About This Lesson
Use this gratitude letter template to express gratitude during IEP meetings, teacher conferences, and school meetings, which can be stressful for families. Students can write to a staff member or adult they’re thankful for or adults can write to a student or student’s family member they are thankful for (Make sure the person you/your students are writing to is attending the meeting!).
Here’s what you’ll get:
- A printable letter template to guide students and adults in expressing gratitude, encouraging students and adults to reflect on their relationships and express appreciation, and promoting emotional and social growth.
- An activity that promotes communication and connection by delivering and reading a gratitude letter
- Access to Gratitude Letter Writing lesson plans and a unit study
Why you’ll love this activity:
- This activity is easy to print and customize
- Reflecting and writing gratitude letters can positively benefit both the writer and the recipient.
- Great activity for Back-to-School, Thanksgiving and the holiday season
- You can use this resource as a standalone activity or as part of a comprehensive, science-based unit study.
- The associated free unit study for Gratitude Letter Writing comes with activities, downloadable worksheets, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
Ways to Use
- Incorporate into SEL curriculum
- Integrate into small groups and/or individual counseling sessions
- Families can use this to express their thanks to school staff
- Staff can use this template during IEP meetings, teacher conferences, and school meetings.
What is Gratitude Letter Writing?
Gratitude is often thought of as thankfulness, appreciation, or a sense of wonder. By intentionally practicing skills like Gratitude Letter Writing, we can all learn to experience, enhance, and express more gratitude.
A Gratitude Letter is more than just a thank-you note. It's a formal letter that you write to someone who has had a profound impact on your life and whom you have not yet properly thanked. This could be a family member, mentor, student, friend, or colleague.
Reflect on the people who have helped shape your life — people who have taken the time to share their strengths with you, guide you, or help you in a meaningful way. Now, write a letter that thoroughly expresses your gratitude — describe, in detail, what their role in your life has meant to you. Once you have written your Gratitude Letter, schedule a time to hand deliver or read the letter to them if possible. Something remarkable happens when gratitude letters are shared in person.
Science of Gratitude
The science is clear — pausing, reflecting, and writing gratitude letters can positively benefit both the writer and the recipient. Recalling past experiences through the lens of gratitude enhances positive affect, writing about them enables the mind to broaden and build, and taking the time to deliver and read gratitude letters to the recipient boosts both parties' wellbeing and has a positive impact on the relationship. Believe it or not, this positive intervention can impact your wellbeing for weeks or even months.
People who engage in the practice of writing gratitude letters are more likely to experience:
- Increased happiness
- Boosted immune system
- Increased positive affect
- Increased life satisfaction
- Enhanced gratitude
- Stronger relationships
Looking for more gratitude resources?
- Explore the free Gratitude Letter Writing Unit Study, which includes teaching slides, additional worksheets and activities, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
- Bonus access to full lesson plans and unit studies on the skills of happiness at our Skill Center
Proof Positive's resources are and will always be free. Be well!
