Teach Like Finland: Introduction

    I was fortunate to have done my second student teaching in Switzerland.  It was part of a study abroad program at my university.  I taught at an international school, which was a fabulous experience for many reasons.  International schools and DOD (Department of Defense) schools are really the only way to be able to teach and live abroad…except if your spouse is a citizen of another country and you are able to obtain a work VISA.  

This is exactly how Timothy Walker was able to leave his 1^st grade teaching  job on the East Coast and move to Helsinki Finland.  His wife is Finnish and remarked that, in the U.S., he was working way too hard and too much.  In Finland, as she often explained, the school day (and a few other things) are different and the result is a less stressful job, happier students and comparable education taught and received.  

Timothy scoffed at the notion that less work for a teacher is possible and beneficial but during his time in Finland he learned a lot and is sharing it with any teachers who are interested in teaching like Finland.

 His book is not a replacement curriculum.  Nor is it full of innovative teaching strategies because Finland has learned about our American pedagogical ways and adopted them.  His book is a list of things American teachers can do in their classrooms (in addition to the required standards, objectives and curriculum) to promote happiness.  

       Let’s define and discuss happiness.  According to Dr. Emma Seppälä, happiness is “A state of heightened positive emotion that can improve productivity and enhance social emotional intelligence.” Duh. #1) That makes sense.  We’ve all experienced it.  And duh because #2) We’ve seen time and time again the student improvement that happens when everyone is happy.  

I said everyone.  The class mantra from the past 20 years has been “What’s best for kids.”  But I want to modify this mantra to include teachers.  It’s like the old saying, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy.”  I have experienced and observed that when I’m happy, I’m a better teacher which directly impacts students.”  So I hereby rephrase the old mantra. . .  What’s best for the classroom. (teachers + students = classroom).  Let’s take it a step further and put this into mathematical thinking:  Teachers + Students = Classroom x Happiness = Improving and successful teaching & learning.  I think it’s important to include teaching assistants, para professionals, support staff and parents with the teachers because any adult who is in your classroom is there to help, support and teach your students.  

So back to 'Teach Like Finland'. . . Walker’s book includes 33 strategies, which are grouped into five categories: belonging, autonomy, mastery and mindset (as proposed by Pinsker, 2016) and well-being (as added by Walker, 2017).  

I whole-heartedly agree with Walker’s proposition that “we start to see prioritizing happiness, inspired by the Finnish approach to education, as an overarching goal in our classrooms.”

Next up. . .Chapter 1: Well-Being (introduction)