Most teachers have very high expectations when it comes to learning outcomes for their students. Most teachers place a lot of pressure on themselves and their students to “do their best”. It becomes second nature to lose that joy and to also remove the joy of learning that kids really need. We understandably hesitate to add more to our plates. Why would we? We are human and we are tired.
I HAVE to do this, I MUST do that, my students NEED to take this assessment, and that assessment, AND don’t forget about the NEXT assessment. I am required to use that material, to make sure we fill out that paperwork and to deal with that email from that person.
The fact is, it is a part of life, part of the job, part of being an adult with responsibilities. Having to listen to teachers talk and complete worksheets or writing assignments and study for a test, work with a group you don’t jive with, and just getting up early is part of being a student. The question is, where does joy fit in? As teachers, administrators, parents, students, classmates, and politicians, are we remembering the value of joy? If we are not, we better figure it out and we better do it fast.
I am not perfect (ask my students, my wife, my neighbors, and my own children), but I do make a concerted effort to make sure there are fun moments in our day, every single day, in the classroom. Frankly, for kids it is pretty simple. Don’t be afraid to act a little dorky. Take time to let a kid share with the class something they value. Tell a stupid joke. Let kids get their hands dirty (we do this in science and the kids LOVE IT). Have a discussion that is a little off task, or maybe completely off task. Four days a week my class has the opportunity to earn a 10-15-minute recess in the afternoon. Double bonus! They work together to earn it by doing the basic things we expect them to do AND they almost always earn it and have the best time being with just our class doing what they want in the gym or outside for a little while. Batteries recharged and, “Hello Joy!” If you get a chance and feel like it won’t add too much more to your plate, get a class pet that your students can feed and hold and just observe when they are feeling rattled (I recommend a Gecko. Easy to care for and very cool with being held.) This article is probably already too long, and I am, full disclosure, submitting it late. But you get the point.
Last thing. Let’s make joy a little more possible by showing students, parents and educators a little more grace. We seem to be really good at the truth thing but grace allows more joy to thrive. Bring on the joy!