Skip to main content
Log in

Happiness in the classroom: Strategies for teacher retention and development

  • Viewpoints/Controversies
  • Published:
PROSPECTS Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This Viewpoint proposes a new perspective on why so many teachers leave the profession after only a very short time. While existing studies have largely focused on employment and working conditions, this essay argues that happiness is key to keeping new teachers in the workplace. Juxtaposing two fields that have heretofore been oblivious of one another (positive psychology; and teacher retention and development), it offers a pragmatic look at 10 strategies that might help to keep beginning teachers in the classroom.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albrecht, N., Albrecht, P., & Cohen, M. (2012). Mindfully teaching in the classroom: A literature review. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 37(12). http://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol37/iss12/1

  • Bastin, E. (2015). Les motivations à devenir enseignant: Une enquête à large échelle pour les étudiants de première année des Hautes Ecoles pédagogiques du Pôle hainuyer [Motivations to become a teacher: A survey among first-year students in teacher training programs of the Pole hainuyer]. Master’s thesis. Mons, Belgium: Université de Mons.

  • Bokar Rinpoche (2008). Savoir méditer [Knowing how to meditate]. Saint-Cannat: Claire Lumière.

  • Davis, D. M., & Hayes, J. A. (2011). What are the benefits of mindfulness? A practice review of psychotherapy-related research. Psychotherapy, 48(2), 198–208. doi:10.1037/a0022062.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denys Rinpoche (2002). La voie du bonheur [The way to happiness]. Arles, France: Actes Sud.

  • De Stercke, J. (2014). Persévérance et abandon des enseignants débutants: La relève issue des Hautes Ecoles [Perseverance and abandonment among new teachers: Recruits from Hautes Ecoles]. Ph.D. dissertation. Mons, Belgium: Université de Mons.

  • De Stercke, J. (forthcoming). PAPPE: Un modèle du processus d’abandon/persévérance précoces des enseignants [PAPPE: A model of teachers’ abandonment/perseverance process]. In C. Van Nieuwenhoven, & M. Cividini (Eds.), Quand l’étudiant devient enseignant: Préparer et soutenir l’insertion professionnelle. Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium: Presses Universitaires de Louvain.

  • De Stercke, J., Temperman, G., & De Lièvre, B. (2014). Analyse quantitative de l’intention de persister des professeurs entrants: Une approche prospective de la persévérance précoce en enseignement [Quantitative analysis of entering teachers’ intention to persist: A prospective approach to perseverance in the early stages of the teaching profession]. Formation et Profession, 22(2), 1–12. http://formation-profession.org/files/numeros/8/v22_n02_93.pdf

  • Diener, E., Lucas, R. E., & Oishi, S. (2002). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and life satisfaction. In R. Snyder & S. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 63–73). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmerling, R. J., & Goleman, D. (2003). Emotional intelligence: Issues and common misunderstandings. Issues and Recent Developments in Emotional Intelligence, 1(1). http://www.eiconsortium.org

  • Goleman, D. (1998). Working with emotional intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goleman, D., & Senge, P. (2014). The triple focus: A new approach to education. Florence, MA: More Than Sound.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goyette, N. (2014). Le bien-être dans l’enseignement: Etude des forces de caractère chez des enseignants persévérants du primaire et du secondaire dans une approche axée sur la psychologie positive [Well-being in education: A study of the character strengths of persevering primary and secondary teachers guided by a positive psychology-based approach]. Ph.D. dissertation. Trois-Rivières: Université du Québec.

  • Hansenne, M., Nélis, D., Feyers, D., Salmon, E., & Majerus, S. (2014). Better neuronal efficiency after emotional competences training: An fMRI study. Psychologica Belgica, 54(4), 328–349. doi:10.5334/pb.av.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hitokoto, H., & Uchida, Y. (2014). Interdependent happiness: Theoretical importance and measurement validity. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 211–239. doi:10.1007/s10902-014-9505-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutcherson, C. A., Seppala, E. M., & Gross, J. J. (2014). The neural correlates of social connection. Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, 15(1), 1–14. doi:10.3758/s13415-014-0304-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jazaieri, H., Lee, I. A., McGonigal, K., Jinpa, T., Doty, J. R., Gross, J. J., & Goldin, P. R. (2015). A wandering mind is a less caring mind: Daily experience sampling during compassion meditation training. The Journal of Positive Psychology. doi:10.1080/17439760.2015.1025418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karsenti, T., Collin, S., & Dumouchel, G. (2013). Le décrochage enseignant: état des connaissances [Teacher attrition: Literature review]. International Review of Education, 59(5), 549–568.

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. New York: Hyperion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keng, S. L., Smoski, M. J., & Robins, C. J. (2011). Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: A review of empirical studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(6), 1041–1056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klimecki, O., Leiberg, S., Claus, L., & Singer, T. (2013). Functional neural plasticity and associated changes in positive affect after compassion training. Cerebral Cortex, 23, 1552–1561. doi:10.1093/cercor/bhs142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuyken, W., Weare, K., Ukoumunne, O. C., Vicary, R., Motton, N., Burnett, R., et al. (2013). Effectiveness of the mindfulness in schools programme: Non-randomised controlled feasibility study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 203(2), 126–131. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.113.126649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Krumm, C., & Tarquinio, C. (2011). Traité de psychologie positive [Treaty of positive psychology]. Bruxelles: De Boeck.

  • Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In P. Salovey & D. Sluyter (Eds.), Emotional development and emotional intelligence: Educational implications (pp. 3–31). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meikljohn, J., Phillips, C., Freedman, M. L., Griffien, M. L., Biegel, G., Roach, A., et al. (2012). Integrating mindfulness training into K-12 education: Fostering the resilience of teachers and students. Mindfulness. doi:10.1007/s12671-012-0094-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • MELS [Ministère de l’Éducation du Loisir et des Sports] (2002). Making dreams come true: Achieving success through guidance-oriented approach. Quebec: Government of Quebec.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikolajczak, M., Balon, N., Ruosi, M., & Kotsou, I. (2012). Sensitive but not sentimental: Emotionally intelligent people can put their emotions aside when necessary. Personality and Individual Differences, 52, 537–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukamurera, J. (2014). Le développement professionnel et la persévérance en enseignement: Éclairage théorique et état des lieux [Professional development and perseverance in teaching: A theoretical review]. In L. Portelance, S. Martineau, & J. Mukamurera (Eds.), Le développement et persévérance professionnels en enseignement: Oui, mais comment? (pp. 9–33). Quebec: Presses de l’Université du Québec.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A classification and handbook. New York: Oxford University Press.

  • Rempel, K. D. (2012). Mindfulness for children and youth: A review of the literature with an argument for school-based implementation. Canadian Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 46(3), 201–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricard, M. (2004). The habits of happiness. TED talk transcript. https://www.ted.com/talks/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happiness/transcript

  • Rots, I., Aelterman, A., Devos, G., & Vlerick, P. (2010). Teacher education and the choice to enter the teaching profession: A prospective study. Teaching and Teacher Education, 26(8), 1619–1629.

  • Schön, D. A. (1994). Le praticien réflexif: A la recherche du savoir caché dans l’agir professionnel [The reflexive practioner: In search of hidden knowledge in professional acts]. Montreal: Logiques.

  • Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sin, N. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2009). Enhancing well-being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions: A practice-friendly meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(5), 467–487. doi:10.1002/jclp.20593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Théorêt, M., & Leroux, M. (2014). Comment améliorer le bien-être et la santé des enseignants? [How to enhance teachers’ wellbeing and health]. Bruxelles: De Boeck.

  • Waterman, A. S., Schwartz, S. J., & Conti, R. (2008). The implications of two conceptions of happiness (hedonic enjoyment and eudaimonia) for the understanding of intrinsic motivation. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 41–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watt, H. M. G., & Richardson P. W. (2008). Motivations, perceptions, and aspirations concerning teaching as a career for different types of beginning teachers. Learning and Instruction, 18(5), 408–428.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joachim De Stercke.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

De Stercke, J., Goyette, N. & Robertson, J.E. Happiness in the classroom: Strategies for teacher retention and development. Prospects 45, 421–427 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-015-9372-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-015-9372-z

Keywords

Navigation