Harvard: Education Should Be Joyful
January 25, 2024
By Mulberry Waldorf School Research from Harvard Graduate School of Education emphasizes the importance of making education joyful. Compared with high-pressure, high stakes testing-driven environments, students retain more and process better in happy, lower-stress environments. In Waldorf Education, our intentional approach prioritizes engaged, enthusiastic learning and our teachers bring joy to every lesson, instilling a deep understanding of each subject and a lifelong love of learning. |
“when students are engaged and motivated and feel minimal stress, information flows freely through the affective filter in the amygdala and they achieve higher levels of cognition, make connections, and experience ‘aha’ moments. Such learning comes not from quiet classrooms and directed lectures, but from classrooms with an atmosphere of exuberant discovery.”
- Judy Willis, a neurologist who went on to teach middle school for 10 years
This is an excerpt. The full article was originally published by Lory Hough in the Harvard Ed. Magazine https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/ed-magazine/22/05/space-joy
About Mulberry Waldorf School
Mulberry Waldorf School echoes the sentiment that joy and academic rigor go hand in hand. Recognizing that joyful learning contributes to overall student well-being, our school emphasizes a holistic approach to education. By incorporating joy into the learning process, we create an atmosphere of exuberant discovery, fostering meaningful connections between students and their subjects.
Located in Kingston, Ontario Mulberry Waldorf School is part of a global network of over 1,000 Waldorf schools in 60 countries, with 20 in Canada and 7 in Ontario. We are a purposeful learning community focused on child development. Our curriculum blends academics and experiential learning, fostering critical thinking, emotional well-being, compassion, and imagination. Rigorous academics are seamlessly integrated with arts, movement, outdoor activities, and practical skills.
Located in Kingston, Ontario Mulberry Waldorf School is part of a global network of over 1,000 Waldorf schools in 60 countries, with 20 in Canada and 7 in Ontario. We are a purposeful learning community focused on child development. Our curriculum blends academics and experiential learning, fostering critical thinking, emotional well-being, compassion, and imagination. Rigorous academics are seamlessly integrated with arts, movement, outdoor activities, and practical skills.