembly, where they enjoy front-row seats as students perform in their honor. The students understand that without the courage and dedication of our soldiers, the United States would not be the great country it is today.
This year, Lynnwood took the gratitude challenge a step further. All three fifth-grade classes participated in keeping Gratitude Journals for three weeks. Each day, students reflected on their friendships, family, special places, and the goodness in the world through writing prompts. Over the course of these three weeks, many fifth-grade students have turned their gratitude journaling into lasting habits. By focusing on the positives, they are becoming strong, healthy individuals who will be able to handle the everyday stresses life presents.
Terry Keller
Terry Keller is a dedicated special education teacher at Lynnwood Elementary in Guilderland, New York. In addition to her teaching role, she serves as the Positivity Project coordinator, where she promotes positive character development among students and staff.
