12 Easy Ways for Teachers to Increase the Happiness in the Classroom Starting Today!

Fostering a happy and positive classroom environment is key to student well-being and academic success. Here are 12 easy ways that teachers can increase the happiness in the classroom and create a supportive learning environment. We have included 3 free lesson plans to get you going today!

Get Started with These Happiness Ideas Today!

1. Show Genuine Interest in Students

Showing genuine interest in your students can go a long way in increasing their happiness and well-being in the classroom. Take the time to get to know each of your students, their interests, and strengths, and show them that you care.

2. Encourage Student Participation

Encouraging student participation and engagement can increase student happiness by making them feel valued and heard. Create opportunities for students to share their thoughts and ideas and provide positive reinforcement when they do.

3. Teach, Inspire and Empower Giving and Generosity

Promoting giving or pro-social behavior, such as generosity, compassion, and cooperation, can help create a positive and supportive classroom environment. Encouraging students to think about the impact their actions have on others and providing opportunities for them to practice behaviors, such as participating in a service project or community service activity, will foster a happy classroom.

4. Foster a Growth Mindset

Fostering a growth mindset in your students can help increase their happiness and well-being in the classroom. Encourage students to embrace challenges and embrace failure as an opportunity to grow.

5. Create a Positive Classroom Culture

Creating a positive classroom culture can help increase student happiness by making them feel safe and supported. Encourage students to be kind and respectful to one another and model these behaviors yourself.

6. Use Humor

Using humor can help lighten the mood in the classroom and increase student happiness. Try to incorporate humor into your lessons and interactions with students.

7. Encourage Physical Activity

Encouraging physical activity can help increase student happiness by releasing endorphins and reducing stress. Provide opportunities for students to move and be active, such as taking a walk, stretching, or playing a game.

8. Integrate Technology

Integrating technology into your lessons can help increase student engagement. Find ways to incorporate technology that are fun, interactive, and relevant to your students.

9. Provide Opportunities for Students to Connect

Providing opportunities for students to connect with one another can help build a sense of community in the classroom. Encourage students to work together on projects, have class discussions, and get to know one another.

10. Implement Social and Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning (SEL) can help increase student happiness and well-being in the classroom. This approach focuses on developing skills such as self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. By incorporating SEL activities and lessons into your curriculum, you can create a safe and supportive environment for your students. Here are some ideas to get you started.

11. Provide Positive Feedback

Providing positive feedback can help boost student confidence and self-esteem, leading to increased happiness in the classroom. Focus on what students are doing well, and provide specific, actionable feedback to help them improve.

12. Encourage Gratitude and Mindfulness

Encouraging gratitude and mindfulness can help increase student happiness and well-being in the classroom. You could start by having a daily gratitude or mindfulness activity, such as having students reflect on what they are thankful for or practice deep breathing exercises. By focusing on the present moment and being grateful for what they have, students can improve their overall happiness and well-being.

3 Lesson Plans to Increase Happiness

Here are three easy lesson plans you can start today that integrate some of these ideas into the classroom:

Lesson Plan 1: Gratitude and Mindfulness in the Classroom

Objectives:

• Students will understand the importance of gratitude and mindfulness in promoting happiness and well-being.
• Students will be able to practice gratitude and mindfulness exercises in the classroom.

Materials:

• Gratitude journal or paper
• Pen or pencil

Procedure:

1. Introduce the concept of gratitude and mindfulness and why they are important.
2. Have students take a few minutes to reflect on what they are grateful for.
3. Have students write down their thoughts in a gratitude journal or on a piece of paper.
4. Close the activity by leading a mindful breathing exercise and encouraging students to continue practicing gratitude and mindfulness in their daily lives.

Lesson Plan 2: Creating a Happy Classroom: An SEL Activity

Objective: To promote social and emotional learning and increase happiness in the classroom.

Materials:

·       Chart paper and markers

·       Post-it notes

·       Writing paper and pencils

Procedure:

1. Begin the activity by discussing what makes a happy classroom. Write students’ ideas on chart paper.
2. Next, ask students to brainstorm ways they can contribute to creating a happy classroom. Have the students write these ideas on post-it notes.
3. Have students place the post-it notes on the chart paper, grouping similar ideas together.
4. Finally, have students write a letter to themselves, reflecting on their role in creating a happy classroom and what they can do to support their classmates.

Lesson Plan 3: Practicing Giving and Compassion in the Classroom

Objectives:

• Students will understand the concept of giving and compassion behavior and its benefits.
• Students will practice giving back to their classroom, school and community through small acts of giving.

Materials:

• Discussion prompts
• Acts of giving suggestion jar

Procedure:

1. Introduce the concept of giving back and its benefits to students. Check out our Science of Happiness Page 
2. Lead a discussion on acts of kindness and giving they have witnessed or experienced themselves.
3. Have students brainstorm a list of acts of kindness and giving suggestions that could be done in the classroom, school and community. Remember to include people, animals and the planet.
4. Have students write one idea on a small card and insert the cards into a “Giving Jar”
5. Each Day pull one idea for students to complete.
6. Close the activity by discussing the impact of giving on the giver and the receiver, and how it can create a ripple effect of positivity in the community.

The Benefits of a Happy Brain in the Classroom

Research has shown that a happy brain functions better in the classroom – it’s that simple.  Here are just a few of the benefits to students and teachers:

• Increased academic success
• Enhanced well-being
• More engaged and motivated
• Better social skills
• Experience less stress and anxiety
• Better cognitive function
• Increase emotional intelligence and health
• Improves mental and physical health
• More positive and supportive environment for everyone.

There are many easy ways for teachers to increase happiness in the classroom, from showing genuine interest in students to encouraging gratitude, mindfulness, and generosity. By implementing these strategies, teachers can create a positive and supportive learning environment that benefits everyone.

Here are 3 more related articles to get you going today:

How to Create Happiness in The Classroom Every Day for 2023

Get Your Happy On With These Planet Gives

9 Easy Ways Teachers Can Increase Happiness in the Classroom

For more ideas sign up for the 365give Challenge in your classroom today.