What Makes Learning Joyful?

by Ken Royal
Have you thought about why you enjoy learning? Chances are that testing, and a list of complaints have nothing to do with it. I get worried, sometimes, that adults and especially teachers have forgotten joyful learning. It’s easy to do, and can happen without knowing. I do think that most teachers remember joyful learning—and joyful teaching, because one of the most common complaints I hear from educators (other than contractual) is that there’s no time to do anything fun anymore.
I recently talked with a young educator, who glowed when she spoke about her students and the projects they had done, but then the light went dim when she got to the part about cutting back to do more practice testing.
Furthermore, I had a wonderful chance to meet with teachers I had taught with. I listened. One of the young ones was so angry about a contract freeze that it scared me a bit. He began shouting about a money argument that had happened at the last faculty meeting. A teacher with about 17 years under his belt, tried to calm him, and sort of took the district’s side—explaining something about furlough days…and avoiding more. Another educator joined in on the calming. It didn’t help. A soon-to-be retired teacher, watched and smiled—counting the days. No on one talked kids.
When I was asked about what I was doing these days, I said that I was hearing, daily, the incredible things teachers and students are doing. Sure, I hear about finding enough time, enough equipment, enough gratitude, enough pay, but my advantage is listening outside the district walls—so I hear much more. I think that sometimes the in-district bad baggage never gets put away—and is just left to stumble over—again and again. The worst thing is to have that negativity-cloud hover. That makes it very difficult to think forward.
I guess I’m recommending a kind of field trip out of the system—and out of the dark clouds. I encourage educators and districts to get involved with online Personal Learning Networks (PLN), because they are good for the ego, good for fresh ideas, and good for staying positive. I also think, at least for right now, following other educators on Twitter, and joining education chats can make a positive difference. Taking a vacation from the only work world you know, can be rejuvenating for an educator. Believe me, if you haven’t thought about what’s really learning-important lately, you will—fast—by joining or building a PLN. Discover what makes learning joyful—again—and do your best to teach that way, regardless of those perceived negative pressures. That takes positive support. Your students will appreciate it—and you’ll feel better, too.