Be Happy, Be Happy, Be Happy

Too many classrooms seem to be gearing all of their instructional efforts to helping students master left brain skills since that is what standardized test measure. As educators maybe we should also be developing story telling abilities, synthesis, empathy, humor and the ability to detect the importance of the information they are assimilating all around them. Possibly teachers are in the business of creating real lifelong learners.

We all want to be happy. The definition of happiness seems to differ from person to person. Some are skeptical about the thought that happy teachers could be a powerful tool in the educational system.

Research has shown that happiness should be taken seriously. People of all ages who are happy are healthier, more attentive, positive and more productive in their daily lives. Humor and laughter release positive, natural chemicals in our bodies and brains that help us retain and comprehend information better, sleep more peacefully, and participate in group settings more comfortably.

There are many strategies and learning tools that develop creativity, memory, concentration, critical thinking, academic achievement, problem solving, intellectual development, self-esteem, reading comprehension and many other qualities that all teachers want for their students. Over time we will be discussing at length many of these techniques.

Teachers with strong, positive senses of self or a good self concept teach that to their students just by interacting with them daily. Therefore, it is vital that our teachers are allowed to expand and develop. Happy, joyful teachers are the most powerful resource this country has. Really good teachers love to teach. They love to see the light bulb of understanding go off in their students. Education is one of the hardest careers anyone can be involved in, and yet it is also one of the most satisfying when done well.

Teachers and students must develop strong thinking skills as they navigate life and the educational system. It is vital that they develop both convergent and divergent skills. Convergent thinking skills enable the student to gather information and come to one single conclusion. we can’t survive in today’s society without that skill. But it is equally important for all of us to be able to take in information and have a variety of possibilities be considered. To just use one process that helps the student come up with one right answer or thinking of many possible answers or ways to do something is not viable in our fast paced world. There are many ways to develop these thinking skills that we will address down the road.

Techniques to release stress and provide some quick exercises to integrate your brain and body.

Benefits of chess (many surprises here!):

• creativity — the benefits for teachers and students
• how to develop creatively balanced classroom
• multi-sensory teaching strategies (bag of tricks that work, brain-body connection, and more)
• modality strengths and learning styles
• mind mapping and developing memory

If you use your brain in the right way and keep challenging it, you can develop its astounding potential at any age. — Tony Buzan