We Needed That!

A Reminder for Teachers to Take Time to Laugh

By Laura Spaulding, Staff Writer/ Educational Consultant

The first thing you notice when you walk into TJS is a large mural boasting our House Rules. A little more than halfway down are the words in big, bold red letters, "We laugh…a lot!" This "rule" is sandwiched between two other seemingly contradictory rules, "we work hard" and "we have fun."  Year after year, we prove that these two rules are not mutually exclusive, but instead, they are two inseparable dimensions of how we bring our life-changing mission to fruition.

Monday this week, The Joy School rules came to life, as our teachers were welcomed back to begin preparations for this new school year. Teachers started the week with two days set aside for working independently. They busily set up their rooms and planned the first week's lessons and activities. Of course, many of our teachers have been working hard for weeks now, preparing to welcome their students back to school. Intentionally starting the year by setting aside concentrated independent work and planning time ensures our teachers have everything they need to welcome students into a learning environment where everyone feels safe and is ready to learn and grow. 

Setting aside time and providing resources for our teachers to do hard work is only half the battle. Per our house rules, we also believe in laughing and having fun! These values are reflected in our first all-staff gathering this week, which was led by award-winning stand-up comedian Devin Siebold. After well over a decade of teaching in kindergarten through high school classrooms, Devin now uses stand-up comedy to educate other educators about the value of fun and laughter in establishing safe and effective learning environments. 

The belly-ache laughter that erupted on account of Devin's witty jokes and hilarious observations he's made about our profession was just what our staff needed to kick off another amazing, joy-filled school year. We also needed the reminder of why laughter is one of our school's core values and how it relates to student success. Devin walked us through the historical, physiological, psychological, and social aspects of laughter, which turns out to be a primal instinct signaling or seeking safety. We rarely need to be reminded that we, as educators, must work hard, but we all need the reminder that we need to laugh hard.

After laughing all morning on Wednesday, the entire staff headed to Puttshack to spend the afternoon together, building connections and celebrating the upcoming school year.  By Thursday, after three full days of meaningful hard work, laughter, and having fun, teachers and staff were ready to find joy in learning all the logistical parts of school life that enable us to pass our joy onto the students and families we serve. Even the logistical meetings about policy changes, emergency protocols, or carpool and lunch duty have not been so bad. That's what happens when the meetings are with friends and colleagues who work hard, play hard, and laugh together as they mutually support and celebrate one another. You know what they say about happy teachers - they grow happy, hard-working students who find joy in learning.

 

To learn more about how The Joy School maintains a safe, supportive learning environment enabling students with learning differences to reach their academic and social potential, visit our website at www.thejoyschool.org.