DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Hang loose describes the laid-back atmosphere in Tanner Norvell’s history class where he teaches at Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach. Norvell is riding a wave of enthusiasm from his students, who seem to enjoy and thrive from his teaching style.

Norvell is proof that learning history does not have to be dry and boring.

“Stay stoked. To me, that just means to just love life. Love what you do. Love school. Try to find the little things in life and find that enjoyment,” he expressed.

Students in Norvell’s AICE International History class sometimes have to work together and scramble to complete their assignments.

“It’s all about just working with each other and then having that competition, that drive,” he said.

When tackling history, Norvell said he finds ways to make it fun.  

“With history — you have to be — you got to get them moving,” Norvell said. “You gotta get them thinking.”

Norvell has spent much of his life in a classroom.

“My mom was a middle school teacher, and I just saw that she just had so much joy and happiness in what she did, so after college I said, ‘What do I want to do with my life?’ Norvell says. “She inspired me to kind of take that next step.”

He says it’s been a rewarding step, too.

“It’s a family job,” Norvell said. “It’s one of those jobs that gives me time and the potential to go on with my job, but to also just raise a family.”

It also gives Norvell the time to enjoy another passion.

“I love surfing,” he said. “Surfing’s, like, my thing.”

Between making waves in the classroom, Norvell said he wants to encourage his students to find the joy in learning that he has found in teaching.

“That’s the whole point,” he said. “I just want them to stay stoked and have a good time.”