Designing Joyful Learning Experiences in Middle School

Joy is often positioned as a reward that comes after the hard work of learning. However, after spending 20 years in middle grades education as a teacher and administrator, I’ve learned that joy is one of the essential conditions for meaningful learning. Administrators can create systems that prioritize joy, and teachers can design their lessons for joy. Within my own classroom and in the over 60 classrooms I observe each year, it’s important to note that joy isn’t equal to games, entertainment, or treats. Joy doesn’t compete with academic success; it’s an essential part of it. 

Joyful school experiences are built by combining challenge with curiosity, purpose, belonging, and celebration so that students feel safe taking risks, have opportunities to connect with one another, and have the support needed to persist through appropriately high expectations. 

Last year, in the professional development sessions I facilitated with faculty, I defined joy as a deep sense of fulfillment, purpose, curiosity, and connection that creates lasting feelings of meaning, engagement, and well-being. I shared that joy increases engagement and motivation, builds belonging, strengthens relationships, improves well-being, and boosts resilience. I reminded them that our middle school has plentiful joy—and we can sustain it through intentionally designed learning experiences.

Build Classroom and Community Connection

Connection within the classroom and a school community where students feel a sense of belonging help facilitate joy. To build connection throughout your school community, design community-wide events and create systems that allow teachers and students to enthusiastically embrace these opportunities.

Some events that create joy in our school are weekly town meetings where students and faculty gather for communication and community, service opportunities, guest speakers, and our annual students-versus-faculty basketball game. Designing these experiences requires more than coming up with “fun” ideas or doing what has always been done. It’s important for administrators to build systems that teachers and students can embrace and facilitate the collection of feedback about the impact of these events.

It’s essential for administrators to give teachers advance notice of the event, protect instructional planning and teaching time when possible, and communicate expectations. This allows joyful traditions to energize teachers rather than create additional stress. As students and faculty experience these events together, they create shared memories, strengthen relationships, and bring those connections back to the classroom.

Within individual classrooms, offer students opportunities to collaborate in small- and whole-group discussions, with specific protocols for participation and respecting their peers. This allows students to share their ideas and have human connection; they experience joy when they know their voices matter. Working in teams for a challenge, a project, or even a game supports a combination of teamwork and competition that brings many students joy. Additionally, opportunities to connect learning to personal experiences, culture, interests, and identity help cultivate belonging and joy.

Cultivate Curiosity

A joyful classroom is a place where students are invited to question, investigate, discover, and, when possible, make choices about their learning.

Teachers can cultivate student curiosity through questions and inquiry. Teacher- or student-generated questions can spark discussions before, during, and after instruction. Encourage students to discover information rather than giving it to them to help increase engagement.

Whenever possible, give students opportunities to make decisions about their learning. For example, allow them to choose the books they read, investigate topics that interest them, and choose a format to showcase their learning. Even small choices increase the feeling of ownership and investment in learning.

Design a Joyful Environment for Learning

The physical and emotional environment of a classroom communicates what the teacher values and what is expected of students. Designing for joy within a classroom can influence student engagement and well-being. Flexible seating, movement, brain breaks, and outdoor learning can support physical and mental engagement in student learning.

Take students outside when possible, and incorporate movement to help lift moods and create joy. Walking a few laps around the track while brainstorming ideas or simply standing up and stretching by their seats can give your class a helpful reset. Infusing humor in your classroom reminds students that learning can be simultaneously intellectually challenging and fun. Sharing a funny joke or text, reading an engaging picture book, laughing together over an unexpected moment, or inviting students to contribute something that makes them smile are effective ways to do this.

Music also has an effect on the classroom climate. Play instrumental music during independent work, or invite students to submit songs and play them during class to create a welcoming, joyful, and connected environment.

Find Purpose

Students find joy when they understand why their learning matters and when they see themselves as contributors. To do this, we can connect learning to authentic audiences, such as having students complete writing projects for school community members such as thank-you cards for staff members, teach younger students, create products that solve real-world problems, or engage in opportunities to present their learning beyond the classroom.

Service learning can also provide a powerful source of purpose by helping students see how their learning and work can improve the lives of others. Purpose is also found when students see the connections across disciplines. For example, literature and art are informed by historical context, science can influence public policy, math has the power to develop new ideas and solve problems big and small; helping students see these connections reminds them that what they are learning can be used to better understand and improve their world.

Hold Celebrations

Kids love parties and treats that come with finishing an assignment, but our school’s celebrations for the intent of joy aren’t for perfect grades or finished projects. These celebrations acknowledge the important process of learning and student growth. In my classes, we celebrate completing a first draft, asking thoughtful questions, doing revisions, collaborating, and making mistakes. Another option is to intentionally recognize class milestones, individual growth, acts of kindness, and silly “holidays” like International Talk Like a Pirate Day or National Punctuation Day to strengthen classroom culture. Remind students that they’re valued for who they are, and build community through shared fun moments.

As you plan your next lesson or reflect on your classroom, consider these questions:

• Is there an opportunity for students to connect with one another?
• When will students ask questions?
• How can I encourage students to pursue their own interests?
• Do students understand why this learning is important?
• How does the classroom environment support student well-being?
• How do we celebrate growth?
• How do I ensure that all students know that they matter?

The goal is to ask whether every lesson contains opportunities for students to connect, wonder, contribute, and experience the satisfaction that comes from meaningful learning.