"Humor can act as a social lubricant or a social retardant in the educational setting. It can educate or denigrate, heal or harm, embrace or deface. It's a powerful communication tool, no matter which side is chosen."
"Joy Master vs. Joke Maker vs. Life Mocker vs. Fun Meister
It is crucial for us to identify our humor style--it is such a powerful tool--we need to use it in an empowering manner!
Please discuss ways we can utilize this information to make our classrooms, colleagues, and schools better.
Does your humor style bring you closer to your students?
Does your humor style bring you closer to your students?
Does it enliven them or deaden them?
Is it helping you reach your teaching goals?
Is it enhancing and promoting a learning environment in your classroom?
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2 comments:
Does your humor style bring you closer to your students?
To be honest, I'm probably something of a life mocker. That said, I am very aware that people's feelings may be hurt by my sharp sense of humor, so I am always very careful to mock situations (if I have to mock) or myself, never the students. The life mocker is not always a terrible and bitter human being. We are realists who recognize absurd situations in life and people. Some of us self-censor better (me!) than others (Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm). My students think I am hilarious, particularly when I tell stories about my past to illustrate a point I need to make in the class. They know me, and they know I will go to pains to avoid hurting their feelings. My student evaluations often have positive comments about my sense of humor, so I guess I am a good self-censor when it comes to jokes. Does my sense of humor bring students closer to me? I do not know. But I do know that at least it never alienates them.
Does it enliven them or deaden them?
It certainly enlivens!
Is it helping you reach your teaching goals?
Yes, in that they pay attention. Also, my students are more likely to talk in class because I have built a rapport through humor. It is the oil that keeps the engine running nicely for 16 weeks.
Is it enhancing and promoting a learning environment in your classroom?
Yes, because it overcomes the greatest challenge in the beginning of a class (tension) and replaces it with something far more conducive to an educational environment (comfort).
When using humor, the audience and the place should be taken into consideration. In a school setting and depending on the students'age, certain kinds of jokes or humor will work pretty well.
In the elementary grades, kids jokes and knock-knock jokes are appropiate and children like them. Also, appropriate funny pictures with captions could be used. The public library has a great selection of joke books.
The kind of humor that I like to use is more on the playful side. I like to kid around with the students but in a subtle way. I am not sarcastic or hurtful.
I think students need some humor in the classroom. It is good for releasing stress.
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