Do gratitude journals actually work for students?

Yes. Teachers using Grateful Peoples journals have reported measurable behavior gains, and at Lincoln Middle School the program was associated with a 40% decrease in disciplinary citations after one semester. Peer-reviewed research on gratitude practice in schools has linked it to higher wellbeing, stronger classroom relationships, and improved focus.

How many schools and students has Grateful Peoples reached?

Grateful Peoples has distributed more than 24,000 gratitude journals to classrooms across the United States and Canada. The program is used by public, private, and alternative schools spanning elementary through high school.

How can a classroom teacher get free gratitude journals?

Any K-12 teacher in the U.S. or Canada can request a free classroom set through the Grateful Peoples Classroom program. Submit the short request form on gratefulpeoples.com/classroom with your school, grade level, and class size; journals ship at no cost to the teacher or school while supply lasts.

Is Grateful Peoples a registered nonprofit?

Yes. Grateful Peoples is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States, EIN 82-4175141. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

What age range are the Grateful Peoples journals designed for?

The classroom journal is written for students roughly ages 8 to 18, with prompts that scale across elementary, middle, and high school. The format is a daily three-prompt page that takes about five minutes, designed to work as a morning routine or advisory-period anchor.

Can a corporation or foundation sponsor a school?

Yes. Companies and foundations can sponsor classrooms, entire schools, or districts through the Grateful Peoples partnership program. Sponsorships include co-branded journals, impact reporting, and tax-deductible donation receipts under EIN 82-4175141.

Is there research behind gratitude journaling in schools?

A growing body of peer-reviewed studies in positive psychology links regular gratitude journaling to higher life satisfaction, better sleep, reduced depressive symptoms, and stronger prosocial behavior in adolescents. Teacher surveys from Grateful Peoples classrooms report 100% satisfaction and observable gains in student mood, focus, and classroom climate.

How do I donate or buy a journal to support the mission?

Every retail journal purchased at gratefulpeoples.com/shop helps fund free journals for classrooms. You can also make a direct tax-deductible donation at gratefulpeoples.com/donate; $10 funds a single classroom journal and $250 funds a classroom set for up to 30 students.

Why I started Grateful Peoples…

Teddy Droseros, founder of Grateful Peoples, holds a copy of the Gratitude Journal.

Shortly before my first birthday, my family and I faced the challenge of my mother’s Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. When I reached my mid 20’s, I decided to start a daily gratitude journal, which ultimately taught me that my biggest obstacle was also my greatest blessing. If this simple practice could transform how I felt about my mother’s suffering, what could it do for others?

Inspired by this realization, I created a Gratitude Journal as a tool to share my life–changing experience. Today, watching this idea transform students’ lives has been the most humbling and motivating part of my journey. It makes me wonder, what if solutions to the world’s biggest problems are simpler than we realize?

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