This week Becky Supiano published an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education titled "How to Restore Joy to the Classroom" that I wanted to recommend. You can get free access to the article through our university subscription or by just creating a free account. I wanted to pull out some of the highlights from the article and share some of the takeaways.
When Things Fall Apart
The article starts with Jamie Moore, a professor at College of the Sequoias, who encountered a difficult moment that sometimes happens around this time of year: her students had simply checked out. Despite careful planning and support structures, three-quarters of her class stopped turning in work after midterms. Bodies were present, but engagement had disappeared.
The Turning Point
Instead of pushing harder with the same approach, Jamie made herself vulnerable. She brought back a "recovery circle" activity and used an entire class period for it. She shared her own feelings of failure and burnout, then invited students to do the same. Students wrote about what was happening in their lives and how it followed them into the classroom. Some cried. They reconnected. They remembered they weren't alone.
Why It Matters
The article goes on to highlight the work of Eileen Kogle Camfield who says this is more than just feel-good advice and ties it back to neuroscience. She talks about how students can't learn effectively when their minds are overwhelmed by stress and worry. Activities that build trust and foster connection actually clear mental space, allowing students to focus their energy on engaging with course content rather than managing anxiety - and tend to create more joy in the class as a whole.
Try This in Your Classroom
Consider incorporating brief community-building check-ins, especially during high-stress periods like after midterms. Even a five-minute activity where students share what's on their minds can help rebuild connection and create the conditions for learning.
Want to Learn More?
Read the full article: How to Restore Joy to the Classroom
Looking for practical activities?
Joy-Centered Pedagogy in Higher Education (free online book) and pay particular attention to the appendix which has a bunch of teaching tips.
Joy Cards - downloadable classroom activities from Dartmouth (I have shared this resource in past Hub Caps but it has been updated!)
