Who Said Teachers Shouldn’t Have Fun?

In his new ASCD book The Well-Balanced Teacher: How to Work Smarter and Stay Sane Inside the Classroom and Out, author Mike Anderson says too many teachers “assume you can’t play.” Anderson makes the point that deep engagement with students will always come easier when the teacher is passionate about the curriculum.

Anderson doesn’t mince words about how standards or stringent curriculum could affect the actual teaching in a classroom. “Teaching should be fun! This idea should not be revolutionary, but I worry that in today’s age of schoolhouse pressure cookers and standardized curricula, it may sound that way,” writes Anderson.

Although a teacher must balance his or her personal interests with the students’ needs, Anderson asks teachers to think of the opportunities for “collateral learning” in the curriculum. If the lesson is covering river systems and there is a picture of whitewater rafting—is there an opening for a student to tell a story or ask questions about geography? How can teachers use what they must teach to express not only the unplanned aspects of teaching, but also the love of learning? Isn’t that what teaching is all about?

If schools hope to keep good teachers, they must be willing to support them and help them remain passionate about their jobs. Educators love to learn, and Anderson asserts that all teachers should have opportunity and the right to pursue professional development as a way to relight fires and increase productivity. As profession combating such a high burnout rate, fun should be part of the curriculum.

Learn more about Mike and the book during ASCD’s free webinar today at 3 p.m. or leave a comment to explain how you incorporate an element of fun into your every day teaching.