CREATING HAPPINESS IN CLASSROOMS: WAYS TO MAKE LEARNING JOYFUL FOR PRIMARY LEARNERS

This study explores ways to create happiness and joyful learning experiences in primary classrooms, focusing on rural and semi-urban schools in West Bengal. Joyful learning emphasizes fun, curiosity, and active participation, helping children develop cognitive, emotional, and social skills in a positive environment. The main objectives of the study were to identify factors that make learning joyful, examine the role of teachers in creating happiness, and suggest effective strategies for making primary education more enjoyable. A qualitative case study design was used, involving two government primary schools, ten teachers, and fifty students from Classes I–V. Data were collected through classroom observations and semi-structured teacher interviews, then analyzed descriptively under four dimensions: classroom environment, teaching methods, teacher–student relationship, and student participation. Findings showed that clean, colorful, and child-friendly classrooms, along with storytelling, games, songs, and art activities, significantly increased students’ happiness and motivation. Teachers’ kindness, patience, and encouragement were found central to building emotional safety and engagement. The study concludes that joyful classrooms enhance attention, confidence, and genuine interest in learning. It recommends integrating joyful pedagogy into everyday teaching, improving teacher training, creating supportive environments, and allowing flexibility in the curriculum to promote fun-filled, discovery-based learning as envisioned by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.