Bring Back the Joy...

Last year we talked about bringing the joy back to the classroom.  This focus is both challenging and essential when working with students whose educational histories are marked by years of hopelessness and failure.  The following tips come from the book, Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies for Joyful Classrooms by Timothy Walker

Well-Being:  In Finnish schools, students have more opportunities to learn through activities that are meaningful and relevant and are self initiated with guidance from teachers.  Additionally, they have about 15 minutes of break time for every 45 minutes of work.  American students, by contrast, have few breaks during the day.  Of course, this means their teachers also have fewer breaks.  Building brain breaks into the class schedule can help students and adults be more engaged in meaningful learning and interactions.  

Autonomy: Students in Finland have a higher level of autonomy than American students. At Venture, we have done quite a bit of work in the area of developing student autonomy and teaching them to take ownership of their own learning.  However, kids don't know what they don't know.  Often, it's our excitement about a topic that spawns excitement in them.  What are you doing with your students that feels "cool" to you and them?  What are you reading about, talking about, or doing that is charging your batteries? If you are bored with a topic, change it up for your sake and theirs. Finding ways of presenting material or having students interact with learning in different ways can make learning the same things feel more energizing.  

Belonging:  A classroom community that fosters a sense of belonging in students and allows them to experience connection with you and classmates lays a foundation for joy.  Talking to students and letting them talk to each other about their lives and then about academic subjects all help to build a culture where everyone feels valued and heard.  Is there a class goal or project that every student can get behind?  Are you creating something in your classroom for Exhibit night?  Are students creating a display in the building or pulling together to accomplish a goal?  Part of belonging is having the sense that your contribution matters.  

Recharge.  There is never an end point to the work of teaching.  No matter what we've done, it can be improved upon.  But, at the end of the day it's important to turn off the work brain and recharge.  My best ideas often come when I'm not really thinking about work at all.  Disconnecting from work at the end of the day is the one thing we can all do to make sure our lives are balanced and that we're primed to experience joy for ourselves and create joyful classrooms with students.

As illustrated in this table, the set of circumstances that make adults experience joy at work also contribute to students (and adult) joy in the classroom.  https://hbr.org/2019/07/making-joy-a-priority-at-work

For the Week of October 23
Bus Duty: Vaughan,  Fuller
Monday: Certified PD day: Agenda
Tuesday: 
Wednesday:  
Thursday: Extended Learning Picture Make up day
Friday: Wellness; Trent visiting Venture;  Halloween BBQ

For the Week of October 30
Bus Duty: Wilson and Penske
Monday: Non Work Day
Tuesday: 
Wednesday: 
Thursday: Extended Learning Picture Make up day
Friday: Wellness; Trent visiting Venture

For the Week of November 6
Bus Duty: Gonzalez and Mazhan
Monday: Certified PD day
Tuesday: 
Wednesday:  
Thursday: Extended Learning 
Friday: Staff Work Day, day off for veterans to thank them for their service

For the Week of November 13
Bus Duty: Higgs and Levy
Monday: Students are in School
Tuesday: 
Wednesday:  
Thursday: Extended Learning 
Friday: Staff Work Day, day off for veterans to thank them for their service

For the Week of November 20
Bus Duty: No one
Monday: Happy Day
Tuesday: Happy Day
Wednesday:  Happy Day
Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday: Happy Day