What Would Happen if You Did?

Somewhere along the line, fun transformed itself into a concept that is often frowned upon in the classroom. It’s like it has somehow become that other F Word, and some teachers and administrators forbid its use within the walls of their schools. Students at every grade and in every subject are often denied the chance to, well, be kids at school.

While the reasons themselves vary (high-stakes testing, overcrowded classrooms, scripted curriculums), the results don’t: school is often a very boring place.

With just a little effort and planning on our part as teachers, we can bring fun back. We all want our classrooms to be places where students like to be.

That’s Where the F Word Comes In

Mike Roberts, author of Hacking Classroom Management, is a big fan of the F Word. Here’s what he writes about it in his book:

“At South Bonneville Jr. High in the mid 1980s, Mrs. Rowberry’s room was the place to be! In the mornings, she would open her classroom early so we could hang out. At lunch, after chowing down our food, we would head to her room and draw pictures on her chalkboard. And during class, well, that’s when things really got interesting.

I remember her telling us stories about her childhood. She also gave us a few minutes each week to share the latest (appropriate) joke we had heard. I think of the times she had her husband come to class and play songs for us on his guitar, and us making up geography lyrics based on some of the most popular songs of the time.

And more than anything else, I remember wanting to impress her, because I didn’t want to be the reason that the fun would end. So while it was fun that drew me in, it was my respect for her that kept me in check.”

 

And high school student Sydney Young commented on fun … from the connection that Mrs. Rowberry made with her students to the benefits that come from weaving fun into the daily curriculum:

“Fun related to the material, such as watching a video, hearing jokes, or getting on a tangent, all feel like off-task fun but actually lead me to make new connections, enjoy the material, and spend time processing the information. The best classes I’ve had blended the curriculum with a perfect combination of fun and mini-celebrations, and it’s that combination that led me to be successful that class.” 

 She added that the value that came from these experiences ran much deeper than simply gaining a better understanding of the content:

“During these activities and celebrations, I connect with students I might not normally speak with, which increases my confidence about participating in discussions or presenting because I feel as though I am amongst a large group of friends.”

Mrs. Rowberry knew how to use the F Word in her class, and Sydney saw its benefit from the student perspective as well.

Are you willing to add the F Word to your curriculum?

Welcome in the Fun

 Here are some … well … fun ways to get started, according to Hacking Classroom Management:

Step 1: Look for ways to add fun into what you already do.

Having fun should be used to supplement the learning, not replace it. Too much fun is just as bad (if not worse) as not enough. No need to create hour-long sessions of fun; instead, find a spot or two every day where you can add in a little more amusement.

Step 2: Incorporate new activities into your class.

A few ideas that work with any grade or subject include:

• Spice up any lesson with a quick YouTube video (see Hack 5 in the book).
• Fire kids up with review games. Try to go beyond the traditional Jeopardy review. Pictionary, Kahoot, charades, and any game that involves shooting a ball into the garbage can are always big hits in class. The more interactive the better!
• Read a children’s book aloud that emphasizes the skill or concept you’re studying. This works regardless of the grade or subject. Plus, if you’re looking to settle a group down, read them a story and watch the craziness melt out of the room.
• Need more ideas? Check out Hack 9 for more fun and engaging stuff.

Step 3: Have mini celebrations!

If you look for them, there are all kinds of reasons to celebrate in class. Birthdays. Holidays. Team championships. Winter break. Spring break. The list goes on! The opportunities are there. The question is, are you willing to give up a minute or two to celebrate them?

Step 4: Plan field trips and bring in guest speakers.

As much as students love coming to your class, they love not coming to your class even more. Field trips are a great way to enhance the learning via an experiential adventure. And these don’t have to be all-day escapades. Some quick-trip ideas include the park, the zoo, local museums, the courthouse, and the police station.

Trips like these can often be cross-curricular in nature, and blending in a little collaboration never hurts. Don’t have the money to take your class on a trip? Then bring the info to the class courtesy of a guest speaker! While musicians and authors are awesome, they often come with a hefty price tag. If you are willing to put in a little elbow grease, there are local experts like judges, police officers, and doctors who are often willing to volunteer their insights.

Step 5: Include downtime in the mix.

Don’t you love those rare occasions when you get a couple of free minutes to just relax? Sometimes even a few minutes of relaxation is enough to jump-start the old system! And the same holds true with your students. Look for little ways that you can take some of the daily pressure off students. What about a Monday meditation session to start class? Or how about homework-free Wednesdays? There are numerous opportunities to give your students a break, and if you plan for them, the “lost” content time will be replaced by their increased productivity while working.

The Final Word: Rock It

In today’s time-crunched, test-driven schools, having fun in the classroom is becoming harder to accomplish each day. But with just a little effort and planning on our part as teachers, we can bring it back. We all want our classrooms to be places where students like to be. We all want our students to be more engaged in the learning.

Not convinced? Take a new look at the movie School of Rock with Jack Black. The success of substitute teacher Mr. S’s method is best illustrated halfway through the movie when his student Freddy asks, “Are we gonna be goofing off every day?” While the knee-jerk reaction might be negative, the hidden beauty of this statement is that while Freddy interpreted what they had been doing as messing around, it actually was an effective teaching strategy that mixed collaboration, self-direction, and fun amongst the learning outcomes.

What could be more fun than that?

Want more great ideas to make your classroom more fun? Click here to learn more with Hacking Classroom Management: 10 Ideas To Help You Become the Type of Teacher They Make Movies About by Mike Roberts. Who wouldn’t want to be the teacher they make movies about, right?

Read More

• “Simple, Fun Ways to Support Students’ Communication Skills” by Matthew James Friday on Edutopia.com
• Teaching in Magenta: 100 Paths to Joy and Well-being for You and Your Students by James Alan Sturtevant
• “Teach Your Students to Digitally Debate, Not Hate” on Times 10 blog

Watch More

School of Rock with Jack Black

Resources:

• Part of this text is taken from Hacking Classroom Management by Mike Roberts
• Please note that part of this post was shared previously on our site but has been updated 
• Image of boy flying kite by vandesart from Pixabay
• Image of girl and bubbles by Alexander Dummer from Pexels
• Image of neon guitar by Dean Fugate from Pexels