17 Ideas From Educators to Start the School Year With Joy

Useful takeaways from this story.

(Newark, DE): "Dancing it out" is a strategy that has been shown to reduce stress, release held feelings, and encourage kids to be in the moment.

Every Monday morning meeting, students greet each other by asking, "What brought you joy (made you smile/laugh) over the weekend?" Laura H.:

If I wasn't there for it (i.e., recess, music, art, PE), I ask them to include details.

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The useful part

(Newark, DE): "Dancing it out" is a strategy that has been shown to reduce stress, release held feelings, and encourage kids to be in the moment. Every Monday morning meeting, students greet each other by asking, "What brought you joy (made you smile/laugh) over the weekend?" Laura H.: If I wasn't there for it (i.e., recess, music, art, PE), I ask them to include details.

How it works

Identifying forms of enchantment—I use this approach in our Women & Water Program.
It's an all-girls (ages 3–16) surf, science, and storytelling program based in Lobitos, a tiny fishing village in Northern Peru.
We use "enchantment" as a way for young girls to foster their curiosity, creativity, and care for themselves, peers, community, and the coastal environme...

Example or evidence

Providing time for activities like dancing is often seen as an "extra." Building this activity into our weekly schedule has become a favorite stress-relieving activity—adding tremendous joy and connection...

Details worth keeping

Here are a few that span ages, time commitments, and subject areas. Related Greater Good in Education (GGiE) practices:

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