By Judy Ameline, Judy Chyung, and Emily Thompson
We hope you enjoy this reading list, curated by Librarians at the TDSB Professional Library in the Library Learning Resources and Global Education Department of the Toronto District School Board.
Links to the TDSB Professional Library Catalogue have been provided for informational purposes, but the items are accessible to TDSB staff only.
Kingston-Hughes, B. (2024). Why children need joy. SAGE. Print book
This book examines one of the most undervalued aspects of childhood: joy. The author explains that joy is an essential factor in children’s learning and social/emotional development and gives educators and caregivers practical strategies for increasing the level of joy in our children. Written for all those who work with children, this book describes the damage that a lack of joy can cause and argues that joy is necessary for children to live up to their potential.
Chandler, G. A. & Budge, K. M. (2023). Powerful student care: Honoring each learner as distinctive and irreplaceable. ASCD. eBook
Powerful Student Care (PSC) is predicated on the idea that each student is distinctive and irreplaceable, and is shaped by five tenets of community: that each student is welcomed, valued, able to do well, develop self-efficacy and agency, and experience the joy of learning. Of particular note is Chapter 6, which examines the joy of learning as a multidimensional construct, including its historical absence from educational policy and its positive neurochemical effects. Barriers to joy in learning (i.e., fixed mindset, transactional learning, deficit thinking, and implicit bias) are examined. Appendices include a variety of tools, including sample strategies for facilitating joy-filled learning.
Farley, S. (2023). Joyful learning: Tools to infuse your 6-12 classroom with meaning, relevance, and fun. Routledge. Print book
In this simple and concise book, the author shares her inspiring journey of teaching development towards cultivating a joyful learning approach. The author explains that the joyful learning approach incorporates developing trusting and caring relationships, setting clear student-friendly learning goals, and relating lessons and assignments to real-life contexts that cater to students’ levels and interests. Each chapter of the book is filled with practical ideas and activities that are student-centred and actionable, and at the end of each chapter, a summary of key points is provided which are great takeaways for educators who want to foster engaged and joyful learners.
Krauss, S. M. & Herrara, M. S. (2023). Whole child, whole life: 10 ways to help kids live, learn, & thrive. Corwin. Print book
Uncertainty and disruption have created a youth mental health crisis that requires urgent attention. This guidebook offers comprehensive and scientifically-grounded methods educators can use to support their students’ well-being and increase learning and joy in their classroom. This resource includes:
- Practical advice for preventing and addressing mental health challenges and supporting students emotional wellness
- Strategies for self care while also caring for students
- Information on the most pressing issues youth face
- Key takeaways and reflection questions for individual use and group discussion.
Muhammad, G. (2023). Unearthing joy: A guide to culturally and historically responsive curriculum and instruction. Scholastic Inc. Print book
In this follow-up to Cultivating Genius (2020), Dr. Gholdy Muhammad builds upon and extends the four pursuits outlined in her earlier work – the development of identity, skills, intellect, and criticality – and adds to this model the pursuit of joy. As a first principle, Dr. Muhammad notes that genius is not something bestowed upon children; rather, like the beauty of flowers, it exists by its very nature and must be recognized. As a guide for developing Culturally and Historically Responsive Education (CHRE) curriculum and instruction, the text of Unearthing Joy is augmented by art, poetry, and musical playlists, along with reflective questions, colouring pages, and spaces for educators to engage with the work in profoundly personal ways.
Smith, D. (2023). Rooted in joy: Creating a classroom culture of equity, belonging, and care. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. eBook
The author advocates in this book the importance of joy as the starting place and the root of the classroom culture and healthy classroom ecosystem. She describes a classroom rooted in joy as a classroom where students can be their authentic and full selves, where their identities are valued, and where they have a sense of belonging. By humanizing students and acknowledging the influence of culture and race in education, she outlines strategies for building an inclusive and joyful learning space. Additionally, she suggests intentionally integrating community-building activities to promote joyful learning.
Wilson, D. E. (2023). The polyvagal path to joyful learning: Transforming classrooms one nervous system at a time. Norton Professional Books. Print book
Polyvagal Theory (PVT) explains how the human nervous system moves between different states in response to changing situations. When school staff understand the role of the nervous system in learning, they can better help students develop the essential skills they need to succeed both academically and personally. This resource introduces PVT to educators and demonstrates how PVT-based strategies can help create learning environments where students feel safe, connected, motivated and engaged.
Hirsh-Pasek, K., Golinkoff, R. M., & Nesbitt, K. (2022). Making schools work: Bringing the science of learning to joyful classroom practice. (1st ed.). Teachers College Press. eBook
Scientific consensus indicates that children learn best when they are active and engaged; when information is meaningful; when learning is iterative; when students are interacting socially; and when they’re having fun. From these scientific underpinnings, the authors re-frame the educational mindset needed to provide students with six 21st century skills: collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence. Three US-based case studies form the core of this book, however, there is significant discussion of the intersection between play and the joy of learning, and how better learning takes place in happy, joy-filled classrooms where students feel safe and seen.
Minor, K. (2023). Teaching fiercely: Spreading joy and justice in our schools. Jossey-Bass. eBook
This book aims to inspire educators to fiercely work towards fostering a just and joyful learning environment for youth and families of minority groups. It serves as a call to action for educators to champion justice and become change agents within schools. By engaging in this transformative work, the author suggests that educators will not only contribute to a more equitable and humane educational system but will also discover joy in the process. The book promises to offer practical solutions, resources, and a supportive community to facilitate this new approach to teaching and learning.
Morris, M. W. (2022). Cultivating joyful learning spaces for Black girls: Insights into interrupting school pushout. ASCD. eBook
This book discusses the harmful policies, practices, and stereotypes that frequently criminalize Black girls’ behaviour. In order to disrupt this system, Morris says, educators must develop positive relationships with Black girls and help them nurture their identities both as individuals and valued members of society. Relationships with caring adults, the author explains, can transform Black girls’ school experience from a punishment-oriented one to one that is joyful and healing. This resource provides essential guidelines for any educator committed to fostering learning environments that enable Black girls to thrive.
Kunz, K., Hall, M., Lella, R., & Lapp, D. (2021). Literacy changemakers: Bringing the joy of reading and writing into focus for teachers and students. Guilford Publications. eBook
This work speaks to literacy champions – K-12 teachers, administrators, coaches, literacy specialists – striving to become changemakers who leverage research and data, professional know-how, and a broad spectrum of best practices to become leaders in literacy instruction. See in particular Chapter 2: Engaging and Joyful Literacy Leadership, which includes strategies to create joyful, effective learning environments built on trust, taking risks, promoting inquiry through wonder, prioritizing goals, and finding the fun. A child’s right to read, set out in ten rights enumerated by the International Literacy Association (2019), are highlighted as both a directive and as a means to “bring collective joy to a community of readers”.
McLennan, D.P. (2020). Joyful math: Invitations to play and explore in the early childhood classroom. Stenhouse Publishers. Print book
This book is a resource for educators to inspire a love for math in young children through a playful, exploratory approach. It emphasizes creating an environment that sparks curiosity and shows how to integrate math learning with art, literacy, and outdoor activities. Practical stories and photos throughout the book provide ideas for daily math exploration, while documentation of the experiences, the book explains, makes math learning both visible to children and helps showcase the learning process to parents and the community. This student-centred approach, the author assures, makes learning math not only enjoyable and educational for young children, but it helps them to develop a positive and engaging relationship with math from the beginning.
Judy Ameline is a librarian at the Toronto District School Board Professional Library with almost 30 years experience providing reference service. She is passionate about providing TDSB teachers and leaders access to current, cutting edge information in the field of education to support their professional development needs. Check out the Library’s Pinterest Boards and follow her on Twitter @AmelineJudy
Judy Chyung has extensive experience providing Education Reference and Online Services to the educators and leaders of Toronto District School Board at the TDSB Professional Library. She enjoys reading and learning about the trends in education literature, and assisting TDSB educators with their information needs whether for their classroom support or for their professional learning. One of the initiatives that she leads is the curated Resource Guides for Heritage Months celebrated by TDSB. Currently she is deeply involved in developing Subject Guides to support TDSB educators and students with their curriculum resource needs. These Subject Guides can be found in the TDSB Virtual Library under the FIND tab.
Emily Thompson is a Reference and Digital Resources Librarian with the Toronto District School Board Professional Library. Prior to joining the TDSB this year, she spent nearly a decade in public librarianship and is passionate about early literacy. She is excited to be a part of the TDSB Professional Library team, connecting users of all ages with digital resources through the Virtual Library. Follow the TDSB Virtual Library on Twitter: @tdsbVL