The Origin of Happy Classroom

Building a happy classroom must start with understanding, and originate with changes in teachers themselves.

I remember a class nearly ten years ago, a female student with a bright face and intelligent eyes stood up and said over and over again: "Why do you keep making things difficult for me? I can still do the exercises, I still understand the lessons, that's fine. Testing like you is good, but please let the students be self-disciplined and take responsibility. You care too much, we feel a lot of pressure, and the class is stressful. Do you think that after graduating, without you, the students will be self-disciplined? If they don't know how to study independently, it's your fault because you don't teach them how to take responsibility, you only supervise them."

The girl spoke in one breath, and I was stunned, stunned, my face burning. Trying to hold back, I asked: "Are you done talking? If you are, please sit down." After that, I continued checking the other students' homework.

Ms. Vu Thi Tuyet Nga with her students

Coming home, I put down my bag, left my clothes on, sat at my desk, thinking about that student. Her words, the images of students in class suddenly came flooding back.

At that time, I was a young teacher with a lot of enthusiasm, but I had a fear in my heart - the fear of not having authority in front of the students. Therefore, I often had strict rules about discipline in class, about checking homework. I was afraid to give compliments, because I was afraid that if I did, the students would try less, be less meticulous. I always entered the classroom with a cold and stern face. This unintentionally took away the happiness of the children and myself when I came to class. I regretted when I realized that my presence every day had unintentionally created a stuffy atmosphere, not only not inspiring the children to study and be creative, but also making them shrink in nervousness, anxiety, even fear.

In the following days of class, I chose a different approach. I still closely monitored each student, but guided them to check and correct each other’s work. I saw the students smile more and feel more comfortable. The students who were good at studying were more passionate and confident; the students in the bottom group were less afraid and more enthusiastic; and I was also more cheerful. By changing the way I worked, I changed myself.

Inspiration is hard work, teaching to inspire is even harder. I realized that just changing the method is not enough to inspire children, because no matter how good the method is, inspiration cannot be felt between people who are still separated.

Education with love requires patience but the results are more lasting.

I thought of shortening that distance by changing my style when entering the classroom. I took off my cold "mask", kept my cheerful face, and smiled friendly greetings to the children when entering the classroom.

In particular, I told myself to smile more, try to respond to all students with greetings and compliments instead of dry "yes"s or cold nods. Occasionally, I create humorous situations, tell short funny stories, share a social issue to create a friendly atmosphere, the children open up, and the class becomes more exciting.

As time went by, many things changed in my classroom, but what my children and I felt most clearly was the happiness each day we went to class. Then the little girl who "talked for a long time" that day placed a postcard on my desk with the words: "Thank you for closing the distance between us".

I realized that teachers do not necessarily have to be stern in class. Teaching with love requires more patience, it may be slower, but the results are more sustainable. Building a happy classroom must start with understanding, and originate from the change of teachers themselves.

Ms. Vu Thi Tuyet Nga is an excellent teacher at the district level; an excellent homeroom teacher at the district level. She was awarded the Grade A Gold Badge by Nguyen Binh Khiem Secondary and High School for her teaching achievements, understanding students' psychology well and helping them change and improve themselves.

She was also awarded the "Dedicated and Creative Teacher" award at the district level in 2024.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khoi-nguon-cua-lop-hoc-hanh-phuc-185250307175931734.htm