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It can be tough to find a way toward joyfulness when you're overwhelmed, but you can reset and reignite your energy for teaching.

I love my job. I've been an educator for 18 years. I've been in teaching roles and administrative ones. This year, after searching for what would give me joy, I'm making the choice to return to the classroom. After some needed and continuing intensive mental health therapy, I examined my values. In personal discovery, I realized that I went to college to be an educator-not to chase titles. As educators, we can't control everything around us, and I struggled with that so much in my career. But this article is about what we can control.

As individuals, we can look within ourselves and focus on healing and restoring our own love and passion for our profession and our schools. I invite you to work individually and collectively to look deeply into your values and within your heart to locate the reason you became an educator. We can create ways to pour those feelings of resilience we fostered from within our hearts and into our classrooms.

Sorting Out Our Values

Yoga training has taught me the importance of settling in and breathing. I think this practice also applies to working in schools. We need the summer to recuperate, and the first few days before the students come back to class is a good opportunity to take time to settle in and focus on our breath. In our profession, between spring 2020 and spring 2022, we didn't get time to recuperate or to settle in. My own inability to heal from the trauma that I faced in the pandemic just made wounds bigger. A personal breaking point led me to seek support through therapy. This was something that I could control.

Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of courage. As I started to accustom myself to the help, my deep past unhappiness surfaced. Weekly, I found myself considering a different profession and all sorts of businesses I wanted to start. My family and friends were exhausted listening to me. They were a great support system, but I was just moving so quickly from idea to idea that it was hard for them to support me when I was jumping from thought to thought.

My therapist came into the picture and advised me that before I made any sudden transitions, I needed to try to look deeply within my values. She had me complete a "values sort." I was skeptical at first.

She handed me three envelopes and the Personal Values Card Sort, a list of 100 values-duty, fun, integrity, love, and more-created by William R. Miller, Janet C'de Baca, Daniel B. Matthews, and Paula L. Wilbourne. The goal is to figure out which values are important to you. I invite you to try it at home in solitude and when you are content. People see self-care as having a massage, but in this case, I think it's really about giving yourself time to think about your values.

It's best to print the document and then cut out the value statements into rectangles, for easy sorting. On another page, create a table with three columns: "Most Important to Me," "Important to Me," and "Not Important to Me." The guide gives you an option of five columns, but I think three is more practical. I limited my "Most Important to Me" values to 10 rectangles, which pushed me to make some tough choices about what I really value.

Doing this alone ensures that you're making decisions about what's important to you and not anyone else. Once you complete this activity, you can have a conversation about what those values mean to you with a therapist or trusted friend.

Recentering Our Hearts

It's helpful to know how our values root us in our day-to-day activities. We really don't take the time in leadership retreats to follow up on the sorts we complete. We just check the box. It's important for this type of adult social and emotional learning professional development to be consistent and for all school staff. To do a "values tree," you can draw a tree or write an outline.

Write down the activities that your values are guiding you to at this point in your life (on the trunk or as headings). Next, write your goals (as branches) and finally outcomes you hope to see (as leaves and fruit). In my drawing, I wrote down my 10 "Most Important to Me" values. My bark had my most important activities. The clouds represented what I desired to carry on with in life. The sun, or self-love, helps growth. The branches I drew displayed my needs. The fruits on the tree were outcomes I hoped to see.

Restoring the Joy in Our Classrooms and Schools

1. Spend time now to work on a small project that excites you for the following school year. Moving back into the classroom and setting up my space is exciting for me to begin with. I can't wait to implement flexible seating again! I'm also creating a five-senses self-soothing station that kids can utilize for self-regulation in my classroom. It contains different bins that provide students with a variety of activities that appeal to the five senses in order to support self-regulation in the classroom.

2. At the beginning of the year, it's important to take your time to get to know students with activities that foster relationship building and cooperative learning skills in your classroom. Try not to jump into rules and syllabi right away. Find ways to have students help you create the physical classroom environment with their artwork and their ideas.

3. Find more ways to integrate student-centered, hands-on learning with design-thinking-based passion projects. I've always tried to find ways to work with kids to design projects that support a passion they have for themselves or the community.

4. Use music to make connections in your classroom. I always play a song of the week that was a transition from the hallway to classroom. It's usually a song that matches themes in our learning, but I do take requests from students as well.

5. Prioritize finding ways to bring in more kinesthetic learning. Gallery walks, moving jigsaw assignments, and academic games are great ways to get learners engaged.

What can we do to support ourselves in transferring that joy to our classrooms? Here's what I'm doing:

Joy is hard to find when you're nervous and moving nonstop. Slow down. Remember the phrase "It's OK" in order to give grace to your students and yourself. This isn't easy, but we can control the time and space we give our hearts.

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It can be tough to find a way toward joyfulness when you're overwhelmed, but you can reset and reignite your energy for teaching.

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Teachers can find enjoyment at work without ignoring real challenges, and doing so may help them and their students continue to learn and grow.

"There's this spark of joy where everything feels possible." I said this to a friend over a decade ago when, after I spoke about being a first-year teacher, they asked why I was going to stay in the classroom.

As with many teachers, my first year was rife with my failures. So, when my friend gently prompted me to think about why I was staying, I was surprised by how easily I remembered moments of joy: a student writing a great paragraph or a communal reaction over a short-story twist. When these moments happened, my heart would burst with joy, and they far outweighed the struggles I faced. Eleven years later, I'm still chasing that spark.

There are times when joy feels harder to find, though. Being an educator has its share of challenges-particularly given the pandemic-and finding sparks of joy can be difficult after navigating through the struggles. They are even harder to find when the narrative around our profession has become increasingly focused on what some see as the impossibility of our work.

Joy is an Integral Part of Teaching

While it's important to acknowledge existing challenges, it's also essential to remember that a key aspect of our profession is joy. Joy isn't only found when things go well. It's about a deep sense of fulfillment, trust, and hope we can hold on to, even in times of struggle. Joyful moments with my students aren't just "good things," but positive things that are contextualized and made richer by knowing the moments when we struggled together too.

Centering joy isn't the same as "toxic positivity," though. Toxic positivity glosses over challenges by insisting they don't really exist. Centering joy asks us to acknowledge our struggles, attempt to transcend them, and perhaps even reframe our perspective. Joy can help us cultivate a strong community, encourage us to seek resources and connect with each other, and energize us to transform the challenges we face.

Whether we're adjusting back to classroom routines, or we just need a reset at any point in the year, here are some practices to help us center joy in our work.

Finding Our Stars

One mistake I made as a young teacher was treating my classroom as an island. It may seem easier to retreat from others and assume that the work within our walls is a solo endeavor, but isolation ultimately leads to burnout. Instead, we can identify "stars" in our community: people who not only guide us, but also bring happiness by existing as lights in the darkness. Stars are our mentors, but they might also be the teacher we collaborate with or the person in the office who always makes us smile. Identifying who they are and why they're important helps us feel less alone, particularly early in the year or during a bout of "Sunday scaries."

One way to center the joy our colleagues bring is to make space to cultivate our connections with them. At the beginning of the school year, I stop by their classroom or office to check in and offer any support they may need. Doing so helps me focus on this positive connection at school and also shows the other person that they're a valuable part of my community.

Tap Into Our Authentic Selves

This excitement can start with us as teachers. That passion can stem from our work as educators, as well as parts of our lives. When we share parts of ourselves that bring joy-music we love, a hobby we have-students sense how we feel and connect with us as people. By sharing our authentic selves with our students, we create a space where they can do the same. Even if they don't necessarily like the music or hobby we love, they can still connect with it in a way they may not have if they only see us talk about content.

It's also important that we stay connected with our nonteaching identity. Our work as educators can take over a substantial part of our lives outside the classroom. This is understandable, but when it's done in the extreme, we can burn out more easily. Bringing our out-of-the-classroom passions into our work can ensure that we don't lose sight of ourselves and the things that bring us joy beyond our profession.

Cultivate Self-Care

It is essential to acknowledge that teaching, while fulfilling, is also emotionally draining. We give of our time, energy, and care to our kids, and while we may not want to burden others, we also deserve some time and care. That might look like drawing healthy boundaries on our time and work, making sure we make space for our personal passions, or implementing mindful practice into our daily lives, which can sometimes be done with our students as well. Practicing gratitude, for example, is beneficial for both students and teachers.

Cultivating this self-care space is important for helping us lead more joyful lives, and it also helps us model cultivating care for our students and community. When we give ourselves permission to care for our needs, we signal that others should consider taking the time and space to care for their own needs as well. Joy has a ripple effect: When we center joy for ourselves, it affects our students and the school community around us. Ensuring that we set up space for ourselves to find joy, like making time for self-care, will help everyone thrive.

When we prepare for a semester, new week, or new day, it's easy to see centering joy as a less practical part of our process. While it may not have the immediacy of some of our other work, taking time to create a joyful practice can have a positive effect on student outcomes and our ability to thrive in our work. Even if the moments of joy are small, they can provide the spark needed to incite rewarding growth, connection, and change for ourselves, our classrooms, and our overall school community.

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Teachers can find enjoyment at work without ignoring real challenges, and doing so may help them and their students continue to learn and grow.

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Dancing In The Classroom: Why Teachers Quit & How to Bring Joy Back inot the Classroom by Tyler Christensen

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Dancing In The Classroom: Why Teachers Quit & How to Bring Joy Back inot the Classroom by Tyler Christensen

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Tyler Christensen (Author), Sharon Christensen (Author) Format: Paperback

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Dancing in the Classroom: Why Teachers Burn Out & How to Bring Joy Back into the Classroom

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Dancing in the Classroom: Why Teachers Burn Out & How to Bring Joy Back into the Classroom [Christensen, Tyler, Christensen, Sharon] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Dancing in the Classroom: Why Teachers Burn Out & How to Bring Joy Back into the Classroom

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‘Fire Everywhere.’ How to Find Joy in Teaching Right Now (Opinion)

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There has never been a more critical time to teach students the power of words.

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Embracing Joy: A Light Through the Tunnel of Teacher Burnout - THINK.IAFOR.ORG

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By embracing joy in classroom, it not only enhances the learning experience, it also and helps teachers stay committed.

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Student Ownership through Problem Solving

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Student Ownership through Problem Solving

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Questions that Spark Our Students’ Curiosity

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Think of school as a story — or, at least, as the possibility of a story. Each morning, hundreds of protagonists spill into the story’s…

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The Roadmap to Joy: An Educator's Expedition Guide

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The Roadmap to Joy: An Educator's Expedition Guide

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THE ROADMAP TO JOY: An Educator’s Expedition Guide

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The UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Learn more about the Universal Design for Learning framework from CAST. The UDL Guidelines can be used by educators, curriculum developers, researchers, parents, and anyone else who wants to implement the UDL framework in a learning environment. These guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.

Reenvisioning the UDL Guidelines

Because the UDL Guidelines are meant to be informed by feedback from the field as well as new research, they have been updated several times in the past. We are in the process of updating the Guidelines once again in our UDL Rising to Equity initiative.

This update will focus specifically on addressing systemic barriers that result in inequitable learning opportunities and outcomes. CAST aims to develop a transparent, inclusive, and community-driven process. If you are interested in collaborating and staying updated on our progress, we invite you to complete a brief survey.

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The UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Learn more about the Universal Design for Learning framework from CAST. The UDL Guidelines can be used by educators, curriculum developers, researchers, parents, and anyone else who wants to implement the UDL framework in a learning environment. These guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.

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PBIS World | A Complete Tier 1 Through Tier 3 Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports System

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PBIS World is in no way affiliated, associated, or connected with any other website, entity, organization, or federal, state, local, or other government agency, department, program, policy, organization, or initiative.

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This is an absolutely phenomenal resource! Mary Saylor is an instructional coach that has created tools that WORK!

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Discover expert resources and tools to elevate your teaching career at TenX Teaching. From lesson plans to professional development guides, empower yourself to inspire students like never before. Join our community of educators and unlock your full potential today!

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Calm Classroom Toolkit by Mary Saylor/TenX Teaching

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Calm Classroom Toolkit by Mary Saylor/TenX Teaching

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This is fantastic! Check it out!

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The Mindfulness Movement  | Twin Cities MN on Instagram: "❗️I used to believe in movement breaks…

You know the routine…
Sit down, stand in line, wait your turn, focus, learn. Rinse & repeat. 🔁 

Then, when kids started getting restless (and they always do!), we’d stop everything for a quick movement break.

But after teaching thousands of kids yoga and mindfulness classes in schools, I realized something:

💡 What if movement isn’t a BREAK from learning?

What if movement is part of how children learn best?

Research has shown that thoughtfully integrating movement into learning can support attention, engagement, memory, and academic success. And honestly, I’ve watched it happen firsthand time and time again!

When children act out a story, balance while counting, practice yoga poses connected to vocabulary, or move their bodies to explore a new concept, they’re not stepping away from learning, they’re DEEPENING it.

That’s why so many of my lessons weave movement directly into academics, social-emotional learning, and mindfulness instead of saving it for the end.

✨ Movement isn’t a distraction from learning.

It’s one of the BEST ways learning sticks!

If you believe children learn best through movement, play, creativity, and connection, you’re in the right place. 💕

I share practical ideas for teachers, school counselors, therapists, homeschool families, and children’s yoga educators, and I create ready-to-use resources that make bringing meaningful movement into your day simple. 🫶

👇 I’d love to hear from you:

❓Do you agree movement should be woven into learning instead of being treated as a break? 

#MovementMatters #ActiveLearning #KinestheticLearning #ElementaryEducation"

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the.mindfulness.movement on July 6, 2026: "❗️I used to believe in movement breaks…

You know the routine…
Sit down, stand in line, wait your turn, focus, learn. Rinse & repeat. 🔁 

Then, when kids started getting restless (and they always do!), we’d stop everything for a quick movement break.

But after teaching thousands of kids yoga and mindfulness classes in schools, I realized something:

💡 What if movement isn’t a BREAK from learning?

What if movement is part of how children learn best?

Research has shown that thoughtfully integrating movement into learning can support attention, engagement, memory, and academic success. And honestly, I’ve watched it happen firsthand time and time again!

When children act out a story, balance while counting, practice yoga poses connected to vocabulary, or move their bodies to explore a new concept, they’re not stepping away from learning, they’re DEEPENING it.

That’s why so many of my lessons weave movement directly into academics, social-emotional learning, and mindfulness instead of saving it for the end.

✨ Movement isn’t a distraction from learning.

It’s one of the BEST ways learning sticks!

If you believe children learn best through movement, play, creativity, and connection, you’re in the right place. 💕

I share practical ideas for teachers, school counselors, therapists, homeschool families, and children’s yoga educators, and I create ready-to-use resources that make bringing meaningful movement into your day simple. 🫶

👇 I’d love to hear from you:

❓Do you agree movement should be woven into learning instead of being treated as a break? 

#MovementMatters #ActiveLearning #KinestheticLearning #ElementaryEducation". 

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View this post on Instagram

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TennisCoachAdam on Instagram: "Can you make the right decision fast enough? 👇🎾

Players drop the ball and react to the coach’s call, moving quickly to catch the correct ball before it bounces twice.

This develops:

• Reactions
• Awareness
• Decision-making
• Movement under pressure

In tennis, the best players don’t just move fast.

They process information fast.

#JuniorDevelopment #ReactionTraining #TennisTraining #Footwork #PlayerDevelopment"

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3,752 likes, 15 comments - tenniscoachadam on June 14, 2026: "Can you make the right decision fast enough? 👇🎾

Players drop the ball and react to the coach’s call, moving quickly to catch the correct ball before it bounces twice.

This develops:

• Reactions
• Awareness
• Decision-making
• Movement under pressure

In tennis, the best players don’t just move fast.

They process information fast.

#JuniorDevelopment #ReactionTraining #TennisTraining #Footwork #PlayerDevelopment". 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.embed_code
View this post on Instagram

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𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗔 | SALSA • TALLINN on Instagram: "Billie Jean challenge 💥 we did it 💥What do dancers do when the season is finished and we gather for a chill time together 😅 

💃@lastigueresashermanas power

#billiejeanchallenge #tallinn #salsadancers #salsaladies #salsalovers"

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197K likes, 2,674 comments - alinadubrovskaja on June 21, 2026: "Billie Jean challenge 💥 we did it 💥What do dancers do when the season is finished and we gather for a chill time together 😅 

💃@lastigueresashermanas power

#billiejeanchallenge #tallinn #salsadancers #salsaladies #salsalovers". 

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View this post on Instagram

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Thomas J. Bussey | Teacher on Instagram: "Instagram removed the audio from the original, so I’m bringing this one back. ✏️

We had been doing Quick Writes every day to build the habit of writing in class. Each day, my students had 20 minutes to explore a different genre. By the second day, I noticed some of them were struggling, not because they couldn’t write, but because they weren’t motivated.

So, we paused and talked about why we learn new vocabulary and why we practice writing techniques.

My students know what it feels like to have their voices ignored or their thoughts go unheard. We talked about how expanding your vocabulary helps you express your ideas more clearly. When you know how to write well, you can inform people, persuade them, and make sure your voice is understood.

If you want people to listen, you have to learn how to communicate your ideas clearly.

I love a good classroom chant, so I remixed an old Pencil Pledge I first heard from @mathquez on YouTube years ago and adapted it to focus on writing. The energy was next level. 🔥

#iteach5th #iteachELA #classroomchants #writinginstruction #teacherreels"

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109K likes, 2,003 comments - thebesteducator on June 25, 2026: "Instagram removed the audio from the original, so I’m bringing this one back. ✏️

We had been doing Quick Writes every day to build the habit of writing in class. Each day, my students had 20 minutes to explore a different genre. By the second day, I noticed some of them were struggling, not because they couldn’t write, but because they weren’t motivated.

So, we paused and talked about why we learn new vocabulary and why we practice writing techniques.

My students know what it feels like to have their voices ignored or their thoughts go unheard. We talked about how expanding your vocabulary helps you express your ideas more clearly. When you know how to write well, you can inform people, persuade them, and make sure your voice is understood.

If you want people to listen, you have to learn how to communicate your ideas clearly.

I love a good classroom chant, so I remixed an old Pencil Pledge I first heard from @mathquez on YouTube years ago and adapted it to focus on writing. The energy was next level. 🔥

#iteach5th #iteachELA #classroomchants #writinginstruction #teacherreels". 

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View this post on Instagram

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Welcome students at the door in the morning.

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Welcome students at the door in the morning.

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A fun resource!

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BE a WARM DEMANDER! Hold your EXPECTATIONS and SEE POTENTIAL! LET your student struggle and overcome difficult things.

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Classroom Management Tip: Be a Warm Demander