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Gratitude Thursdays Research Findings

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Problem Identification

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According to SWIS data, the numbers of referrals at CSI have increased.

Last school year, there were a total of 543 referrals.

Historically, the highest number of referrals are given on Thursday’s.

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Research Question

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Research Question

How did the Gratitude Thursday’s intervention impact the number of student referrals for the 2023-2024 school year?

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Research Project Overview

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Research Project Overview

SWIS Data Review

I gathered data from the CSI’s SWIS database about number of referrals and type of referrals, comparing pre-data from 2022-2023 school year to post data from 2023-2024 school year.

Observations of Program

I conducted three 30 minute narrative observations of Ms. Arnold and Ms. Branstetter’s Gratitude Thursday’s program in their respective classrooms.

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Interviews with Teachers

I interviewed two teachers to gain qualitative data about what activities they did, the sources of the activities, students’ responsiveness, and perceived effectiveness of intervention.

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Findings

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Observation Data

  • Morning greeting
  • Morning message
  • Gratitude Activity
    • Mindfulness video (muscle relaxation)
    • Telling partner what they are grateful for
    • Thankful this or that game
    • Mindfulness mug worksheet

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Teachers Interview Data

  • Gratitude Thursday Activities
    • Gratitude journals - writing what they’re grateful for
    • Gratitude mug - what/who fills your mug? art project
    • Gratitude Tree - support system art project
    • Sharing reasons why they appreciate each other
    • Giving students compliments
  • Activity sources
    • Teacherspayteachers.com
    • Based of what students are struggling with that week
    • Pinterest
    • Character Strong trait

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Teachers Interview Data

  • Student responsiveness
    • Makes Thursday’s easier and frames the day in a more positive light
    • Teachers have noticed that students are able to easily identify what they are grateful for
  • Perceived intervention effectiveness
    • Seen a decrease in referrals in 3rd grade

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2022-2023 2023-2024

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543 247 74 67 326 214 65 47

Pre and Post Data: Number of Referrals

Color Key

Total Referrals��Physical Aggression��Abusive Language/Inappropriate Language/Profanity��Defiance/Insubordination/Noncompliance

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Limitations

  • Due to project deadline constraints, data collection ceased on 4/5/24, approximately 2 months remaining in the school year.
  • Implementation of Gratitude Thursdays program was limited to 3rd grade classrooms this year, while referral data collection encompassed the entire school.
  • Sample size is small and needs to be conducted on larger scale before findings can be deemed generalizable

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Suggestions

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Evidence-based Gratitude Practices

  • Interventions and programs to develop students’ character skills or social emotional skills (Bonell, 2018; Dix et al., 2020; Durlak, 2011; Hurry, 2021).
  • Performing acts of kindness (Layous et al., 2012).
  • Daily gratitude diary (Diebel et al., 2016).
  • Physical activity interventions (Ho et al., 2017).
  • Learning activities that cultivate meaning and purpose (Chen & Cheng, 2020).
  • Music and the arts (Lee et al., 2017).
  • Volunteering (Biling, 200).
  • Playfulness and humor (Pinchover, 2017; Cameron, Fox, Anderson, & Cameron, 2010).
  • Connecting with nature (Ulrich, et al., 1991).

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Questions and feedback

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