Research shows that shifting to play-based learning can restore joy, increase student engagement, boost student achievement and keep great teachers in the classroom.
The Impact: Research shows that lack of engagement and attendance reduce student achievement threefold.
1 in 8 teaching classrooms across the country are missing a qualified teacher 2
Teachers are more likely to experience poor well-being when compared to those in other professions. 3
Nearly two thirds of teachers report frequent job-related stress–nearly double that of those in other professions 3
Managing student behavior, low pay and preparing for standardized tests are among the top stressors cited. 3
Teachers are less likely to feel supported and respected than those in other professions. 4
The number of college students choosing education as a major is on the decline due to low pay and valuation 5
1 in 5 teachers say they will not return to the classroom for the following school year. 6
Unless we make teaching more enjoyable, more sustainable, we will encounter a problem in the very near future where we just don’t have adults in the classroom who can do this work well.
The best time to act is in elementary school. Early intervention makes it possible for teachers to close gaps in reading and math proficiency and other skill development before those gaps grow into larger problems later on. Waiting until middle or high school leaves students too far behind–without the skills and knowledge to learn in those grades–erodes confidence, and drives disengagement.
Direct instruction and test prep are not improving outcomes. Despite new curricula and higher spending, student performance is declining while students and teachers grow increasingly disengaged and demoralized. At the same time teachers are expected to follow a rote style of teaching that removes them from inspiring learning and building relationships, they are also being asked to take on mental health roles without the training or support to do it well.
Students want to come to school when learning is fun and they feel good about themselves. Active, hands-on classrooms filled with movement and collaboration lead to stronger engagement and better results. Dismissing lively classrooms as ineffective is a harmful misconception that undermines both student success and teacher morale.
These improvements did not require a change in curriculum or abandoning standards They came from rethinking how learning happens and creating classrooms that are active, meaningful, and joyful places to be.
Schools that prioritize test preparation and rely on soley direct instruction will continue to fail students and teachers alike. Schools that embrace play-based learning are more likely to see high student engagement and attendance, better academic and life-long outcomes, and happier students and teachers.