Teaching Happiness

Discover the good life through resilience, creativity, and community.

Middle School Winner Haley Coe Essay on "Why My Dad's Going Green"

by Haley Coe

posted Jan 30, 2012

Haley Coe is a homeschool student with Oak Meadow School. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Why My Dad's Going Green" by Kate Sheppard. Read Haley's essay about friendship despite disagreement.

College Winner Cherese Smith Essay on "Why My Dad's Going Green"

by Cherese Smith

posted Jan 30, 2012

Cherese Smith is a student at Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, Washington, just north of Seattle. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Why My Dad's Going Green," by Kate Sheppard. Read Cherese's essay about trying to understand her grandmother's prejudice against Hispanic people.

Powerful Voice Winner Wesely Mikiska Essay on "Why My Dad's Going Green"

by Wesely Mikiska

posted Jan 30, 2012

Wesely Mikiska is a student at Appalachian State University. He read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Why My Dad's Going Green," by Kate Sheppard. Read Wesely's essay about the value of compromise.

Powerful Voice Winner Lourdes Escobar Essay on "Why My Dad's Going Green"

by Lourdes Escobar

posted Jan 30, 2012

Lourdes Escobar is a sixth grade student at John Muir Middle School, a Los Angeles Unified school operated in conjunction with the nonprofit LA's Promise. She read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Why My Dad's Going Green," by Kate Sheppard. Read Lourdes' essay about her struggle with the choices her father has made.

YES! Recommends: ServiceSpace

posted Jan 30, 2012

ServiceSpace is a movement for generosity on social and personal levels. The site features projects that inspire generous behavior and chronicle the acts of kindness of ServiceSpace volunteers.

Words That Inspire: Because

posted Dec 21, 2011

Instead of a letter, Terry Tempest Williams wrote a poem to nominate Lily Yeh as a YES! Breakthrough 15 Hero. The poem shared the many reasons why Lily Yeh is worthy of consideration. Who are the people students might be inspired to honor with a poem?

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

posted Oct 25, 2011

There’s nothing like a college drop-out telling tales of getting fired and being diagnosed for cancer to fire up your students—and you—to pursue their passions. Especially when the speaker is the late Steve Jobs.

YES! Recommends: The Legacy Project

posted Oct 25, 2011

At a time of economic uncertainty—when your students are wondering about their future—the Legacy Project might serve as a compass to help them create their lives, connect to others, and change their world.

Powerful Voice Winner Bronson Afong Essay on "Blessings Revealed"

by Bronson Ho’omaikai Afong

posted Aug 10, 2011

Bronson, our Powerful Voice winner, is a student at Blanche Pope Elementary in Oahu, Hawaii. He read and responded to the YES! Magazine article, "Blessings Revealed" by Puanani Burgess. Read Bronson's essay on how his gifts help keep his Hawaiian culture alive.

Horses as Healers

by Lorna Shepardson

posted Jun 09, 2011

What do you do with a teenager who’s angry, depressed, disconnected, or all of the above? Lorna Shepardson knows a magical gift horses possess that can help bring young people from the depths of darkness to a glimmer of self-confidence. This is Lorna’s story.

Words That Inspire: Life After Worry

by Akaya Winwood

posted Jun 01, 2011

The state of the world gives us plenty to worry about. What would happen if we made a decision to no longer worry? Read Akaya Windwood's wise commentary on replacing worry with trust, and check out the classroom activity, too.

Words That Inspire: The Wild Geese

posted Apr 01, 2011

Wendell Berry's poem, "Wild Geese" paints a colorful image of Earth's bounty, inspiring the beloved poet and farmer to be thankful that all we need is around us. Do your students second that notion?

Sir Ken on Changing Paradigms

posted Feb 09, 2011

Sir Ken Robinson does it again! In this brilliant RSA Animate video, the creativity expert uncovers the link between drop-out rates, dwindling support of the arts, and ADHD.

Words That Inspire: It Couldn’t Be Done

posted Feb 06, 2011

There are few things that motivate young people more than to be told that something can’t be done. High school student Ashe Jaafaru reads "It Couldn't Be Done", a poem by Edgar Albert Guest.

YES! Recommends: Centre for Child Honouring, and Voices Education Project

posted Feb 06, 2011

If we made children our top priority, would we create a better world? The Centre for Child Honouring and Voices [Education Project] are helping create peaceful, sustainable societies.