Using Laughter and Humor in Teaching :Using Laughter and Humor in Teaching David Lewis Kyiv International School


Focus :copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Focus


Focus :12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Focus the importance of humor and laughter and how they are valuable teaching tools for establishing a classroom climate conducive to learning.


Focus :12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Focus the importance of humor and laughter and how they are valuable teaching tools for establishing a classroom climate conducive to learning. how humor and laughter can foster mutual openness, respect, and contribute to overall teaching success.


NOT the Focus :12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com NOT the Focus


NOT the Focus :12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com To become a clown! NOT the Focus


Slide 7:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com


Why Should Humor Be Used in Teaching? :12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Why Should Humor Be Used in Teaching?


Slide 9:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com People’s minds tend to wander no matter how good a speaker you are.


Slide 10:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com This will cover all of it I really most of it I


Slide 11:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Teachers who use humor get better results at test time, and humor helps to reduce stress which results in a healthier life, both for the teacher and for the students.


Slide 12:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com


Slide 13:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com You’re frustrated the way things are going in your classes.


Slide 14:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Well Timmy, it looks like you’ve just earned yourself 10 minutes in the cage with Mr. Whiskers.


Slide 15:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com


Slide 16:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com


Slide 17:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com


Slide 18:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com


Slide 19:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com In teaching, humor can


Slide 20:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com reduce student anxiety


Slide 21:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com diffuse awkward classroom situations


Slide 22:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com increase retention of information


Slide 23:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com create a more open atmosphere and aid in classroom management.


Slide 24:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com create an place where students will take a chance and get involved.


Slide 25:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Benefits of Humor in Teaching: includes muscle relaxation, stimulated circulation, improved respiration, and exercise of the lungs and chest muscles, increased production of the body's natural pain killers called endorphins, as well as lowered pulse rate and blood pressure.


Slide 26:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com So……..no need to exercise!


Slide 27:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com The one main reason for using humor in the classroom is to improve student learning.


Slide 28:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Positive Effects Of Humor


Slide 29:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • breaking down barriers to communication


Slide 30:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Students relax and become listeners


Slide 31:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Students learn to be creative, take chances, look at things in an offbeat way, and, perhaps, even make mistakes What you DON’T want!


Slide 32:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • reduced student negativity or hostility


Slide 33:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • improved student attitudes toward the subject and the teacher


Slide 34:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com So WHY use humor in the classroom?


Slide 35:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Helps retention of information


Slide 36:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Increases learning speed


Slide 37:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Improves problem solving


Slide 38:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Reduces test anxiety


Slide 39:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com More supportive learning environment


Ways to Use Humor in Teaching :12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Ways to Use Humor in Teaching


Slide 41:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Do something unexpected


Slide 42:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Tell relevant funny stories


Slide 43:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Laugh at yourself


Slide 44:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Use funny movie and TV clips to make a point


Slide 45:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Use props, puns, stories, riddles, and cartoons


Slide 46:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com You can use humor in any subject.


Slide 47:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Biology


Slide 48:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Math Many students actually look forward to Mr. Jackson’s math tests.


Slide 49:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Technology


Slide 50:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com English Panic begins to set in as Herb begins to realize that dropping a roll hasn’t helped.


Slide 51:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com More Ways to Use Humor • Acting it out


Slide 52:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Classroom management


Slide 53:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Tests and Quizzes


Slide 54:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com


Slide 55:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Humorous Break


Slide 56:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com What if…………


Slide 57:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Everyone was green?


Slide 58:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com All directors were alike?


Slide 59:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Your computer understood you?


Slide 60:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com We had beaks instead of teeth?


Slide 61:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com You only worked during lunch hours?


Slide 62:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com You got paid overtime for commuting?


Slide 63:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Everyone worked for an in-law?


Slide 64:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Everything you’ve ever done was on MySpace?


Slide 65:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Tips Ways to Create Humor in the Classroom


Slide 66:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Practice verbal and nonverbal playfulness Mrs. Teasdale: "I was with my husband to the very end." Groucho Marx: "Huh! No wonder he passed away." Mrs. Teasdale: "I held him in my arms and kissed him." Groucho Marx: "Oh, I see. Then it was murder."  -- Duck Soup, 1933  In his classic film, Duck Soup, Groucho Marx transforms a widow's words of sorrow into a take-off on the American phrase, "If looks could kill..." He shows how humor can change the way one thinks about problems and situations. Teaching is all about transforming a student's thinking. Therefore, humor belongs in the teaching toolkit, and deserves to be used.


Slide 67:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Use humor in a style that is comfortable for you


Slide 68:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Keep a “Humor” journal


Slide 69:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Target yourself, not students


Slide 70:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Tie your humor to the content + =


Examples of Humor in Teaching :12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Examples of Humor in Teaching


Slide 72:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Singing


Slide 73:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Writing NO! When writing your essay, I encourage you to think for yourself while you express what I’d most agree with.


Slide 74:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Reading


Slide 75:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com • Language Arts


Slide 76:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com TAP INTO YOUR OWN IMAGINATION FOR NEW WAYS TO BRING THE BENEFITS OF HUMOR TO YOUR STUDENTS’ LEARING EXPERIENCES.


Things to be Careful of When Using Humor in Teaching :12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Things to be Careful of When Using Humor in Teaching


Slide 78:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Most students appreciate funny stories, comments, jokes, professional humor, puns, cartoons and riddles while sarcasm, inappropriate jokes (e.g. sexist or ethnic) and aggressive or hostile humor generally don’t work very well in classrooms.


Slide 79:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Humor should not be hurtful or offensive


Slide 80:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Be aware of body language.


Slide 81:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Be careful of the subject.


Slide 82:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Watch your tone.


Slide 83:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Focus on the intent.


Slide 84:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Know the situation.


Conclusion :12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Conclusion


Slide 86:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com One of the greatest sins of teaching is to be boring.


Slide 87:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com


Slide 88:12/8/2008 copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com Albert Schweitzer is reported to have said, “Success is not the key to happiness; happiness is the key to success.”